Since the analysis of most demanding scenarios (MDS) in basketball has improved the practical knowledge about match demands and possible impacts for the training process, it seems important to summarize the scientific evidence providing useful information and future directions related to MDS. Specifically, basketball coaching and strength and conditioning staffs. This review assesses the results reflected in the available literature about the MDS in basketball, synthesizing and discussing data from 12 scientific papers, and then providing relevant insights about terminology, sex and sample size, competition category, workload variables recorded, technology used, method of calculation, time windows analyzed, and activities evaluated related to MDS. Therefore, the present narrative review would be of utility for coaches, scientists, athletes and strength and conditioning trainers exploring the current trends and future directions related to MDS in basketball.

The main aim of this narrative review is to assess the existing body of scientific literature on heart rate variability (HRV) in relation to basketball, focusing on its use as a measure of internal load and vagal nerve responses. Monitoring HRV offers insights into the autonomic function and training-induced adaptations of basketball players. Various HRV measurement protocols, ranging from short-term to longer durations, can be conducted in different positions and conditions, such as rest, training, and sleep, to determine this key metric. Consistency and individualization in measurement protocols, responding to the athlete’s specific characteristics, is crucial for reliable HRV data and their interpretation. Studies on HRV in basketball have explored psychological adaptation, training effects, individual differences, recovery, and sleep quality. Biofeedback techniques show positive effects on HRV and anxiety reduction, potentially enhancing performance and stress management. The scientific literature on HRV in basketball could benefit from studies involving longer monitoring periods to identify significant trends and results related to training and recovery. Longitudinal HRV monitoring in teams with intense travel schedules could reveal the impact on athletes of all levels and ages, and, in this regard, individualized interpretation, considering the subjective recovery and fitness levels of athletes, is recommended to optimize training programs and performance. HRV provides insights into training and competitive loads, aiding in determining exercise intensities and training status. Additionally, HRV is linked to recovery and sleep quality, offering valuable information for optimizing player performance and well-being. Overall, HRV is a reliable tool for adjusting training programs to meet the specific needs of basketball players.

Purpose: To examine the within-player associations between external load (EL; playing time, movement load), internal load (IL; heart rate, rating of perceived exertion [RPE], and training impulse [TRIMP]) and efficiency index (Effindex) during friendly professional games in professional male basketball players. Additionally, a second aim was to explore the intra-relationships within EL, IL and Effindex variables (EL vs EL, IL vs IL, Effindex vs Effindex). Methods: 10 male basketball players competing in the Spanish First Division (ACB) were monitored during 5 preseason friendly games across the 2021/2022 preseason (5 games over 25 days). The physical parameters recorded were classified into: (I) 2 external load variables, (II) 3 internal load variables and (III) 12 efficiency indexes. Results: Significant (p < 0.05), positive and large to very large correlations were observed between all external and internal physical load variables. Concerning the relationship between EL and Effindex and IL and Effindex and intra-relationships within EL, IL and Effindex variables, showed high variability when correlation analyses were analyzed. Conclusions: Simple measures such as RPE and playing time, which can be obtained without the technological devices, provide meaningful insight into players’ adaptation to the physical stress imposed by training and competition. Therefore, these cost-effective variables may offer a practical overview of the accumulated external physical load experienced by players during a given event, even in the absence of advanced monitoring technology.