Calorie burn during basketball depends primarily on body weight, intensity, and duration. While MET values provide a standardized estimate, individual metabolic variations exist.
Key Factors Influencing Calorie Expenditure
Body Weight: Heavier individuals expend more energy performing the same activity.
Intensity Level: Vigorous play (fast breaks, defense, jumping) burns significantly more calories than casual shooting.
Duration: Total session length directly impacts cumulative calorie burn.
Player Position & Play Style: Guards covering more court distance often burn more than centers engaged in intense bursts.
Rest Periods: Frequent pauses lower the average burn rate.
Estimated Calorie Burn (Per Hour)
- 125 lbs (57 kg): Casual: 240-330 kcal Competitive: 480-600 kcal
- 155 lbs (70 kg): Casual: 300-420 kcal Competitive: 600-744 kcal
- 185 lbs (84 kg): Casual: 360-500 kcal Competitive: 720-888 kcal
- 215 lbs (97 kg): Casual: 420-580 kcal Competitive: 840-1032 kcal
Calculating Your Specific Burn
The formula using Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) values:
Calories Burned = MET × Weight in kg × Time in hours
- Casual Basketball: MET ≈ 6.0
- Competitive Basketball: MET ≈ 8.0-12.0
Example (155 lbs / 70 kg playing competitive for 45 mins):
Calories = 10 MET × 70 kg × 0.75 hours ≈ 525 kcal.
Additional Considerations
Afterburn Effect (EPOC): High-intensity games elevate metabolism for hours post-play, increasing total calorie expenditure beyond the court time. Heart rate monitors or sports watches provide personalized data but vary in precision.
