How do NBA Players Use the Bathroom During a Game?

While NBA players may seem superhuman, they are, in fact, human beings just like the rest of us.  And as fellow human beings, when nature calls, they will need to answer.  But just how do NBA players use the bathroom during a game?

Below, we are going to discuss how NBA players use the bathroom in the middle of a game and when nature calls.  And, fortunately for both NBA players and spectating fans, the answer is quite simple.

What do NBA Players do Before a Game?

For most NBA players, the need to use the bathroom, particularly midgame, is actually quite high.  And the reason for this is that NBA players will drink copious amounts of liquid before a game to be ready to perform at peak levels.

Whether NBA players are fueling up for a big game with a tall, cool glass of water, a pre-workout, an energy drink, or a sports drink such-as Gatorade, Powerade, or Body Armour, these drinks will quickly be digested by their bodies, leading them to need to use the bathroom.

However, for most NBA players, they will ensure that all bodily functions, including the need to use the bathroom, is completed before the start of a game.  NBA players will typically spend a couple of hours before the start of the game in their respective locker rooms.

During this time in their locker rooms, NBA players will not only discuss the upcoming game, listen to motivational music to ready themselves, discuss specific strategies with their coach, and perform pre-game stretches to warm up their bodies, but they will also take care of any bodily functions.

This not only includes utilizing the bathroom, but also ensuring their bodies are ready for the upcoming game.  This can include putting on deodorant, but also trying on their basketball jersey, their basketball shoes for the upcoming game, and the removal of any extraneous jewelry and piercings.

What do NBA Players do if They Have to Use the Bathroom During a Game?

Fortunately for both NBA players and spectating fans at the arena and those watching from the comfort of their homes, NBA players are easily and quickly able to relieve themselves during a game when and if nature calls.  For NBA players, they will simply let their coach and the coaching staff know that they need to use the bathroom.

Once they have alerted their respective coaches and teammates, these players will simply head back to their respective locker room to relieve themselves and answer the call of nature. 

However, if an NBA player suddenly feels unwell or needs to use the bathroom in the middle of a game, they will, and can, call a quick team timeout.  Once the timeout has been assessed and given, these players will alert their coaching staff and teammates of their need to use the bathroom and will head off back to their respective locker room to handle it.

What do NBA Players do During Halftime?

While spectating fans are often enjoying the halftime contests, utilizing the bathroom, or simply grabbing a quick snack and drink from vendors alongside the arena, NBA players are typically utilizing the time to prepare themselves for the upcoming half of the game.

This not only includes utilizing the bathroom and ensuring that they will not need to go again once the game starts, but also drinking additional fluids to ensure their bodies are prepared for the upcoming half.  In addition, for many NBA players, they may wash off the excess sweat that has accrued while playing the game.

For NBA players, sweat can be detrimental to their overall level of play.  This is because sweat, particularly on a player’s palms and hands, can interact with their handling of the ball.  As such, NBA players are likely to wash themselves off and ensure that they remove any sweat that may have accrued during play.

And while answering the call of nature and removing sweat are important parts of an NBA players halftime routine, much of the halftime is dedicated to meeting with fellow teammates and coaches to discuss the upcoming basketball half.

Players and coaches will meet during halftime to discuss strategy, plays, and outlines they would like to execute against to help them win the game.  In fact, the halftime break is one of the most important breaks for NBA players as it not only allows them time to rest and recover, but also to use the bathroom, clean themselves up, and discuss strategy with their teammates and coaches.

Why Don’t we See More Players Heading to Use the Bathroom During a Game?

While the above facts hold true, it is interesting that we don’t see too many NBA players heading to their respective locker room during the middle of a game to use the bathroom.  In fact, Derrick Rose commented the same, stating:

““Guys are out there for two hours straight,” Rose said. “Two hours, and nobody takes a bathroom break. For real, just think about it. It blows my mind, bro. Whenever I come out the game, I go right to the restroom, hydrate, and I’m right back at it.””

And while we don’t know the exact reason why more NBA players aren’t heading to the locker rooms midgame to use the bathroom; the explanation may simply be that the in-game adrenaline that players feel helps them to ignore the call of nature.

In fact, while playing a particularly tough game, most NBA players are too invested and concentrated on the game to need to use the bathroom.  NBA players are, after all, professional athletes.  And as professionals, they are more concerned with their job and winning the game.  And very often, these same players will simply ignore the need to use the bathroom and will wait until halftime or the end of the game to use the bathroom.

Conclusion

As stated above, luckily for both NBA players and the spectating fans in the arena and at home, NBA players can easily head off to their respective locker room to relieve themselves in the event that they will need to use the bathroom during the game.

However, for the majority of NBA players, they will simply relieve themselves both before the start of a game and during the halftime break.  However, if the urge to use the bathroom is simply too strong, an NBA player can alert their coach or the coaching staff of their need to use the bathroom.  Once alerted, the individual player will typically be escorted by arena staff to the locker room to relive themselves.