James Harden is a powerhouse player in the NBA, and he owes much of his success to his rigorous workout routine. 

Read our in-depth look at his workout routine to see just how he keeps his body in shape so he can score big for the Sixers! 

DYNAMIC WARMUP

High skips, quad stretches, walking hamstring stretches, Frankenstein kicks, and hip-flexor stretches.

Dynamic warmups before workouts are beneficial to basketball players because they increase blood flow and oxygen to the muscles, which helps prevent injuries. They also help increase range of motion and flexibility, which can improve performance.

 MOBILITY DRILLS

High skip into a deep squat and a quick line into a stick.

Workout mobility drills benefit basketball players because they help improve their range of motion, which is important for athletes who need to move quickly and make sudden changes in direction.

 CORE EXERCISES
Da Vinci Plank and European stability drills.

Basketball players need good core strength to stay balanced and move quickly. Core exercises help develop this strength. They also improve stability and balance, which can help players avoid injury. James Harden credits his strong core for his ability to play at a high level for such a long period of time.

 HIGH-INTENSITY WORKOUT
One-arm dumbbell presses, weighted jumps, inverted rows, and rear-foot elevated split squats.

First and foremost, James Harden’s workouts are designed to improve his cardiovascular endurance. This is key for basketball players because they need to be able to sustain a high level of effort over the course of a game. Secondly, these workouts help improve James Harden’s explosiveness. This means he’s able to get up and down the court faster, making him more difficult to guard. Finally, James Harden’s workouts are very effective at increasing his muscle mass. This added muscle helps him stay strong throughout the game and makes it harder for defenders to push him around.

 STRETCHES
Samson stretch, active hamstring stretch, 90-90 get-ups, and kneeling ankle mobility drill.

Post-workout stretching is one way that James helps his body recover from a tough training session. Stretching helps improve blood flow and increase flexibility. This allows your muscles to work more efficiently and reduces the risk of injury.

We cannot guarantee that you’ll play like Harden if you workout like he does, but we can definitely see there is evidence that his workout works well for him!