Roy Hibbert's Deadlift Training Will Make You a Better Athlete

Who is Roy Hibbert?

Roy Hibbert is a retired two-time NBA All-Star basketball player for the Indiana Pacers and is now a Player Development Associate for the Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff.

Where is Roy Hibbert from?

Hibbert was born in Queens, New York City on December 11, 1986.

As of today, Roy Hibbert’s age is 38.

However, his father Roy Hibbert Sr. is from Jamaica, and his mother Patty is originally from Trinidad.

Roy grew to a height of 6’8″ by the time he was 12.

It is safe to say that outside of his incredible height, he had no other outstanding athletic abilities.

In high school, Hibbert relied on his height as his main advantage on the court.

But when he went to Georgetown University in 2004, Roy Hibbert’s nickname was “Big Stiff” because of his lack of athletic ability, strength, and coordination.

Hoyas coach John Thompson told him that he would be spending his time on the bench if he did not get stronger.

Roy Hibbert deadlift unleashed his basketball fitness Image Credit Matt Kryger IndyStar

How Humiliation Can Spark Success

During one of his first workouts at Georgetown, 7’2″ Hibbert could not even do one push-up.

In a 2012 interview, Hibbert remembered the pain of an athlete’s shame:

“It was humiliating,” Hibbert said. “All these girls are watching — they can do push-ups but I can’t.”

Not only could Hibbert not do a push-up, he couldn’t bend his knees enough to do a single squat, even without holding weights.” – Jordan Ritter Conn of Grantland.com

He lacked strength and Coach Thompson wanted him to gain mobility, stability, and strength if he ever hoped to play for the Hoyas.

Enter the Deadlift – Strength Training for Basketball Fitness

Coach Thompson’s threat lit a fire under Roy Hibbert.

Roy knew that if he did not get stronger, his dreams of playing in the NBA were toast. So, instead of PlayStation, weightlifting became Hibbert’s passion, and he showed up at the gym early in the morning on a daily basis.

Like the Department of Defense has discovered with its brand new Army ACFT deadlift standards, athletic coaches know that the deadlift has great benefits for basketball players.

For example, the deadlift works your entire body with one exercise.

And in particular, deadlifting will focus on those muscles which are typically ignored but are so important for an athlete, specifically the posterior chain.

The posterior chain is made up of all those powerful muscles that you cannot see in the mirror, meaning all the muscle groups on the back half of your body:

Calves
Hamstrings
Glutes
Back

It is these muscles that power the speed and strength of any athlete who needs to run, whether it is an Olympic runner like Allyson Felix, NFL running back Saquon Barkley, or two-time MVP and three-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry.

After a steady diet of training with kettlebell swings, dumbbell incline presses, barbell overhead presses, and trap bar deadlifts, the rail-thin Roy Hibbert transformed into a lethal blocking force on center court.

Roy Hibbert deadlift results – Standing with Tim Duncan Image Credit Bleacherreport ¹

Roy Hibbert’s NBA Career Highlights

2007 – All-Big East First Team
2008 – All-Big East First Team and All-American Consensus Second-Team
2008 to 2015 – Indiana Pacers with an NBA salary of 14 million
2012 – NBA All-Star
2014 – NBA All-Star and NBA All-Defensive Second Team
2015 to 2016 – Los Angeles Lakers
2016 to 2017 – Charlotte Hornets
2017 – Denver Nuggets
2018 – Retired

What Happened to Roy Hibbert’s NBA Career? From All-Star to Out of NBA

2019 – Player Development Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers

Roy Hibbert Deadlift Record

Roy Hibbert’s deadlift can inspire you to work harder.

He knew the powerful benefits of deadlifts and became a world-class NBA All-Star, and the deadlift helped him power his way in the NBA.

Watch Roy Hibbert deadlift 540 pounds for three reps at 16:26 in this 2012 video from Stack.com:

Roy Hibbert Height and Weight

How tall is Hibbert?

He is 7’2″ tall, which is 218.44 centimeters in height with a weight of 290 pounds (132 kg).

See How to Deadlift for Tall Guys: The Best Tips to Power Your Lifts for additional deadlifting recommendations for the taller lifter.

Hibbert’s Workout Routine

Roy had to get serious about getting stronger and worked hard to develop from the Big Stiff to a force on the center court.

His relentless efforts in the gym paid off since Roy Hibbert’s net worth today is estimated at close to 50 million dollars.

A typical workout routine looked like the following:

Squats or trap bar deadlifts
Standing shoulder press
Medicine ball/abdominals
Curls
Ice down muscles
Recovery shake
30-minute massage

In the TV Show Parks and Recreation

Hibbert appeared as himself in several cameo appearances on NBC’s Parks and Recreation.

Roy Hibbert Deadlift – Final Thoughts

Roy did not have the natural athleticism, mobility, coordination, and strength necessary to compete in the NBA.

He had the height, but not the brawn.

The deadlift, along with more strength training exercises enabled Roy to become a two-time NBA All-Star.

Whatever your height is, and no matter how lanky or heavy you are today, you too can build a leaner and stronger body with a deadlift strength training program.

With the right training program and nutrition, you can burn fat and build muscle with a deadlift workout routine and program.

The deadlift helped Roy Hibbert achieve his dreams, and the deadlift can do the same for you.

Roy Hibbert Inspires Kids to Dream Big

What’s Next

Learn to fuel your body with real food and progressive strength training.
Use the Hashi Mashi Diet Plan– five simple and free steps to lose 20 pounds in 3 months if you need to lose weight before beginning your fitness journey.
Once you are ready to deadlift, try out this beginner deadlift workout routine and 12-week program.

No matter where you start, Roy Hibbert’s deadlift results to unleash his basketball fitness will inspire you to achieve your dreams.

Footnotes:

¹ Roy Hibbert is Looking Ripped This Summer

² Pacer Power Center Typical Day

From Visually.

Roy Hibbert’s Deadlift Training Will Make You a Better Athlete