Otago should not have too much trouble muscling up this season, with former Nugget Markham Brown called in to whip the side into shape.
Brown joined the Nuggets squad in 1989 and played with the franchise during the halcyon days of the mid and late 90s.
The 36-year-old last played in the National Basketball League in 1998 but retains a keen interest in basketball, getting along to several Nuggets matches last season.
This year Brown is no longer confined to the sidelines, having accepted a role as the Nuggets' fitness trainer.
While he has got some big bodies to work with, and some extremely fit individuals, the Nuggets open their campaign in less than three weeks against the defending champions the Nelson Giants.
‘‘It is just about complementing what they are already doing,'' Brown said. ‘‘You don't want to overdo it.
‘‘I've talked with the coach [Don Sims] and the Nuggets are going to have a heavy training load at practices.''
Brown, who is the operations manager at World Fitness Centre, will be mainly working with the athletes to help improve their strength, speed and agility.
‘‘Agility is important in basketball, especially on defence. You've got to react quickly and move laterally to keep up with your opponent.
‘‘The guys do a lot of jumping at practice but we'll supplement that as well.'' The Nuggets are unlikely to build bulky muscles or lift the same weights burly rugby players do.
‘‘In basketball it is about short sharp bursts but you've still got to have the endurance to last through the game. So you do need to have a good aerobic base.''
Most of the top players will be expected to turn out at the gym four times a week. Not all of the sessions will be torturous; some will be designed to help the athletes recover. But sweat they will.
Brown is from an athletic family which includes older sister and former Otago Rebels coach Janine Southby, and younger sister Megan Graamans. Both played netball at an elite level.
He has been a personal trainer for the past 12 years. Before moving back to Dunedin he worked with up-and-coming basketballers in the Auckland region.
Brown helped his wife, Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown (nee Te Huna), bounce back from ligament damage in her knee.
The pair married late last year, and while Jodi has signed to play with Canterbury in the ANZ Championship this season, the couple will remain based in Dunedin.
