Scary reason Michael Jordan wanted bigger biceps

Michael Jordan’s trainer has revealed the insane reason the six-time NBA champion decided to add bicep curls into his workout.

Athletes are renowned for their bizarre superstitions, but none are as meticulous as Michael Jordan.

The basketball icon was obsessed with routine, and did everything in his power to ensure nothing would get in the way of victory.

Many considered his quirks to be excessive, but you can’t argue his methods didn’t work — the six-time NBA champion is considered one of the most successful athletes in history.

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Jordan’s obsession with winning was examined in award-winning docu-series The Last Dance, and the 14-time NBA All-Star’s former personal trainer has elaborated further in Winning.

Tim Grover’s new book gives readers a glimpse into Jordan’s chaotic mind, showing what’s required to excel at the highest level.

Why Jordan wanted bigger biceps

Jordan wasn’t the biggest player on the court early in his career — he was one of the smallest members of the Chicago Bulls squad during his rookie season in 1984.

But after a bitter rivalry developed between the Bulls and Detroit Pistons in the late 1980s, he knew it was time to change his body shape.

Big biceps may look good but in terms of athletic performance, particularly on the basketball court, they count for little. Still, Jordan wanted beefier arms if it meant gaining even the tiniest mental advantage over opponents who might be intimidated if they saw how ripped he was.

“When I was training MJ, the Bulls’ strength coach asked why I had him doing bicep curls,” Grover writes.

“The theory was biceps were just for show and didn’t really make someone a better basketball player. And that was probably true. But we were going for that 0.0001 per cent, which included the intimidation factor of his biggest, stronger, more dominant physique.

“What’s the first thing you see on a basketball player when he takes off his warm-ups? Those arms. Details matter.”

Size matters.

MJ was always searching for the slightest advantage.

Anyone for steak? Jordan’s pre-game meal

While most of his teammates were filling up on carbs ahead of NBA games, Jordan devoured a steak three hours before the opening tip.

“Back in the eighties and nineties, the nutrition prescription for athletes was carbs, carbs, more carbs. Everyone was eating rice and pasta for fuel, but that wasn’t working for MJ. Aside from feeling bloated, he was playing so hard that it just wasn’t enough for him,” Grover writes.

“When the team was playing at home, he was eating at 3:30pm in order to get to the stadium by 6pm. So he was starving by the 7:30pm game time, and by the fourth quarter, he could feel his energy decreasing. So we added a steak to his pre-game meal.

“We had to devise a new plan for Michael, based on his body chemistry and schedule, his playing minutes, and the massive amount of energy he expended on the court. The steak slowed down the digestion of everything else he was eating — the starches, vegetables, etc. — and kept his blood sugar consistent so he had more energy throughout the entire game.”

MJ had a steak before every game.

MJ’s meticulous game-day routine

Grover revealed Jordan’s pre-game routine was so finetuned, even the smallest interruption would completely throw him out of whack.

“MJ had the most disciplined game-day routine I’ve ever seen, from the way he selected his timepiece to the way he laced his shoes,” Grover writes. “He planned and organised every details of his day, from the time of his workout to the car he drove to the arena.

“He put his clothes on in a specific order, organised the game tickets for his family and friends, ate at the same time every day … everything had purpose and discipline.

“Part of his routine was to lace his shoes before every game, fresh out of the box … One day on the road the team bus was delayed coming into the arena, so I went ahead and laced his shoes exactly the way he did, just to save some time. He refused to wear them; I’d interfered with his routine. He had the equipment manager get him a new pair — unlaced — so he could lace them himself.”

It’s no surprise Jordan was a 14-time NBA All-Star.

Grover’s favourite Jordan story reveals crazy competitive streak

Jordan would regularly invite NBA players to Grover’s Chicago-based gym to practice in the off-season, and one scary incident with a youngster perfectly summarised Jordan’s relentless determination — or what some would describe as an unhealthy competitive streak.

“One very hot, steamy day, we had a new guy who was trying extremely hard to impress everyone, especially Michael. He gets a little overheated and collapses in the middle of a game, right on the floor,” Grover writes.

“Apparently he’d had about five Red Bulls, and now he’s having a seizure. He’s foaming at the mouth, sweating profusely, and I can’t find a pulse.

“We call 911, clear the court, and I’m giving him CPR while we wait for an ambulance. And while I’m pumping this guy’s chest and making sure he doesn’t die on my floor, I feel someone stand over me watching what’s happening. MJ.

“At that moment, the guy opens his eyes, slowly sits up, looks around, and sees Michael Jordan standing over him.

“‘You good?’ Michael asks him. The kid looks up and smiles weakly, a little groggy, but he says, ‘Yes, sir, I’m good.’

“‘Good,’ says MJ. ‘Get a sub’, he says to me, ‘I got a game to win’.

“That’s a competitive problem.”

Tim Grover’s Winning, published by Simon & Schuster, is available in bookstores now for $29.99