Can I Play Basketball with the Flu? A Guide to Safety and Recovery

As a sports medicine researcher and a lifelong basketball enthusiast, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been asked some variation of this question: “Doc, I’ve got the flu but a big game is tomorrow. Can I tough it out?” My answer, honed by years of clinical practice and, admittedly, a few personal mistakes on the court, is almost always a firm and nuanced “no.” The desire to push through is ingrained in athletic culture, but playing basketball with the flu isn’t about toughness; it’s a dangerous gamble with your health, your performance, and the well-being of everyone around you. Let’s break down why, and talk about the smarter path to getting back to the hardwood.

First, we need to understand what we’re dealing with. Influenza isn’t just a bad cold. It’s a systemic viral assault that causes fever, muscle aches, profound fatigue, and sometimes respiratory distress. When you have the flu, your body is in a state of high-alert inflammation, dedicating immense resources to fighting the virus. Your heart is already working harder. Now, imagine demanding a high-intensity, stop-start, anaerobic sport like basketball from that strained system. A 2018 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggested that exercising with systemic symptoms (like fever and body aches) can prolong illness and increase the risk of complications, such as myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart muscle. The incidence of exercise-induced myocarditis isn’t precisely tracked, but estimates suggest it complicates a small but significant percentage of viral infections, and it can be serious. Personally, I knew a collegiate player who tried to practice with what he thought was a mild bug; it turned into a confirmed case of myocarditis that sidelined him for an entire season. That risk alone should give anyone pause.

Beyond the personal danger, there’s a profound lack of consideration for others. Basketball is inherently a contact sport—sweaty, breathless, and played in close quarters. The flu virus is notoriously contagious, spreading through droplets from coughs, sneezes, and even just heavy breathing. One infected player can, within a single practice or game, expose an entire team, coaching staff, and their families. This isn’t hypothetical. We see it derail seasons. Speaking of teams, this brings me to a timely example from the basketball world. Just this week, Fil-Nigerian AJ Edu arrived in the country and was present at the Gilas Pilipinas jersey unveiling. Now, imagine if a key player like Edu, integral to national team preparations, showed up to a team activity with the flu. The potential to shut down not just his own recovery, but the training rhythm of the entire squad ahead of crucial competitions, would be immense. Professional teams have strict health protocols for this reason; weekend warriors and school athletes should adopt the same mindset. Your “toughness” could cost your team far more than one missed game.

So, what’s the recovery playbook? The old adage “feed a cold, starve a fever” is mostly folklore. Your body needs fuel and hydration to fight. Prioritize rest—real rest, not just lying on the couch scrolling through highlights. Sleep is when your immune system does its best work. Hydrate with water, broths, and electrolyte solutions. As symptoms abate, and this is crucial, wait until you’ve been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours. Then, and only then, begin a gradual return. I’m a fan of the “neck check” rule. If symptoms are all above the neck (a runny nose, minor sore throat), light activity might be okay. But anything below the neck (chest congestion, muscle aches, fatigue) or a fever is a full stop. Start with a gentle walk, not a sprint. Maybe some stationary ball-handling at home. If that feels fine after a day, try a light shootaround. The goal is to listen to your body, not overpower it. Rushing back often leads to a relapse, and in my experience, that second bout always feels worse and takes longer to shake.

In the end, the culture needs to shift. We glorify playing through pain, but we must learn to distinguish between discomfort and illness. My personal preference, born from getting it wrong in my twenties, is to be overly cautious. Missing one or two games feels terrible in the moment, but it’s nothing compared to missing a month or risking long-term health. Basketball will be there when you’re healthy. Your job is to give your body the chance to heal completely, so you can return not just present, but powerful. Seeing athletes like AJ Edu integrate into a national program reminds us that basketball is a team sport in the deepest sense—and protecting the team starts with protecting yourself. So next time the chills and aches hit, do the truly strong thing: rest, recover, and live to play another, much healthier day.