Bone Broth Fuels The Philadelphia 76ers’ Magical NBA Season

After six sluggish seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers are back in the NBA playoff race, with a surprisingly good young team that has far surpassed expectations.

The secret to the Sixers’ success? Well, a lot of things probably, but one area in which the team has dramatically upped its game is food.

Back in March, ESPN.com spotlighted the Sixers’ newfound dedication to a healthy and hearty diet. (The full feature, titled “Inside the NBA’s Foodie Franchise,” is worth a look.)

That diet includes regular cupfuls of nutritious bone broth, made in-house by the team’s executive chef:

Bone broth consumption has become a fixture during the team’s morning film sessions. “You feel like it’s a holiday when you smell the bone broth during film,” says Sixers coach Brett Brown. “It’s tasty and purposeful and part of what we do.”

Thanks Coach! We agree. Every day smells like a holiday here at Brodo!

The accompanying photograph shows a Sixers’ staff member pouring hot broth into little green cups labeled with the Gatorade logo. (Have we mentioned that Brodo is a sports drink?)

This isn’t the first time that bone broth has played a positive role in professional basketball. The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the first teams to incorporate bone broth into the team diet. Dwight Howard used bone broth to curb his addiction to candy and sugary drinks. Kobe Bryant credited his daily broth regimen with helping him to recover from potentially career-ending injuries to his knee and his Achilles’ tendon.

In fact, a growing list of high-profile athletes, including NFL quarterback Tom Brady and New York City Marathon winner Shalane Flanagan, have spoken out about the benefits of bone broth to their training routines.

It’s true that the collagen in a well-made, long-simmered bone broth works to strengthen bones, joints and tendons. Bone broth is also incredibly hydrating and replenishes electrolytes like sodium and potassium that are lost during intense workouts like competitive sports.

Since the Sixers started drinking bone broth as part of an overall nutritional program, the franchise has impressively bounced back after years of disappointment — not only qualifying for the NBA playoffs, but finishing high enough in the standings to secure home-court advantage in Round One. All the better to be closer to that home cooking, especially the homemade broth.

As New Yorkers, we here at Brodo are encouraged by Philly’s broth-fueled turnaround. After all, if the Sixers can do it, then maybe there’s even hope for the Knicks!

Long before protein powders, electrolyte packets, and “recovery stacks,” one of the most dominant athletes in the world had a much simpler ritual: a hot cup of broth.

In the 1920s, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey followed a training regimen that included beef or chicken broth first thing in the morning — before his roadwork — and again at dinner.

In his boxing training manual, Dempsey wrote:

“Drink a cup of hot tea, or a cup of beef broth or chicken broth.”

At first glance, it sounds surprisingly modern. And in many ways, it was.

Today, athletes spend billions chasing better recovery, hydration, gut health, and sustained energy. Dempsey’s approach suggests that nearly a century ago, elite fighters already understood something important: simple, nourishing foods matter.

Why Bone Broth Made Sense for Fighters

Dempsey fought during an era when training was brutally physical and recovery tools were limited. Fighters relied on roadwork, sparring, calisthenics, and endless rounds in the gym. There were no fancy supplements waiting afterward.

Broth fit naturally into that world because it offered several practical advantages:

Easy to Digest Before Training

A heavy breakfast before running or sparring could leave athletes sluggish. Warm broth provided hydration and nourishment without weighing the body down.

Even today, many athletes prefer liquids before early workouts for the same reason.

Rich in Protein and Amino Acids

Traditional bone broth contains naturally occurring collagen-derived amino acids like glycine and proline. These compounds are associated with connective tissue support and recovery — especially relevant for athletes putting constant stress on joints, tendons, and muscles.

For fighters absorbing punishment day after day, recovery wasn’t optional.

Hydration and Electrolytes

Before sports drinks existed, broth provided sodium and fluids in a natural, warming format. That made it especially valuable after long training sessions or intense sweating.

In many ways, broth was the original recovery drink.

A Precursor to Modern Recovery Nutrition

Today’s recovery culture focuses on several core ideas:

Rehydration
Protein intake
Gut health
Joint support
Sleep and nervous system recovery

Bone broth overlaps with nearly all of them.

That’s part of why broth has experienced such a resurgence among athletes, runners, fighters, and health-conscious consumers. What once sounded old-fashioned increasingly looks ahead of its time.

Modern sports nutrition often emphasizes engineered products and complicated formulas. Dempsey’s routine is a reminder that many foundational recovery principles are incredibly simple.

The Appeal of Warmth and Routine

There’s also something psychological about the ritual itself.

Imagine waking before sunrise in a cold training camp, drinking a steaming mug of broth before heading out for miles of roadwork. The warmth, salt, and comfort likely served a mental purpose as much as a physical one.

Athletes thrive on routine. Dempsey clearly understood that consistency mattered.

And unlike extreme diets or trendy protocols, broth was sustainable — something that could become part of everyday life.

Why Bone Broth Still Resonates Today

Nearly 100 years later, people are rediscovering many of the same benefits that made broth appealing to old-school fighters:

A savory alternative to sugary breakfasts
A gentle way to start the morning
A comforting recovery ritual
An easy source of protein and hydration
A warming, nutrient-dense staple during stressful or physically demanding periods

The details may evolve, but the core idea hasn’t changed much since Dempsey’s era: nourish the body consistently and train hard.

Sometimes the old ways stick around for a reason.

From Boxing Camps to Modern Kitchens

Dempsey probably wasn’t thinking about “biohacking” or “functional nutrition.” He was preparing his body to perform.

Yet his broth habit feels remarkably aligned with how many people approach wellness today.

Not because it was trendy.
Because it worked.

And nearly a century later, a hot mug of broth before the day begins still feels like one of the simplest recovery rituals around.

How Bone Broth Fueled the 76ers’ NBA Season