Thousands of young basketball players are eager to improve their reputation in the ultra-competitive basketball scene. Becoming an elite basketball player often requires the right application, and many young people miss out on the right training program to improve their skills. With that in mind, Brandon Payne, who coached Stephen Curry into an all-time NBA star, has revealed details on the fastest way to become a better basketball player.
He stressed the need to build muscle through strength training. According to Payne, you can do as many basketball drills as you want, but the fastest way to get better on the court is to work out in the weight room.
“We can shoot, we can handle the ball, we can practice all the skills we want. If you don’t have the strength required to perform those skills in the game, it doesn’t matter…” Said Brandon Payne.
“The fastest way to make basketball players better is to make them bigger, faster and stronger, and fast. That weight room is the key to basketball players getting better.“, he added.
To succeed in modern basketball, it is essential to strengthen the body. Strength training helps to strengthen the core.
A strong core is required to absorb contact while generating more power to execute skills. Payne pointed out that coaches previously underestimated the importance of strength training, but now recognize its value.
“For years, coaches wanted to shy away from that. They were wrong. If you want to be a better shooter, get stronger. You want to be a better handler, get stronger, you want to be able to go to the basket and score with contact, get stronger. You want to be a better defender, get stronger, get faster,” he continued.
These tips are a goldmine for aspiring athletes. Payne can always point to Stephen Curry to back up his arguments. Curry got better through his strength training.
He is much faster and stronger now and is not intimidated on the court. Strength training becomes even more important for undersized guards playing against giants, as they can be prone to injury.
How muscle building took curry to a new level
Despite his brilliant college career at Davidson, Curry fell to No. 7 in the 2009 draft. His slender 6’2″ frame made scouts skeptical about his potential in the league. Curry’s injury problems early in his career justified these doubts.
He missed more than 50 games in the 2011/12 season, but then saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
The young Curry started training with Brandon Payne in 2011, who helped him build muscle to prevent injuries. As a result, the guard became even better in his 30s than he was in his 20s. In 2022, Curry spoke to Sports illustratedand attributed his success to his muscular body.
Curry explained:
“With the extra strength, I’ve maintained my endurance where it goes hand in hand. For 14 years I’ve played 34 or 35 hard minutes and I feel great and I can recover quickly. I don’t get bumps and bruises like I used to, so it helps me all around. It just gives you a lot more confidence to go into battle every game you play out there.”
This statement shows the way forward for below-average guards like Curry. The importance of hitting the weight room early in their basketball career can lay a solid foundation for a career as a professional basketball player.
