Physical and Anthropometric Characteristics of Basketball Players

Physical and anthropometric assessments are commonly used in the evaluation of basketball players. Often, they are performed on an annual or semi-annual basis to monitor the effectiveness of a physical training program over the athlete’s career or may be assessed more frequently during a season to identify overtraining or fatigue. These measures may also be used to identify talent and differentiate players in varying levels of competition. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the relevance of various components of fitness (e.g., aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, strength, speed, and agility) and anthropometry on player performance in both men and women basketball players in various amateur and professional leagues.