Kobe Bryant/Sprite/WSB commercial

[little chris]

First of all I don't consider Kobe a superior athlete I do consider him a great basketball player. Second there is know way in hell kobe can squat 405lbs below par.

pathetic . . . response. Kobe is a superior athlete no need to trash him like this.

 

[collegiateLifter]

Assuming you were being sarcastic here, there is big difference between sprinter and basketball player. Sprinter relies solely on acceleration and power for a short distance and needs huge powerful legs for quick speed.

While a basketball player needs this for sprinting on fast breaks or accelerating down lane, he also has important endurance factor to account for- running almost nonstop for 40+ minutes a few times a week. This is where I think huge legs have a negative effect.

And also a negative effect on jumping....I mean look at the highest flyers over the years- never huge legs

you were correct in assuming sarcasm. However in sprinting, you are accelerating yourself. Bodyweight must be greatly limmitted. Even a few extra pounds can significantly slow down a world class sprinter to lose an event. I was refering to sprinting and jumping and the benefits that strong legs will provide. You don't necessarily get big legs from big squats, if you dont want such to be the case. Most of the leapers have natural jumping ability. However there are some that drove up their verticals through big squats. Even the jump usa, which overemphasizes the value of plyometrics for most (young) bball players website recognized this, and they had a video clip of a 5'10 at the most, guy squatting 500lbs. Science and Practice is also discusses vertical jumping ability in few sections.

I think the correlation does not suggest causation at all in the last line. I think it is analgous to boxing or martial arts. Traditionally, fighters did calisthenics and did not lift. In spite of this there has been some hard hitters. However there is better methodology out there, and modern trainers are starting to recognize this and have fighters lift (like bball players doing squats, with chains of all things.)