Playing 214 NBA basketball games in two seasons, including two extended playoff runs and the Olympics, would take a toll on anybody—so Harrison Barnes is using every tool at his disposal to train smarter.
“Since I’ve been in the NBA, it has become a data-driven sport, and teams are looking to measure and optimize every aspect of the game and technology plays a big role,” Barnes says. “With tools like motion sensors I’m able to track things like my cardiovascular levels as well and how well I’ve slept. Getting consistent sleep is a big area of focus for me with our busy schedules and it is vital for me to know how long and how well I’ve slept every night which has an impact on my training and my performance on the court.”
Despite the added workload of playing on the record-breaking Golden State Warriors with their run to the Finals, Barnes committed to play for USA Basketball in the upcoming Rio Olympics. This kind of rigorous schedule that Barnes has undertaken, including his first taste of free agency, which saw him depart the Warriors for a four-year max contract with the Dallas Mavericks, requires a dedication to his fitness level and utilizing the technological advances in sports performance developed in recent years.
“It’s all about how I prepare my body during the offseason,” Barnes explained. “The training I’m doing now is focused on cardio workouts and I use the heart rate tracking feature on my Fitbit Blaze during workouts to monitor my heart rate zone which I try to keep above 130. I’m also doing a lot more work in the weight room and trying to maintain my cardio fitness because if that decreases, it’s harder to get back.”
These technological advances within basketball have evolved greatly, even since the past Summer Olympics four years ago in London when Barnes was a recent lottery pick preparing for his rookie season. The NBA has become a sport that looks to take every technological advantage available to keep their players in peak condition through the grind of an 82-game NBA season and, especially for the additional high-intensity playoff games for a player like Barnes.
“Since I’ve been in the NBA, it has become a data-driven sport, teams are looking to measure and optimize every aspect of the game and technology plays a big role,” Barnes said. “With tools like motion sensors I’m able to track things like my cardiovascular levels as well and how well I’ve slept. Getting consistent sleep is a big area of focus for me with our busy schedules and it is vital for me to know how long and how well I’ve slept every night which has an impact on my training and my performance on the court.”
While technology has had a profound impact on the NBA in recent years, Barnes’ interest has been serious ever since he entered the NBA. He interned at Facebook two years ago, after just his second season in the NBA, and earlier this year was named an ambassador for Fitbit.
“I’ve always been interested in technology and there’s a natural connection between technology and basketball,” Barnes says. “Being able to see my fitness data in real-time lets me adjust my workouts on the fly and get the most out of every session.”
In fact, while Barnes’ interest in technology started when he made it to the NBA, he had the advantage of being drafted by the Warriors, which is located near Silicon Valley and owned by technology entrepreneurs Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. Although he will no longer call the Bay Area home, he now plays under another owner with a keen interest in technology and entrepreneurship: Mark Cuban.
“I think one of the advantages of team owners coming from the tech world is attention to detail,” Barnes said. “I think it shows how the intersection of technology and sports and fitness is really coming full circle.”
It is becoming more and more common to see professional athletes taking advantage of how technology can improve their physical condition. Barnes, however, remains a unique case as he only just turned 24 this past May.
Despite finishing just his fourth NBA season in June, he has already been to the NBA Finals twice and is an NBA Champion. As Barnes prepares for yet another big stage in the Rio Olympics, his career continues to reach new heights and he could prove to be a trailblazer for future NBA players getting involved in the technology world early in their career.
For someone nicknamed “The Senator”, it’s likely something that Barnes will be equally proud of if that proves to be the case.