Can a 7' Tall Basketball Pro Go the Distance in a Marathon? The Science of Long-Distance Running for Hoopers

Imagine watching a 7-foot tall basketball star like Victor Wembanyama take on the challenge of running a marathon. Up the court is one thing, but could he go the distance on the road? Inquiring minds want to know.

As anyone who watched the dramatic NBA finals knows, basketball players can run. Often very quickly. And, even though the farthest you can run in a straight line on a basketball court is about 94 feet – not much more than a quarter the length of an Olympian's 100-meter dash, they do this over and over again each game.

But what about marathon training? Can basketball players make the transition from short, explosive bursts of energy to the longer, more sustained effort required for a marathon? The answer is complicated.

There are several challenges that basketball players would face when making the transition from short sprints to long-distance running. The first is biomechanics. Taller runners tend to have longer lever arms and larger joints, which require more force and stability. This can put additional stress on the muscles and tendons, particularly in the legs.

Another issue is stride length and turnover rate. Basketball players tend to have a longer stride and a faster turnover rate than distance runners. This can make it difficult for them to adjust to the longer, more sustained pace required for a marathon.

Despite these challenges, there have been successful marathoners who are tall enough to play in the NBA. Alan Page, a 6'4" lineman for the Minnesota Vikings, ran the 1979 Grandma's Marathon near the end of his playing career, finishing in 3:27:50. Zdeno Chara, a 6'9" retired hockey player, has completed six of the current Abbot World Marathon Majors and ran 3:18:00 at Boston this year at age 49.

So, what does the future hold for NBA players like Wembanyama who want to try their hand at marathon running? According to Matt Klein, an assistant professor of physical therapy at George Fox University, it's all about making adjustments to their training and technique. 'I think the key is to find ways to reduce the stress on the joints,' he says. 'This might involve using more supportive shoes and modifying their stride to reduce the impact on their joints.'

Other experts, like Mike Blackmore, a former coach at Linfield University, suggest that NBA players who want to try marathon running need to be careful about their training. 'They have to move that mass a long way if they run a marathon,' he says. 'It's not just a matter of putting in the miles; they need to work on their endurance and their ability to sustain a long, steady pace.'

While we can't definitively say whether Wembanyama or other NBA players can make the transition to marathon running, it's clear that there are challenges ahead. But with the right training and technique, anything is possible. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll see a 7-foot tall basketball star crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon.