The shifting time zones often altered Luke Walton’s biological clock, and back-to-back games usually disrupted his daily routine. Adrenaline crept in after a victory, but the frustration mounted after a loss.
After spending the early parts of his 10-year NBA career struggling to squeeze in enough sleep on lengthy trips, Walton researched the issue. After discovering watching TV or scrolling through his cell phone hurts sleeping patterns, Walton usually made sure to pack a significant item in his suitcase.
“I always had a book to read for a little bit,” said Walton, in his first season as Lakers coach. “Reading does a great job of putting me to sleep. That’s really all I could do.”
The Lakers are on a five-game, 11-day trip, including Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics, and the challenges go beyond trying to improve their 5-22 road record. The learning curve for much of the young roster includes trying to receive enough rest through six flights, two time zone changes and a back-to-back slate.
“It’s gotten to the point where sometimes you have to take sleeping pills,” Lakers guard Nick Young said. “It’s hard.”
The reasons seem understandable.
Their job description entails playing in the evening, often followed by a late-night flight to the next city. On non-gamedays, the Lakers often practice late in the morning. While many players devote the rest of their time to film study and treatment for various injuries, they often catch up with former college or NBA teammates depending on which city they’re in.
No matter the circumstances, Lakers reserve forward Larry Nance Jr. said he forces himself to go to sleep at midnight on non-game days so he can receive his customary eight to 10 hours of sleep.
“With the itinerary we have, rest is paramount,” Nance said. “Instead of going out and doing something else, what’s going to help me be at my best is getting enough sleep.”
The Lakers declined to make their training staff available to discuss how they have tried to maximize players’ rest. But Lakers strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco often shares tips on his Twitter account that emphasize unplugging electronics, finding a comfortable bed and prioritizing quality over quantity of sleep. Based on conversations with several players, most strive to receive between seven to 10 hours of sleep per night but they vary on how they attempt to reach that goal.
While most players take a pre-game nap in the afternoon, there’s no consensus when it comes to the value of squeezing in a nap on the plane after a game.
Veteran forward Luol Deng, rookie center Ivica Zubac and rookie forward Brandon Ingram were among those who said they try to if they feel tired.
“I just try to force myself to sleep a little bit, but of course there are moments I have trouble,” Ingram said. “But I haven’t been tired. My body feels good. I’ve been healthy. I’m trying to make a routine.”
Julius Randle, Thomas Robinson, Timofey Mozgov, Jose Calderon, Marcelo Huertas, Metta World Peace and Nance all said they try to stay awake during late flights.
“That way when we touch down, I can go straight to the (hotel) room,” Robinson said. “I know for sure I’m going to be out (sleeping). So that’s the only way of dealing with it.”
Then there are those who sleep less, in general.
“I don’t sleep much,” said Lou Williams, who is in his 12th NBA season. “I grew up in this league. So I’m used to this process by now.”
Deng has taken the opposite approach, and he believes placing a high priority on sleep is a reason the two-time NBA All-Star is playing in his 14th season.
“I never trust waiting to sleep later on in the day,” Deng said. “We might get stuck in the airport. We might get there late or something might happen and I won’t be able to sleep. Most of the time during the day, I always try to nap.”
The variety of routines confirms Walton’s belief that each player needs to find an approach that works for them. Then again, sometimes Walton’s strategy backfired when he thumbed through a book with his head on a pillow.
“I couldn’t figure it out. Sometimes I played great on no sleep,” Walton said. “Other times, I played with enough sleep and I couldn’t do anything.”
Contact the writer: mmedina@scng.com
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