How Many Calories Do You Burn Playing Basketball?

Like many other sports, basketball forces players to play high intensity for long periods, making it the perfect choice to lose weight and stay in shape. That’s why most players are thin and don’t carry a lot of body fat.

With that in mind, many people wonder how many calories they can burn playing each basketball game.

So are you wondering, “How many calories do you burn playing basketball?” Scott Fujita has the answer for you here. Let’s read on!

How Many Calories Do You Burn Playing Basketball?

The calories you lose while playing basketball depend on some factors.

You can burn from 575 to 775 calories when you play basketball in an hour.

The calories you burn while playing basketball depend on many factors: Your current weight, how often you move, how intense your competition is, etc.

For one full match, where you have to move actively and throughout the game, you can expect to eliminate 710 calories (assuming you weigh 185 pounds). 

So it is clear that playing basketball allows you to burn calories efficiently, making it an ideal choice for weight loss.

What Factors Can Impact Burned Calories Playing Basketball 

Regarding “How many calories do you burn in a basketball game,” there are several factors to consider, including game format, your weight, and effort.

Current Weight

Your current weight is the most significant factor in determining the level of calories you burn while playing this sport. 

The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. A person weighing about 250 pounds can burn approximately 1000 calories if he plays this sport for one hour.

Effort

If you put in more effort, the more calories you can lose. If you just walk up and down the floor, the calories burned will be less.

So ensure you’re maximizing your effort if you want to maximize your burned calories when playing basketball.

Game Format

Joining a full-court 5 vs. 5 match is ideal for burning calories because of the running frequency required. That means it forces you to hustle instead of walking up and down the floor.

Joining a one 3 on 3 half-court match also allows you to burn a good amount of cal. It still forces you to quick spurts, hustle, and jump at the key time.

Even something like working on layups and shooting the ball also enables you to burn a decent amount of cal.

Health Benefits of Playing Basketball 

Health benefits of playing this sport

Improve Bone Strength

This sport has a positive impact on bone health. Besides basketball, almost all the team sports out there can help you improve bone strength.

Enhance Muscular Endurance

Playing basketball requires a lot of stamina and strength. Playing this game regularly will help you improve your muscular endurance.

Many studies show that this sport helps strengthen the back muscles and the core. Playing the game as a habit will help increase muscle endurance and enhance energy levels.

Great for Heart Health

Playing this sport can help increase your resting heart rate. It is essential for preventing many heart diseases from happening.

Improve Balance

Playing basketball forces your body to move correctly and quickly. Whether you’re shooting or defending the hoop, you must maintain a perfect balance to meet your goal.

So it will give you the benefit of experiencing better balance, making it easier to take care of physical tasks that are challenging for non-athletic people.

FAQs

Can You Lose Weight Playing Basketball?

The answer is Yes. Playing basketball is one of the effective ways to burn calories, leading to weight loss. 

However, you also need to combine it with a proper diet. The main rule for weight loss is that the calories you take in should be less than the calories you burn through daily activity.

Why do People Love to Play Basketball?

Playing this sport is a whole lot of fun.

In addition to allowing you to burn calories, leading to weight loss effectively, there are many reasons why people enjoy playing this sport, including:

• In this sport, each player must learn to rely on each other and motivate others to accomplish a common target. It will help produce dopamine, adrenaline, and serotonin, making the entire experience more cordial.
• Basketball can be played anywhere.
• Playing basketball is a whole lot of fun. Its fast-paced nature makes it exciting.
• What we can see on television inspires many people to play this sport.
• This sport develops physical fitness and can stimulate your mental health.
• This sport has incredibly beginner-friendly rules.

How Many Calories Does 1 Hour of Basketball Burn?

The answer to “How many calories does an hour of basketball burn” may vary depending on your current weight and intensity. Some research shows that you can burn from 575 to 775 calories while playing basketball in one hour. 

How Many Calories Does Shooting Basketball Burn?

If you’re just shooting the ball, you can burn between 325 to 450 calories within an hour.

How Many Calories Do Basketball Players Eat?

NBA players load between 2000 and 4500 calories daily to maintain a healthy weight. 

How Do Burned Calories When Playing Basketball Compare to Other Activities?

The Bottom Line

It’s no surprise that playing this sport helps you burn many calories. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you’ve got the answer to “How many calories does basketball burn?”

Basketball is one of the most challenging sports that require a high degree of physical fitness, accuracy, and speed. As a player, you must move around a lot while defending your hoop and attacking your opponent.