Encouraged by team officials, Gilbert Arenas, Brandon Bass, Earl Clark and Chris Duhon have incorporated boxing into their training regimens.

"I thought it was kind of weird that they were sending me in here to box at first, but I love it," said Anderson, who has been boxing since he was traded to the Magic in June 2009. "It's just a great workout, and I see now why we keep coming back here and bringing guys here."

The goal of these sessions isn't to become better fighters: No one is punching the Magic players, and they're not punching anyone unless they're aiming jabs, hooks and uppercuts into the pads Drespling often wears on his hands or over his ribs and stomach.

Magic strength and conditioning coach Joe Rogowski endorses the boxing workouts because they improve the players' stamina, balance and mental toughness. The boxing also breaks up the monotony of players' usual training routines of shooting baskets and weightlifting at Amway Center and running on the Jones High School track.

"It gets boring doing the conditioning on the court, so this provides more one arrow in the quiver," Rogowski said. "I just like to get them out of the gym once in a while. It's a great workout. It's different. The guys look at it as a challenge."