How NBA Stars Spend Thousands Just to Stay in Shape
Staying in shape is part of the job when you’re an NBA player, but for the league’s biggest names, it’s also a full-time investment. Some spend more on recovery tools than most Americans spend on a car. Here’s a look at how the athletes drop serious cash just to stay game-day ready.
LeBron James
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NBA superstar LeBron James reportedly spends around $1.5 million every year to stay in shape. That covers his cryotherapy chamber, hyperbaric oxygen sessions, a team of chefs, massage therapists, and biomechanical experts, and he has even said he sleeps up to 12 hours a day.
Chris Paul
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Chris Paul went fully vegan in 2019 and hasn’t looked back. He credits the switch for his late-career energy and reduced joint pain. The change also came with a full team—chef, trainers, therapists—costing around $1 million each year. He told Great Vegan Athletes that going plant-based helped him recover faster and feel lighter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Giannis Antetokounmpo starts each day with a celery juice smoothie mixed with fruit and protein. He keeps the rest of his nutrition tight too, with help from a chef and dietitian. It’s not the ingredients that are costly, but the consistent planning across an 82-game schedule.
Steph Curry
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Steph Curry follows a time-based approach to eating. In the morning, it’s eggs, sausage, and meat. After that, he switches to plant-based meals for lunch and dinner. This system helps keep inflammation low while still giving him the calories he needs. Needless to say, he needs an expert to plan every meal to match his schedule.
Joel Embiid
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Every time Joel Embiid makes a shot in practice, he runs a full-court sprint. Trainer Chris Babcock designed this method to build game-level stamina. It’s a brutal system, and after that much movement, recovery is key. Embiid’s support includes massage therapists charging over $200 an hour and regular cold therapy to keep his body from breaking down midseason.
Kevin Durant
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Kevin Durant eats seafood nearly every day. His chef, Ryan Lopez, shared that KD goes for salmon, scallops, and sea bass, eating about eight ounces six times weekly to address inflammation. This isn’t a cheap grocery list, especially with high-quality ingredients and consistent prep.
James Harden
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Before games, James Harden sticks with the same meal: grilled chicken and pasta. He doesn’t deviate. This combo gives him both protein and carbs to stay fueled. This consistency requires careful planning and a sizable travel-friendly cooking budget.
Jayson Tatum
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Jayson Tatum builds strength through dumbbell squats to ease pressure on his joints. He avoids heavy barbell lifts in favor of controlled movements that protect his back. To do this right, he works with top trainers, whose sessions can cost hundreds per hour.
Trae Young
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When he entered the NBA, Trae Young wanted to gain muscle without slowing down. His answer was five protein shakes per day, packed with clean calories. He still relies on shakes today, but they’re made under the guidance of nutritionists. Over time, they become a serious line item in a player’s fitness budget.
Luka Doncic
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After showing up to training camp out of shape one season, Luka Doncic got serious about conditioning. He worked with elite coaches and rebuilt his program with cardio, nutrition, and recovery. The result was a quick turnaround and sharper performance.
Jimmy Butler
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Jimmy Butler has one food rule: avocados must be in every meal. His chef, Christopher Casan, confirmed this habit, which adds healthy fats and keeps Jimmy’s energy up. It sounds simple, but sticking to specific meal preferences day in and day out across cities and time zones becomes a steady drain on the wallet.
Khris Middleton
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Khris Middleton avoids fast food, no matter how tempting the road schedule gets. It’s part of his focus on clean eating. That means relying on team chefs or private cooks to handle every meal. Maintaining quality control when you’re traveling for months at a time equals paying for food made the right way, every time.
Andrew Wiggins
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During the offseason, Andrew Wiggins plays ping pong, bowls, jogs, and walks his dogs. These low-impact routines help keep him moving without putting stress on his joints. Add in a home gym and tailored training apps, and even casual activities become part of a structured, tech-supported fitness plan. He also uses fitness trackers to monitor his activity.
Jarrett Allen
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Jarrett Allen swears by post-game massages and ice baths. He’s kept the routine since his Brooklyn days. There are also regular therapy sessions and the occasional travel massage therapist. For him, it’s a price worth paying to stay fresh all season.
LaMelo Ball
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Single-leg squats were a big part of LaMelo Ball’s prep for the league. Trainer Mike Fox said the exercise helped him build lower-body strength and stability before the draft. Behind the scenes, that training also involved biomechanics testing and strength diagnostics. It took a full system to prepare LaMelo for NBA speed.