In basketball, it helps to have a guy who towers above opponents, but not every big man is a Shaq. Some are more of a Shawn Bradley. One team in Italy is attempting to beef up its 7-foot, 6-inch, 15-year-old center by feeding him plenty of carbs.
Robert Bobroczkyi weighs in at just 184 pounds despite being as tall as he is. His athleticism is a concern — he tires out quickly, according to a report from the Associated Press. Therefore, what better way to build up his weight and endurance than by loading him up with pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Bobroczkyi is being fed more than two pounds of pasta each day.
“We’re not interested in basketball right now. The top priority is his health,” Stellazzurra Basketball Academy general manager Giacomo Rossi told the Associated Press. “For someone with his physical stature, the usual practice sessions are just not enough. He needs individual attention.”
Here is a look at the daily menu and schedule for the 15-year old:
8 a.m. — Breakfast: 10.5 ounces (300 grams) of pasta, either plain or with tomato sauce; eight slices of toast with bacon and an egg.
9:30 a.m. — Snack: energy bar or drink
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Physical therapy: stretching, coordination, posture exercises
12 p.m. — Snack: energy bar or drink
1 p.m. — Lunch: 14 ounces (400 grams) of pasta, meat or fish, vegetables
2 p.m. — Rest
2:30 p.m. — Snack: sweets
3-5 p.m. — Gym: muscle strengthening
5:30 p.m. — Snack: sweets
6 p.m. — Rest
8 p.m. — Dinner: 10.5 ounces (300 grams) of pasta, meat or fish, vegetables, dessert
9:30 p.m. — Sleep
That is quite the routine as the team attempts to improve Bobroczkyi as an all-around basketball player, making him more of a Groot than a twig.
Genetics are apparently to blame, as he is the son of a 7’1″ father who once played with 7’7″ Gheorghe Muresan, the tallest player in NBA history. Big men rarely move well, and that is the case for Bobroczkyi. His hips do not currently align with bones the way they should for someone his age. Because he is so tall, more time is needed for bones to align properly.
While he may need some time to continue to develop, Bobroczkyi is already drawing attention from scouts as a possible European star, which likely means the Philadelphia 76ers will one day make a trade in order to acquire him with a second-round draft pick in about six years.
“I think his greatest talent is his passing skills,” Rossi said. “On defense, he intimidates. But he needs to have the body that can stand up over the course of an entire game. He’s never going to be someone who can play all 40 minutes but he’s got to be able to make an impact in the 20 minutes that he does play.”
