The 8 Best Basketball Core Exercises (plus core workout)

Fitness and core strength are an important aspect of physical preparedness for basketball. Yes drills are the most important but using core workouts to train the m core muscles is also a great way to prep for your next match or season. Try each core exercise below and check out the basketball core workout too.

4 min read
Sean Klein
Written by
Sean Klein
Published on
08/04/22
Last updated
26/06/23
Core
Trunk
Resisting Rotation
Core
Full Body
Rotation
Core
Trunk
Anterior Core
Core
Trunk
Resisting Rotation
Core
Trunk
Anterior Core

Get weekly roundups of the best training tools in your inbox, every Monday.

No spam – just thoughtful training advice

Core
Trunk
Resisting Rotation
Core
Trunk
Lumbar Stability
Core
Trunk
Resisting Rotation
In This Resource
  • The 8 Best Core Exercises For Basketball Players
  • Sample Core Workout For Basketball Players
  • Common Questions
  • How Are Core Muscles Used In Basketball?
  • How Do I Get An Athletic Core?
  • Is Strength Training and Core Workouts Beneficial To Basket Ball Players?

Basketball is an extremely competitive sport, so doing everything to prepare for a match or for the season is a necessity. Preparing yourself physically for basketball is a tough challenge, a challenge which should involve some form of core development. Let’s have a look at these 8 exercises you can add to your training regime to improve your core musculature.

The 8 Best Core Exercises For Basketball Players

Buy Kettlebells
Core
Trunk
Resisting Rotation
Buy Landmines
Core
Full Body
Rotation
Core
Trunk
Anterior Core
Core
Trunk
Resisting Rotation
Buy Rings
Core
Trunk
Anterior Core
Buy Kettlebells
Core
Trunk
Resisting Rotation
Core
Trunk
Lumbar Stability
Core
Trunk
Resisting Rotation

Sample Core Workout For Basketball Players

Complete 3 rounds

1. KB Side Plank

Hold for 20 seconds

2. Landmine Full Contact Twist

Complete 6 repetitions

3. Plank Shift with Reach

Complete 16 repetitions

Common Questions

How Are Core Muscles Used In Basketball?

The core muscles are so vast that its hard to say which specific movements they do. If you think about hip stabilisation and how important that would be for a basketball player. Or rotational strength, physical resilience when in contact with others, the core muscles are used in all aspects of the sport.

How Do I Get An Athletic Core?

Consistent training of the core musculature using a variety of movement patterns. Having a well rounded full body strength training routine with core exercises integrated in is probably the best for developing a well rounded athletic core, it cannot just be plank and sit ups.

Is Strength Training and Core Workouts Beneficial To Basket Ball Players?

Yes, however it should never be placed of higher importance than the game itself. Also conditioning plays a huge role in basketball performance so having very high amounts of muscle mass isn’t very beneficial. The strength training should be specific to the game of basketball and cater to the body types of basketball players.

If you enjoyed this resource you can find more below or try Programme, a fitness app that plans every workout for you – based on your progress, equipment and lifestyle.

This resource was written by Sean Klein. Sean Richard Klein has thousands of hours of coaching experience and a BSc in Sports Science with Management from Loughborough University. He owns a gym in Bayonne France, CrossFit Essor, which runs group classes and a Personal training studio.

Sean Klein

Signature

Programme is a workout app that plans every workout for you

Programme learns from your past workouts, training experience and available equipment to create your optimal workout plan that adapts to your progress.