When I came out to Cleveland, there were trials with different chefs and now I’ve just hired my full-time chef and wherever I’m at, he’s at. It’s definitely trial and error because you have to figure out what you like and don’t. At the end of the day, you have to eat healthy, but it still has to taste good. I’m not trying to eat cardboard, if you know what I’m saying. It has to taste good. You have to go through the ins and outs to get an understanding. With my guy, now, he’s down to the point where he’s like, You have this many grams of this, so maybe you have this many fats and this many carbs.
So, then that lets me sprinkle in some Haribo gummy bears or a glass of wine. Just making sure we’re planning stuff out so you understand what it looks like. I’m a guy that gains weight fast. So, you got to make sure you’re always on top of it because one long road trip and you’re eating out at every restaurant for five to seven days, and it affects your play. Especially this summer was huge because I wasn’t working out my typical time. So with that inactivity on the court, you can sit around and get big.
Being a world-class athlete doesn’t take away the fact you’re human. How important is it to take the time for those gummy bears or a glass of wine?
Like you said, it keeps the human aspect there. I’ve gotten better. I used to have about a pack a day when I first got to the league. It’s my favorite candy of all time. If you ask any one of my friends from childhood up until now, they’d say the same thing. Now, Haribo’s making me a special pack of my own. As a kid, that’s a dream and it’s incredible to work with a brand that you’ve been enjoying since you were a kid.
But then also, being able to just chill out, watch some TV, play Xbox, and eat some candy—you have to make sure it’s done in moderation, obviously. I’m 28 now, not 20.
What does a typical day of eating look like for you?
I definitely keep it the same, pretty much, every day. I have pancakes, eggs, and bacon. For lunch, I typically do salmon, rice, chicken over a Caesar wrap. And then for dinner, chicken, salmon, baked potatoes, or a fry-type of situation.
What does your game day routine consist of?
I wake up in the morning at about 7:45 and then take about 15 minutes to get dressed. I’ll eat and that takes about another 15 minutes. So by 8:45—and you can probably tell I’m really strict with the time and I don’t play—I’m at the facility for shootaround, which starts at 10. We’ll go through shootaround, and get done at about 11. I’ll get in the cold tubs, and do all that stuff, and be at the house by about 12:30. I’ll take a nap from about 1 to 3:30. I’ll wake up and start getting dressed for the game. After that, I’m driving to the arena. At 4:40, I’m on the [trainer’s] table, and by 5:15, I’m off. I’ll eat from about 5:15 to 5:30. Then from 5:30 to 6, I’m getting taped, the weight room, and then I’ll shoot before the game.
What are some foods you wouldn’t even consider touching now?
Fast food. I do one thing each year, though. Each day after the last game of the season, I go and eat some fast food as a “cheers to another year.” I was a fast-food guy for a while. I didn’t understand diet before I got to the NBA. I’ll get some fast food, a pack of gummy bears, and do that for three to four days. This year, that will be in June. Fast food is definitely the one thing I won’t do during the season.
What do you order?
McDonald’s. The chicken nuggets, french fries, and a milkshake. I don’t count Chick-fil-A as fast food.
