Shaq says Blake Griffin and Dwight has more athletic ability than he ever had

[gyu]

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/tnt_overtime/2013/11/22/20131121-inside-blake.nba

at 1:43

:biggums:

[no pun intended]

cannot deny that

[CavaliersFTW]

Absolute size is not a footnote, therefore I disagree with Shaq

[theaussieguy]

are u seriously disputing this fact? maybe they shaq is a bigger 'freak' and had a great size to athleticism ratio, but he sure as hell is not as athletic as either, not even close

[chosen_one6]

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/tnt_overtime/2013/11/22/20131121-inside-blake.nba

at 1:43

:biggums:

Yea....it's true. Shaq was just a big strong brute. Dwight and Blake are high flyers. What's to debate?

[moe94]

are u seriously disputing this fact? maybe they shaq is a bigger 'freak' and had a great size to athleticism ratio, but he sure as hell is not as athletic as either, not even close
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoEWO5ypOPM

He was pretty athletic at one point.

[kNicKz]

Orlando Magic Shaq was more athletic than Blake/D12

[magic chiongson]

Orlando Magic Shaq was more athletic than Blake/D12

could've stayed that way with the lakers if he put some time in the gym

[lefthook00]

While Blake and Dwight are more athletic, Shaq is the bigger freak. A Shaq is much much much harder to come by than those two. Although he couldn't move like them, it's astonishing how well he moved for someone that big.

[sundizz]

That's nonsense...he must just be getting old and forgetting how beastly he was. His first 3 years in the league....there has never been anyone with his combination of athleticism. He could do everything quick and with power. It was incredible. Gazella speed end to end, iceberg on titanic strength, ballerina coordination.

[CavaliersFTW]

That's nonsense...he must just be getting old and forgetting how beastly he was. His first 3 years in the league....there has never been anyone with his combination of athleticism. He could do everything quick and with power. It was incredible. Gazella speed end to end, iceberg on titanic strength, ballerina coordination.
^- Wilt

[KnicksWolves]

Do people know about, or even remember younger Shaq? This guy was a freak of nature athletically in his Orlando days. And during his Laker days as well before all the weight he packed on started taking its toll on his body. Moved with much more fluidity, jumped just as high as Dwight, and the sheer power was always there. Not sure I can agree with the Big Aristotle on this one.

[miller-time]

They have different body types too. It is like saying a gymnast is more athletic than a weight lifter. They're both athletic but they have different strengths and develop different skill sets. One isn't more athletic than the other. Shaq to do what he could do for as long as he could do it with the frame that he has is as athletic as anyone else on the planet.

[Rockets(T-mac)]

Like Millertime said, it's a different type of athleticism that shaq had. He was more coordinated than either dwight or blake. He couldn't just as high, but it's not like it's a huge advantage for Blake and Dwight. Everyone knows Shaq was stronger. And Blake is probably the quickest of the three, with Shaq not too far behind.

People equate athleticism to only jumping ability far too much. It has many categories. I highly doubt we'll see another Shaq anytime soon, Blake and Dwight I can see happening sooner.

[cos88]

didn't shaq have the biggest vertical in the history of the game?

[Mr Exlax]

Holy shit I actually agree with something Shaq said.

[Stringer Bell]

Interesting. I don't think Dwight was ever more athletic than Shaq in his early days at Orlando.

[IGOTGAME]

Shaq has an argument for top 10 GOAT athleticism in the history of mankind. If this was a long ass time ago he might have been the real life Hercules.

[CavaliersFTW]

didn't shaq have the biggest vertical in the history of the game?
Highest max-reach in recent draft camp history. Can't call it 'in the history of the game' because the majority of players in the history of the game who had incredible reach and/or leaping ability have never had this measurement taken.

[Inactive]

didn't shaq have the biggest vertical in the history of the game?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Wiq-POmFA

I suspect Shaq could've done better if he had multiple tries, and knew he was competing with someone. His vert was probably never quite as good as Dwight's, but his length more than makes up for it. I'm not sure Dwight is actually any quicker, or faster than Shaq was in his first few years either.

[Force]

For their relative size, Shaq's athleticism is better than Blake and Dwight. It's incomprehensible tha a person a big as Shaq could move their feet like that and move like that. NEVER going to see that again. Shaq was close to 100 pounds heavier than Blake, how can you even compare actual running speed and verticals.

[AirFederer]

Wasn't it Shaq who had a 50" vert and slept with alotta mountain Lions and women (until Kirby snitched) :bowdown:

[secund2nun]

In terms of pure athleticism he is right...but when you factor in size to athleticism ratio then Shaq wins.

[red1]

I think he is just talking about max vert which is an area he was no slouch in either

[Psileas]

Why does athleticism have to be exclusively connected with speed and jumping, in other words, foot strength? So, is it literally impossible for someone bound on a wheelchair to be athletic?

[Swaggin916]

Shaq is like 7'1 w/o shos... Blake and Dwight are like 6'9. His combination of size and athleticism was way more devastating.

[thefatmiral]

For their relative size, Shaq's athleticism is better than Blake and Dwight. It's incomprehensible tha a person a big as Shaq could move their feet like that and move like that. NEVER going to see that again. Shaq was close to 100 pounds heavier than Blake, how can you even compare actual running speed and verticals.
exactly what i believe. Shaq is the biggest super athlete freak i have ever seen. size divided by coordination and strength times endurance and longevity.

[NumberSix]

Shaq's size, agility and strength > their athleticism.

[cuad]

Shaq must have forgotten when he was young and in shape.

[kobeef24]

didn't shaq have the biggest vertical in the history of the game?

He had the highest recorded vertical reach until Dwight broke it i think. So it wasn't just his vert, it was how high he reached after jumping.

[kurt_rambis]

shaq probably knows how good an athlete he was so lets take his word for it okay

[OldSchoolBBall]

Orlando/early Lakers Shaq was 7'1"/310 pounds, could run a fastbreak singlehandedly, get up the court in under 4 seconds, had a 36-37" vert, and had a level of coordination (evidenced easily by footwork) that Dwight has NEVER demonstrated. He was easily more athletic than Dwight.

If you have two comparable athletes but one is 3-4" taller and 40-50 pounds heavier and able to do the same things, the latter is more impressive.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Hey OSB, check your inbox.

[ILLsmak]

It's like saying someone in the NBA is more athletic than prime Bron. Maybe they could jump higher and run faster, but in terms of the total package... nah. I think of athleticism as one's physical tools. Nobody in NBA history maybe was as gifted physically as Shaq. But for me... he was still fun to watch.

It was funny watching him punk out everyone in the NBA who you thought was a tough guy before that. Dude went through his rookie year dunking on everyone. That's why he had like 4 blocks per game his rookie year and didn't again... people got scared.

Another thing is that no player in the NBA has ever been as dominant as Shaq while putting forth so little effort. That, to me, is raw athleticism.

-Smak

[LA_Showtime]

... Dwight is like a 4 inch shorter version of Shaq in his prime. What

[Soundwave]

I think he probably means that Blake and Dwight were in the dunk contest ... that sort of athleticism whereas he couldn't maybe do the same types of dunks.

But really in a game situation you're not going to be doing some kind of stupid circus dunk.