[Lewenberg] Jakob Poeltl hired and worked with a strength and conditioning coach that specializes in helping athletes bounce back from injury.

[u/CazOnReddit]

Source: https://www.tsn.ca/nba/article/raptors-poeltl-hopes-to-put-back-injury-behind-him/

After last season became a lost season for Jakob Poeltl, any discussion about the veteran centre turns into an indictment of his contract. There are at least three years and more than $80 million of guaranteed salary left on an extension he signed in the summer of 2025. Neither the player nor the deal have aged well.

A nagging back injury limited the 30-year-old to 46 games last season. It’s an ailment he’s been dealing with for a year and may have to manage, to some degree or another, for the rest of his career.

Coming off a disappointing campaign, it’s easy to forget that the version of Poeltl the Raptors drafted in 2016, traded for Leonard in 2018, re-acquired and re-signed in 2023, and then extended in 2025 was a quality starting NBA centre. The numbers don’t do him justice, though 12.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 64 per cent shooting in two and a half years with Toronto prior to last season are nothing to scoff at.

For what it’s worth, Poeltl isn’t lacking for motivation either. He spent most of the off-season in his native Austria, where he hired and worked with a strength and conditioning coach that specializes in helping athletes bounce back from injury. In consultation with the Raptors’ medical staff, they made some changes to Poeltl’s training routine and crafted a program specifically designed to manage his reoccurring back pain.

Previously, Poeltl would warm up before his basketball workouts and do a standard lift routine afterwards. With the new regimen, he’s doing a full activation and targeted lift session before picking up a ball. There’s an emphasis on mobility, trying to take some pressure off his back by making him more mobile in areas where his range of motion was lacking. In the weight room, the focus is on improving his core strength, as well as targeting his glutes and hamstrings, to make sure he has as much protection as possible.

So far so good. He’s feeling better and, by all accounts, he’s moving better, but he knows the real test is weeks and months away. Keeping up with the new routine and maintaining his health and conditioning over the course of a full season will get monotonous, without any guarantee that it will work – back injuries are famously unpredictable and don’t tend to age well in seven-footers over 30.

[u/Longjumping_Fuel_192]

I’m ready for Jak to return to form. I’ve been a believer since we traded for him, and I will stay on the bandwagon.

[u/LemonButterRum → u/Longjumping_Fuel_192]

BELIEVE!

[u/Altruistic_Mode3026 → u/LemonButterRum]

Believe and heal. Believe and win

[u/dontgetitwisted_fr → u/Longjumping_Fuel_192]

Fact Wagon

[u/WeBelieveIn4 → u/Longjumping_Fuel_192]

I love Jak is a person but that trade was probably the second worst trade in franchise history. Older, old school centre to add to a poor shooting team, significantly worsened our draft odds (we ended up getting Dick), while also carrying an opportunity cost of significantly reduced returns for vets we traded much later.

I hope he returns to form because our title chances probably hinge on him either being playable or being a usable trade asset, which he is currently not.

[u/CazOnReddit → u/WeBelieveIn4]

I can think of at least 3 Raptors trades worse than the Jakob Poeltl trade which are not the very obvious shit-encrusted gold medal that is the Vince Carter trade

Hell, it's not even the worst trade we've made with the Spurs

It's not even the worst trade we've made with the Spurs in the early 20s(!)

[u/sdeezy4 → u/WeBelieveIn4]

Insane take

[u/BetweenTheBuzzAndMe → u/WeBelieveIn4]

not to mention the pick you traded could've been used for a quality player. While Rob Dillingham was the actual pick that year, the next few picks were Edey (significantly more interesting than Poeltl), Cody Williams (nope), Matas (also interesting), and Topic (big question mark)

[u/mas1108 → u/WeBelieveIn4]

No Dick, no Kawhi

[u/Sy6574 → u/mas1108]

It was also the wemby year, we should’ve tried to tank for him instead of keeping a mid team alive after half a season of seeing how it worked

[u/HotspurJr]

These stories always make me wonder.

Is this ... unusual? Don't teams have guys on staff whose job is this sort of thing? Do most players with persistent injuries just sort of say "eh, whatever, I'm fine?" These are pro freakin' athletes whose livelihood depends on playing.

Also, if I was a front office and I had a guy with persistent injuries, I sure as hell wouldn't make him pay for specialized trainers himself!

[u/basher247 → u/HotspurJr]

Yeah this should be normal, normal enough that team medical staff have this expertise.

[u/sdeezy4 → u/HotspurJr]

Teams don't have back specialists just laying around. The same way they don't have specialists dedicated to Achilles injuries. Those are "outpatient" services.

[u/Direct-Departure1662]

Take those PEDs brother

[u/dontgetitwisted_fr → u/Direct-Departure1662]

Nobody asked you Lebron 🤣

Edit: damn yo its a joke lmao

[u/TehranBro]

Not sure how this is news. Players hire multiple different trainers all the time.

[u/t33lu → u/[deleted]]

Im a raps fan and want to cope too. Thanks OP.

[u/ihatedougford]

Hopefully he can bounce back but I really doubt it. Back injuries are devastating to big men

[u/Savings_Studio_5678 → u/ihatedougford]

Usually they post a pic of themselves having a lost a ton of weight before they're 100% cooked 

[u/garynevilleisared]

I hope Jak gets healthy. But big men and back injuries dont usually end well. Even for someone damn near superhuman like Dwight was made to look like a shell of himself because of back injuries. I just hope CMB can play enough as a small ball 5 so that we dont run Jak into the ground.

[u/gm5891]

My back is killing me, give me some tips Jak

[u/hickok3 → u/gm5891]

Work on stregthening endurance, more than just pure back strength. May also be an imblance from the other core muscles(side and abs) causing you back erectors to work harder and fatigue. But see an actual professional for guidance before you put random suggestions from a stranger on the internet to practice.

[u/HardlyW0rkingHard → u/gm5891]

If you have a desk job or sit for the majority of your day, you likely have right hamstrings. Try some yoga that focuses on loosening those muscles. The goal is that you are able to touch your toes without discomfort. 

Its all connected. I used to have a lot of shoulder and lat pain. It almost seems unbelievable but it's all connected. 

[u/Raptorsthrowaway1]

Always loved Yak. But that extension was poor if he’s healthy and a disaster if he’s injured

[u/Specific_Tale_1640]

Glad he's not working with someone who specializes in guys not bouncing back.

[u/pomofusion]

But, aLeX McKecHniE!!!1

[u/goknicks23]

Can't do anything for a back but pray, good luck.

[u/brehhs]

With all due respect a lot of these pro strengthening coaches have no clue what they’re doing.