Two legends. Two sports. One message: age is optional. Novak Djokovic, the owner of a record-breaking 24 Grand Slams at 37, and LeBron James, the only player with 40K+ points, 10K+ rebounds, and 10K+ assists at 40, are still dominating the young guns.

In fact, Djokovic just played the Australian Open final over the last weekend, while James had a 22-point game against the Knicks.

So what’s the secret? Let’s break it down.

The Secret Behind Novak Djokovic’s Fitness

Tennis puts immense stress on the entire body, from the rotator cuff and wrists to the lower body's constant movement. In addition, the lower body takes a heavy toll due to constant movement.

For recovery and relaxation, Novak steps inside the hot sauna room. “Once I’m done with the active part of the day, when comes the chilling part. I would possibly take a sauna or an ice bath before unwinding for the day,” said Novak.

Saunas are very useful for muscle recovery as they increase the blood flow and circulation, which improves oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles. Saunas also reduce soreness and promote relaxation through heat. But that's not all.

To recover from this constant wear and tear, Djokovic relies on a rich, nutritious diet.

In his book, Serve to Win, the 24-time Grand Slam winner spoke about how changing his diet helped him transform his body. Back in 2010, Dr. Igor Četojević evaluated Novak Djokovic’s diet and discovered that gluten was adversely affecting his body and performance. Even over a decade later, that change is still working positively.

At the end of 2024, Djokovic revealed his body is ready to keep going. "The way I'm feeling today, I still think that I can go strong for years to come. But how long I'm going to feel motivated to keep going is unpredictable. I still love this sport and I still love competing."

The LeBron James Fitness Story

With constant jumping, screens, drives, and rebounds, players need exceptional body care. And LeBron James knows this well. In a recent episode of the Mind The Game podcast, James emphasized on this aspect.

"I think the most important reason, man, as you get to continue to get older and you listen to your body. How can you still be effective on the court?"

Perhaps that's why reports say LeBron James spends nearly $1 million a year on his physique. James even addressed it long ago.

"I've heard this crazy notion about how much money I spend on my body per year. And I kind of just chuckle. That is a number that I will not disclose,” he said to the camera with a smile.

For recovery, LeBron James uses advanced recovery technologies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red-light treatment, and cryotherapy.

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar