With the holiday season in full swing, the smells of treats and tamales fill the San Antonio air. As I write this, I’m enjoying my sister’s peanut butter cookies – don’t judge me. No matter where you live, there is holiday weight gain to be reckoned with, from all the delicious goodies that are so hard to say no to.
Except if you are a San Antonio Spur.
Learning to push aside breakfast tacos in favor of a nutrient-packed breakfast blend of juices and vegetables is one of many dietary changes the older members of the Silver & Black have had to incorporate into their lives. Tim Duncan has transformed a sensational career into a legendary one as he continues to beat Father Time’s roll call and his longevity is in no small part thanks to changes he has made to his diet. Tony Parker has made dietary changes, too, and it is paying big dividends with All-Star worthy playing. The other compatriot of the Big Three doesn’t discuss his eating habits, but must be watching what he eats as he continues to woo fans with his ripped physique, long after his flowing locks have lost their luster (and willingness to grow).
There are a few exceptions. Matt Bonner (a.k.a. the Sandwich Hunter) is notorious for noshing high calorie foods during his traveling off-days in search of the Hoagie Grail. He even claims that one of his best games came after eating a hoagie that should have put him to sleep. At the vibrant age of 35, his 6-foot 10-inch frame and pro basketball workout regimen allow him to process the calories. Since he isn’t asked to be the fastest or most aggressive player on the floor (nor put in a massive amount of minutes), the extra load doesn’t impact his expected work output. His eating habits are definitely an outlier in the overall Spurs game plan.
Not all sandwiches are conducive to good playing. Last month, Greg Popovich said Kawhi Leonard missed a game against the Sixers because of a bad Philly cheesesteak. Maybe Pop was kidding. Regardless, I bet The Klaw will pass on the gut punchers the next time he visits the City of Brotherly Love.
Diet and its effect on game play is no more evident than it is for Patty Mills, the player once called “a little fat ass” by Coach Pop. Although taller than the average Joe at 6 ft 0 in, he is considered one of the small guys in the NBA. This means there is really only one position he can play, a position which requires speed to perform at the highest level. In between the Spurs most disappointing Finals performance and its most glorious, Mills decided that in order for him to be the definite second option at the point guard position, he was going to have to add lean to his mean game. The result: a 2014 Finals performance (among others in the regular season) that had casual fans asking, “Who is that guy?”
So when you have a second portion this weekend, eat up and enjoy it to the fullest. And don’t forget to thank the Spurs for sacrificing, so we don’t have to.
Happy Holidays.
