Baxter Holmes reveals the NBA's 'secret addiction'

Kevin Durant even made PB&J shoes.

In the present day of high performance athletes and their regimented training programs and diet plans, the thought of indulgence is, usually, pushed far to the back of the minds of professional sports stars.

Out of all sports, the NBA produces some of the most spectacular athletic specimens seen today. Most are well over 190cm tall, built of pure muscle and can leap higher than most men would dare dream.

You might think these freaks of nature have controlled their temptation for a fatty, sugary snack, but fresh insight on the pre-game rituals of the majority of the NBA's 30 teams could put that theory to bed.

Baxter Holmes, a journalist for ESPN, revealed today the NBA's league-wide addiction to peanut butter and jelly (jam) sandwiches. You read that right.

Holmes revealed the interesting fact in an extensive column, describing the key moment in 2007-2008 when the NBA was flipped on its head.

An unknown player for the Boston Celtics told strength and conditioning coach Bryan Doo he wanted one of the messy snacks

"Man, I could go for a PB&J," he reportedly said, prompting a response from Celtics legend Kevin Garnett.

"Yeah, let's get on that," Garnett said.

And from there a league-wide addiction was born.

Doo admitted the left-field suggestion was a "win-win" for the team, who were now less tempted to sneak out and stuff their face with unhealthy snacks.

"Boston was doing it at a mass-produced level earlier on than I noticed other people doing it, for sure," Lakers strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco said. "They were really on the forefront of this revolution."

Holmes revealed in detail the extreme measures each club takes to provide the sweet, crunchy sandwiches to players before each game. For example, the Portland Trail Blazers hand out 20 crust-less, organically-sourced PB&Js to players. The Houston Rockets provide an endless supply of ingredients in their kitchen for players to use at their discretion.

Out of all the clubs, it is the Milwaukee Bucks who post the most extensive of pre-game PB&J indulgences. The Bucks offer a buffet to players before the game, running through 20 to 30 sandwiches a game, but it doesn't stop there.

The Milwaukee camp has also given players PB&J-flavoured protein shakes, oatmeal, pancakes and waffles with head chef Shawn Zell reportedly contemplating a PB&J burger to cap off the insanity.

Each player has a different preference in how the sacred PB&J is consumed. MVP contender Russell Westbrook apparently has his toasted on wheat bread and has it whole or sliced in half, depending on his mood.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram is meticulous with his sandwich, making sure they're made of organic ingredients and up to his "perfect" standards.

The obsession got so strong that Golden State Warriors gun Kevin Durant released a shoe line in dedication to the famous sandwich.

Health concerns for players consuming bulk levels of fatty peanut butter and jam soon arose, but according to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, stars don't need to worry.

"Our official stance is that it's a healthy snack," he said. "I'm an advocate of balance. So people need to eat nutritious meals, but a little bit of sugar ... OK."