How Much Water Should a Basketball Player Drink Each Day?

Water is an essential fluid for nearly all species on planet earth.  And for humans, around 60 percent of the body is made up of water, with over 70 percent of the planet being covered in it. 

And although water is an essential fluid for every one of us, many of us struggle to consume recommended amounts on a daily basis.

But for athletes, water consumption should not only be a higher priority, but athletes should also be drinking mor water on a daily basis.  Below, we’re going to review how much water a basketball player should drink each day and explain the benefits of doing so.

Benefits of Drinking Water

Honestly, the benefits of water to the human body are not only many, but they may be too much to fully encapsulate and describe here.  But we’re going to try due to the sheer importance of water to the body on a daily basis.

It is important to understand why water is so important to the human body.

• Human adults are 60 percent water, and their blood is nearly 90 percent so

• Water is essential for the kidneys and other bodily functions

• Water dehydration can lead to wrinkled skin and other skin disorders

• Water consumption can help with weight loss

One of the biggest benefits of water for the body is that it can help to lubricate the joints in the body.  The cartilage found in joints contains nearly 80% water and long-term dehydration can lead to joint pain.

In addition, water can help to keep our mouth, nose, and eyes moist.  This not only helps to keep our mouths clean, but also can help to prevent friction and damage in our mouths. 

Similarly, as blood is more than 90 percent water, drinking more water throughout the day can help to deliver oxygen throughout the body.  Water is essential and can also boost the health and beauty of people’s skin.

As-if this isn’t enough of a reason to drink more water, doing so can help to cushion the brain, spinal cord, and other sensitive tissues.  As dehydration can affect brain structure and function, drinking more water can help to avoid those potential issues.

Lastly, drinking water also helps to regulate the body’s internal temperature.  This is perhaps the biggest and most. Important reason as to why athletes, and basketball players in particular, need to drink more water than other people.

When you exert energy, workout, exercise, or play basketball, the water that is stored in the middle layers of the skin comes to the skins surface as sweat.  This sweat, when it evaporates, cools down the body.

Furthermore, some scientists speculate that when there is too little water in the body, heat storage can increase and the body is less able to tolerate any form of heat strain.

As a last aside, water is extremely important for the body as it can also help to flush out waste.  Water is a key ingredient in both the removal of urine and feces and not enough water in the body can lead to digestive and constipation issues.

How is Water Lost in the Body?

A similar question that often gets brought up when asked on how much water a basketball player should be drinking per day, is just exactly how water is lost in the body?

There are a multitude of ways that water is naturally lost in the body.  However, these ways are especially important for athletes and basketball players, due to the exertion they place on their bodies and pace of the game.

• Intensity of an Exercise – prolonged exercise and workouts, such-as in basketball, can lead to a loss of fluids.  Due to the loss of fluids, it is important to create and maintain a hydration plan throughout the day to properly replenish the loss of water from playing and practicing basketball throughout the day.

• Sweating – as mentioned above, your body sweats as a means to keep your body temperature cool and regulated.  However, this sweat is a loss of water which puts athletes and basketball players at greater risk.

• Temperature – last, but not least, is the fact that exercising and working out in hotter weather will lead to a faster loss of water.  While obvious, it is important to ensure that you bring ample amounts of water and other hydration products with you to practice and basketball games, particularly those held outdoors.

Can Sports Drinks Replace Water for Hydration?

While water should always be the beverage of choice, there are certain situations and circumstances where a sports drink may be more beneficial.  Sports drinks, unlike water, contain electrolytes, which can help to control and regulate the balance of fluids in the body.

Sports drinks are particularly useful for when you are participating in high-intensity workouts and workouts that last more than 45-minutes.  In addition, if your sweat contains an excess of sodium, you may benefit more from drinking a sports drink than water alone.

Amount of Water a Basketball Player Should Drink Per Day

When it comes to determining the amount of water a basketball player should be drinking each day, a good rule of thumb is to divide your total body weight in half and drink that amount in ounces.  For example, a basketball player weighing 180 pounds should drink 90-ounces of water per day.

This recommendation should also be increased dependent on current conditions and intensity of a workout.  For example, if you are working out outside in the sweltering heat, it is recommended to increase the amount of water consumed.

You should also take note to drink water before and after certain activities.  In particular if you are going in to practice or after a game.

• Drink 16-ounces of water two-hours before a basketball practice or game

• Drink 4-6 ounces of water every 20-minutes during a practice or game

• Drink 16-24 ounces after a basketball practice or game

Lastly, you should be sure to up your intake of water, particularly if you are going to be taking any supplements, pre-workouts, or vitamins before a workout or basketball game.