Introduction:
Functional strength training (FST) and traditional strength training (TST) are methods commonly used to improve athletic performance. However, their comparative effects on the strength and power of college basketball players remain underexplored.

Aim of the study:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects on strength and power in college basketball players participating in a 10-week FST vs. TST, both before and after the intervention.

Material and methods:
The study involved 24 college basketball players (age ranged between 18 to 25 years) from two universities, divided into an experimental group (FST) and a comparison group (TST) with 12 participants in each. Both groups trained for 10 weeks, three times a week, for 90 minutes per session. Strength and power were assessed pre- and post-training using measures such as bench press 1RM, deep squat 1RM, 1-minute sit-up, two-handed chest pass with gravity ball, standing long jump, and vertical jump height. SPSS 27.0 software was used for paired and independent t-tests.

Results:
Both FST and TST significantly improved strength and power across all performance metrics (p < 0.05). Comparing the two groups, FST demonstrated significant advantages in deep squat 1RM, 1-minute sit-up, two-handed chest pass with gravity ball, and standing long jump (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:
Both FST and TST effectively enhance the strength and power of college basketball players. However, FST shows superior benefits in performance measures directly applicable to basketball-specific activities.