NBA Players Napping

SI Staff | Mar 11, 2011

NBA Players Napping

Shaquille O'Neal

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

In light of a recent report on NBA players' fondness of pregame naps, we took it upon ourselves to find all the classic photos of pro ballers dozing ... starting with Shaqtacular.

Shaquille O'Neal

via Twitter (@nate_robinson)

Nate Robinson had fun pranking his former Boston teammate on the team's bus earlier this season.

Joe Johnson

Bill Frakes/SI

The Hawks guard let us snap this pic while he got some cozy time with his couch.

Carmelo Anthony

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

'Melo needed to rest up after the 2005 All-Star Rookie-Sophomore practice.

Chris Paul

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Hornets point guard Chris Paul earned a nap before Team USA's game against Lithuania in Macao, China.

Hilton Armstrong

Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

What? So Hilton Armstrong got a sleepy. No big deal.

Kobe Bryant

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Some opt for teddy bears. Kobe opts for NBA championship trophies.

LeBron James

Justin Jay/Getty Images

Because commercial shoots are tiring...

Theo Ratliff

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Then with the Hawks, journeyman center Theo Ratliff got comfortable on the team's charter plane.

Jeff Trepagnier, Marcus Camby

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

So did Trepagnier (far left) and Camby, former Denver Nuggets teammates.

Yi Jianlian

David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Looking forward to the 2007 draft, then NBA prospect Yi Jianlian needed to catch up on his rest to impress the scouts.

Brian Shaw

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Shaw needed to catch some z's before Game 3 of the 2000 Finals against the Pacers. He scored four points in 13 minutes and the Lakers lost by nine. Luckily, they won the title.

Dennis Rodman

John McDonough/SI

Listen, rebounding ain't easy. Not when you do it like Rodman.