The shifting time zones often altered Luke Walton’s biological clock. The back-to-back games often disrupted his daily routine. Adrenaline crept in after a win. Frustration mounted after a loss.
So 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 often made sure to pack a significant item in his suitcase.
“I always had a book to read for a little bit,” Walton said. “Reading does a great job of putting me to sleep. That’s really all I could do.”
The Lakers have started a five-game, 11-day trip, including Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden with challenges besides improving their 5-22 road record. Their learning curve will also involve 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-game days, the Lakers often practice late in the morning. While plenty of players devote the rest of their time to film study and treatment on various injuries, they often catch up with former college or NBA teammates depending on which city.
Regardless of those varying circumstances, Lakers reserve forward Larry Nance Jr. said he has forced 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 numerous players, most strive to receive between seven to 10 hours of sleep per night.
Players vary on how they try to reach that goal.
While all players typically take a pre-game nap on the afternoon before game days, varying views emerged on the value of squeezing in a nap on the plane after a game.
Some will do so if they feel tired, including veteran forward Luol Deng, rookie center Ivica Zubac and rookie forward Brandon Ingram.
“I just try to force myself to sleep a little bit sometimes. 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.”
Others have forced themselves not to sleep, including Nance, Julius Randle, Thomas Robinson, Timofey Mozgov, Jose Calderon, Marcelo Huertas and Metta World Peace.
“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.”
Others deal with it in a different way.
“I don’t sleep much,” said Williams, who’s in his 12th NBA season. “I grew up in this league. So I’m used to this process by now.”
Meanwhile, Deng has taken the opposite approach. He argued his high priority on sleep has explained why 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. So most of the times during the day, I always try to nap.”
Those varying routines confirm Walton’s belief that each player needs to find an approach that works for them. Then again, sometimes Walton’s sleeping strategy backfired when he thumbed through a book.
“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.”
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