The Philadelphia 76ers are the innovators of the NBA. The next innovation may not be in who they bring in, but rather customizing off season workout routines to maximize benefit for players.
Innovators. Basketball Analytics, Sports Science and Medicine, state of the art training facility. The Philadelphia 76ers have invest in virtually any avenue shown to benefit their players. Up until now, that is. But, without former president and general manager Sam Hinkie, will the team continue to lead the league into the next century? That’s a decision that has yet to be made, and likely will be delayed while the new president gets his arms around the offseason strategies of free agency, the NBA draft, and potential trading partners and targeted players.
But it would be naive to assume the team ceases all innovation going forward as well, particularly in light of recent breakthroughs in an entirely new area of sports science: DNA matching.
Can a simple DNA test help build a better player, and as a result, improve the team? There are innovations that suggest that is in fact the case. And in the absence of Sam Hinkie, the Philadelphia 76ers would be wise to continue to innovate and embrace the latest advances of medical and sports sciences.
So when I ran into this article from Reuters, I had to pause and read. The article written by Edward Baran on April 14, 2016 is a curious take on the age old problem. How do you get the best bang for your workout investment? According to this study, you can tailor make the workouts to suit the type of genetics found in the athlete to maximize the impact.
But if that holds true, it falls back to the age old question: Nature or Nurture?
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Nature is the “born this way” perspective, while Nurture is the “can train to be this way” opposing perspective. Why is this even important?
Well to a team that is sinking so much into a state-of-the-art training facility, it makes sense to leverage that facility to get the best results possible. If that means DNA testing to do so, then so be it. In fact, DNA testing is set to be a growing trend in the fitness industry this year, with or without an NBA team support. That’s because our genes dictate how we respond to different food and exercise. Knowing which variants you have means you can access the sort of personally tailored training plan that was once only available to elite athletes. Right now, those tests are commercially available over the counter for anyone by ordering a kit online, doing a simple swabbing of the mouth, and then submitting the kit back to the lab for a series of 45 gene variations. The report that comes backs covers such topics as sensitivity to carbohydrates, salt and saturated fat; lactose and gluten intolerance risk; individual anti-oxidant and vitamin needs; and caffeine and alcohol metabolism. can discover if they have a natural aptitude for endurance sports (like running, cycling or swimming) or power sports (like sprinting or weight lifting); their aerobic potential (known as Vo2 max); and how quickly their body is likely to recover between workouts.
All from a simple mail order test. Should the team commit to the technology, far greater understanding of each individual athlete is possible.
Will the Sixers implement this new technology? Well, for that answer let’s turn back the calendar to a speech given by Hinkie at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new training facility.
"“In designing the basketball operations facility we pulled inspiration from the most cutting-edge sports medicine, wellness, and recovery practices from leagues, teams, and sport disciplines across the world, we challenged ourselves to create a 24 by 7 destination for our players’ physical and mental needs. Two full side-by-side training courts with ten baskets to shoot on is the heart of the building. Amenities such as an exclusive, covered player’s entrance, a fully-stocked private restaurant, and a dedicated concierge will encourage year-round visits to the training facility, allowing our players to focus on the everyday training of their body and mind.” – former President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Sam Hinkie."
Is there more to learn from genetic testing in a professional sports environment? There are over 10 million gene variants in the human body (referred to as SNPs). The currently available genetic test kits only look at 45 of them – those which have passed three scientifically validated studies. Genetic testing, in its current state, gives us only a small window into our genetic profile. But with time comes more genetic mapping, and far greater understanding. At some point hundreds of genetic codes impacting athletics will be deciphered, and then a team will conceivably have the answers to a wide range of physical and mental attributes to navigate the randomness of assessing NBA talent into the future.
Imagine the future where genetics help a team target prospects. Imagine the DNA report of elite athletes, and their use in comparing to future hopefuls. It’s not as far off as you might think. Particularly if an NBA team embraces the technology, forcing the NBA to deliberate on its use in assess future prospects.
Sam Hinkie may no longer be with the Sixers, but he has exposed the league to the advances of science. And it’s tough to get that Genie back into the lamp.