Ever wonder what fuels your favorite NBA players? You’re right, it’s definitely the food that brings the energy to their games! It’s true that they have to maintain a certain diet to play strong each season, but just like any of us, they also indulge in some of their favorite meals. Today, we’ll be revealing 12 of your favorite NBA players’ comfort foods, and maybe you can try them out for yourself and see if you can play in style on the court.
12. Russell Westbrook: Double Down PB&J
You may have heard that many athletes love their peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and one of them is Russell Westbrook. He doesn’t have one, but two PB&J sandwiches before every single one of his games. It’s a ritual that he has practiced since his high school days. Well, it’s an indulgence since his diet involves fish and salad for lunch and veggies and pasta for dinner.
11. Jason Terry: Chicken
As for Jason Terry, his non-negotiable pre-game food is always chicken. Whether it was fried in his early days in basketball or grilled as he got older, Terry’s meal had to include chicken. It’s a simple request that powers him when playing at court.
10. Metta World Peace: Beans
While other players needed an elaborate pre-game ritual, Metta World Peace has a simple food request. Before he was Metta Sandiford-Artest, Ron Artest was a rising star with the Chicago Bulls. Metta likes to keep things simple with just a bowl of beans and nothing else. For him, it’s enough to fuel his body, and he’s got to thank that simple bowl for his career!
9. Cody Zeller: Popcorn
Back when Cody Zeller was just starting to make a name for himself, a prank from his veteran teammate Al Jefferson became the reason for his food obsession. He was led to believe that there was no pre-game meal for them, so he tried to improve. He bought popcorn from the concession stand and supplemented it with some fruit and PowerBars.
8. Josh Hart: Sweet Treats
New York Knicks forward Josh Hart’s pre-game ritual is enough to make his nutritionist cringe. Hart’s go-to snack involves a box of Mike and Ike candy that’s been a ritual since his high school days. He pairs it with a bag of popcorn and a dose of caffeine. He loves the sweet snacks so much that the company even created a custom box inspired by him.
7. Paul Pierce: 55-minute PB&J
Sometimes it’s not about the food, but how they eat it. For Paul Pierce, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is what he loves, but it’s a bit odd how he enjoys it. He needs to consume it exactly 55 minutes before his tip-off. Yup, that’s the rule he follows for him to devour this sandwich.
6. Darrell Armstrong: Pig Intestines
Back in the 2003 NBA Playoffs, Orlando Magic guard Darrell Armstrong stumbled upon his pre-game meal. It’s none other than chitlins or pig intestines. Also, Armstrong has a habit of enjoying his coffee with seven lumps of sugar and eating a little snack of Hershey’s Kisses during halftime. It was a bizarre superstition, but hey, the Magic kept on winning against the Detroit Pistons.
5. Bernard King: Cookies and Milkshake
Bernard King’s secret lies in his perfectly sweet snack, which is cookies and milkshake. Back in 1884, he credited the sweet combination to his scoring outburst during his game. While his nutritionist may scratch their head, it does the goal of scoring for his team.
4. Shaquille O’Neal: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Shaquille O’ Neal’s love for Krispy Kreme doughnuts is more than just a pre-game ritual. He even admitted that he could finish an entire box in one sitting. He explained that you could never just eat one or two! He even turned his passion into a business as he owns a Krispy Kreme franchise, among other fast food ventures.
3. Bam Adebayo: No Insomnia Cookies
If some of these players enjoy a good sugar-spike ritual, it’s different for Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo. During his early days, his go-to was a Domino’s thin-crust pizza, two apple juices, and a batch of Insomnia Cookies. However, he felt sluggish during a game and played badly, so he didn’t touch Insomnia Cookies for five years. Now, the player became a model of clean eating with a personal chef and his new pre-game ritual of a PB&J sandwich.
2. Charles Barkley: No Diet
Charles Barkley has a disdain for healthy eating. It’s no surprise that his pre-game meal involves two fish fillets, large fries, and a Diet Coke. He can also switch up his menu to a four-piece from KFC with mashed potatoes. Well, his most extreme one yet was during the 1984 NBA draft, where he intentionally tried to gain weight to avoid being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers. He went into a binge-eating spree with Grand Slam breakfasts and steaks. The result? He was still drafted anyway.
1. Garry Payton: McDonald’s in a Jacuzzi
Gary Payton had a superstition that he needed to consume McDonald’s before a game to play well. However, he needs to eat it in a jacuzzi. His order involves a Big Mac, fries, and a six-piece McNugget. Yup, it’s pretty much a fast food feast in a tub.