NBA player Russell Westbrook says he doesn’t lift weights to get his stacked muscles – he does up to 50 push-ups every morning

• Lakers guard Russell Westbrook says he doesn't rely on weightlifting to build strength.
• Instead, he does a set of push-ups when he wakes up every morning.
• Push-ups mostly target the chest, but also work out the shoulders, triceps, and back.

Russell Westbrook doesn't do a lot of weightlifting to build his upper-body strength.

The 32-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard said he focuses his workouts on movement, stretching, and stability rather than heavy resistance in an interview with GQ. He also builds strength with the simple push-up.

Westbrook told GQ he does 25 to 50 push-ups when he wakes up to get his blood flowing.

"Just making sure my body is up to tune, consistently working on things that need to be worked on so that I can perform at the level that I feel like I'm supposed to perform at," Westbrook said.

Push-ups combine multiple workouts into one

Westbrook's push-up habit is especially beneficial for building strength in his triceps, biceps, pectorals, shoulders, and lats.

Push-ups can also strengthen core muscles, personal trainer Robert S. Herbst previously told Insider.

"They are better than a standard plank because your abs are working in different ways to stabilize your body through shifting angles of effort," Herbst said.

Push-ups can strengthen the lower body as well, including the hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves.

Not everyone needs to do so many push-ups

Doing push-ups every day might work for Westbrook, but that doesn't mean it's the right move for everyone.

The body might develop a tolerance for push-ups, since the weight of the exercise depends on body weight. The exercise can also be painful for people with wrist concerns like carpal tunnel, even causing re-injury to the wrist if it's been damaged in the past.

Personal trainer Sergio Pedemonte previously told Insider push-up sessions should be limited to three times per week to give the body ample time to recover.

Still, Pedemonte said push-ups are safer than other upper-body workouts like bench-pressing, which works the same muscles but is a less natural movement.