There is definitely a learning curve to the process of spending time on the road. You have to learn how your body feels and how you feel the next day after playing so many games. You have to learn it.
In college, after a game you had to be back for school. You weren’t on the road for 12-day, 14-day trips, getting in at 3 o’clock in the morning. Your body has to adjust. So there is definitely a learning curve, and over time you feel what is good for you.
I tend to take naps. That has changed for me over time. When I was younger and a rookie, I didn’t need much of a nap. I would just get up and go. Now, I need my rest. I’m looking forward to that nap.
Some guys don’t take naps. Mike Bibby didn’t. It’s rare, but maybe 10 percent don’t nap. Some guys feel groggy if they sleep. A guy like Kyle Korver takes a short nap. Some guys nap for three hours. I think that is what preseason is for, to find your personal routine for sleep. You can try it out — one hour, two hours, three hours — when the games don’t count for wins and losses.
When we are on long road trips, there is a lot of time to kill. Maybe not so much on the up-and-backs, but there is on the long road trips. You might get into a city the night before, practice at 11 o’clock the next day and then you are in the city for the entire day before the game, from 2 o’clock on, with time to kill. Some of the younger guys bring video games. They bring them on the plane. They even have TV screens. I’m old school, but they plug into the Xbox and PlayStation exclusively for video games.
Sometimes guys get together for team dinners, organized by the coaches. Sometimes some of the vets will take the younger guys to eat, get a good meal before the game. And then sleep. When you are traveling a lot, you need a lot of rest.
If you are in a city, we’ll go to dinner, get a reservation. Vets like myself, we will pay. The rookies are always looking for free food. We take care of them.
It’s not mandatory. You might be in a city and a guy on the team is from that town, so you understand that he wants to see his parents and family or hang out with friends.
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