Summertime. Beach. Chilling (for the traditionalists). Beach games (for the hyperactive paddleball players). Whatever the case, you need a coffee for every occasion. Frappé, freddo, latte, mochaccino, whatever you fancy – we’re not judging.
The thing is, beyond summer laziness, coffee also serves human functionality. Proven. And it also gives you… a few extra nerves, stretched tight like the Champions League banner during the qualifiers, which start soon – there’s the football reference.
Of course, this text is being written by a journalist. Which is, by definition, a profession that involves a lot of desk work and occasionally running around. A coffee during a shift – or even 3-4 more – always has a beneficial effect. What happens, however, with athletes?
You’ve probably often seen NBAers showing up at the arena with a coffee in hand, with this… trend being strongly observed in Europe in recent years as well. Is a little caffeine before the game good or bad? Some naysayers might say it frays your nerves and turns you into a ticking time bomb, but the truth seems to be very different.
According to a study published in May 2022 in the National Library of Medicine by Anja Lazić, Miodrag Kocić, Nebojša Trajković, Cristian Popa, Leonardo Alexandre Peyré-Tartaruga, Johnny Padulo and editor Glen Davison, caffeine is increasingly used by athletes as it can delay fatigue and improve physical and mental performance. In relation to basketball, a systematic review of 8 studies showed that acute caffeine intake before exercise can improve important performance parameters.
Specifically, improvements were observed in vertical jump, 10- and 20-meter speed, and overall performance in simulated games, such as rebounds and assists, as well as in agility. However, there were no clear results for shooting accuracy or aerobic capacity, while side effects such as insomnia appeared. In conclusion, caffeine (3–6 mg/kg) can improve certain aspects of basketball performance, but the results vary depending on the athlete.
So, before you judge Jimmy Butler for flexing his espressos on Instagram or Nikola Jokić drinking his iced latte on the bench, think twice. After all, they must know what they’re doing!