True or False: Prime KAJ is more athletic than any player over 6"10 in the NBA today?

[IGOTGAME]

...by a large margin.

My bad. Auto correct.

[LAZERUSS]

...by a large margin.

Ginobili?

[navy]

Who?

[NumberSix]

I think by "MAN" he means the average male human.

[gts]

could be true or false.. depends on WTF you're talking about

[LAZERUSS]

Yes...clearly.

And far more skilled than any 6-10+ center playing today, too.

[moe94]

Deandre Jordan? McGee?

Do they not count?

[russwest0]

Perry Jones III is the more athletic.

He's the most athletic 6'10+ player in the league today. Possibly even ever. He's the fastest player on the Thunder.

[LAZERUSS]

Even if a prime KAJ was not more athletic than other 6-10+ players of today, he was certainly athletic enough.

Not sure what the point of this was, though. Players like Gerald Green, James White, and Javale McGee have been considered great athletes, but no one would pick them over Bird or Magic.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Hmm wouldn't say so but in his younger days he was definitely an athletic freak, considering his height. I mean there's probably some guys over 6'10 just as athletic or even a bit more, right now, but also gotta consider KAJ was 7'2 and filled with skill and great IQ, just mind-boggling when you think about it.

[plowking]

Gortat is extremely athletic. Dude can throw down dunks from the free throw line from what I've heard. Not to mention hes strong, and quick to go with it.

Are we counting Anthony Davis as a 6'10 player, since hes measured above that in shoes?
How about Demarcus Cousins? Hes an athletic beast.

[LAZERUSS]

Athleticism and size do not automatically make a great NBA player.

There has never been a 7-3+ NBA player to ever win a rebounding title. But there have been 6-5, 6-7, and 6-8 players winning them.

And how come a 7-1 325 athletic freak Shaq couldn't win a rebounding title, but a 6-8 Rodman could just blow everyone away? Or a 6-8 Kevin Love winning a rebounding title, and running away from a 6-10 athletic Dwight while doing so?

And how come players like Gerald Green, James White, and Javale McGee haven't just crushed the league? Or the fact that a 7-4 340 Priest Lauderdale couldn't even make an NBA team.

KAJ was an exceptional athlete, with exceptional skills. And he would be trashing this NBA just as he did his own.

[RightToCensor]

:biggums:


You must also think Pistol Pete has better handles then anyone today

[RightToCensor]

Or Wilt has a better offense then any player today.

[RightToCensor]

Or Jerry West is more clutch then anyone today

[LAZERUSS]

:biggums:


You must also think Pistol Pete has better handles then anyone today
If you are directing this at me, yes. Clearly.

[Jameerthefear]

If you are directing this at me, yes. Clearly.
this guy is lol

[chocolatethunder]

Perry Jones III is the more athletic.

He's the most athletic 6'10+ player in the league today. Possibly even ever. He's the fastest player on the Thunder.
That's great. Can he play basketball?

[LAZERUSS]

That's great. Can he play basketball?

Well he is averaging 3.6 ppg and 1.8 rpg.

[Milbuck]

If you are directing this at me, yes. Clearly.
You're a great poster, but come on :oldlol:

[RightToCensor]

If you are directing this at me, yes. Clearly.
http://probonosportsblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dwight-smile.jpg

[OldSchoolBBall]

KAJ was crazy athletic, but more so in terms of quickness than leaping. He was also a FULL 7'2" without shoes I believe.

[chocolatethunder]

Well he is averaging 3.6 ppg and 1.8 rpg.
Can Miami get him?

[SHAQisGOAT]

:biggums:


You must also think Pistol Pete has better handles then anyone today

Great case can be made.
Pistol Pete under today's rules will completely own with his ball-handling (not only), dude had so much control (go watch him play) like the ball was an extension of his arm, so smooth, pulled plenty of moves too back when rules were stricter. Shame that he put style above substance, most of the time. He was pulling shit, on the regular, that went on to be signature moves of some players, even plenty of shit nobody ever done again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfWkiO2Iz08


Or Wilt has a better offense then any player today.

More dominant, most likely.


Or Jerry West is more clutch then anyone today

Probably.



:confusedshrug:
Stop being ignorant son.

[Burgz V2]

DeAndre and Drummond are the only ones I would say are clearly more athletic.

[IGOTGAME]

DeAndre and Drummond are the only ones I would say are clearly more athletic.
Drummond imo is the only one with an argument. Deandre is too uncoordinated.

[RightToCensor]

This thread is full of :roll:

[AirFederer]

Kaj was a great athlete but he lacked a go to move. Poor man's Kendrick Perkins in today's game.

[sd3035]

KAJ was nothing more than a black Zydrunas Ilgauskas, he would be a solid player but nothing special in today's league. He was fortunate enough to play in a cupcake league on a stacked team

[LAZERUSS]

Kaj was a great athlete but he lacked a go to move. Poor man's Kendrick Perkins in today's game.

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[CavaliersFTW]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfkalgtZraE

True, incredibly true... Just look at Kareem as a teenager, he's 7-1 and 3/8ths of an inch tall WITHOUT shoes in this footage as a TEENAGER, most 6-10+ grown men don't have that coordination even at the NBA level. Milwaukee Bucks Kareem was even more precise and powerful with his footwork and body control, and grew to 7-1 and 7/8ths.

If we're talking NBA players with a minimum of 6-10 WITHOUT shoes on than I'm not sure any are currently in his class of athleticism, though Kevin Garnett would have qualified in his hey day. Currently though, most all of today's 'athletic' bigs are under 6-10, this includes Andre Drummond, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Deandre Jordan etc. Players 6-10 and up tend to be less athletic. 7-0 and up and most players tend to err on the side of being straight up stiffs, a la Hasheem Thabeet.

[CavaliersFTW]

Deandre Jordan? McGee?

Do they not count?
Deandre no, he's under 6-10. McGee counts because he's 6-11, but he isn't as athletic as Jabbar was, he doesn't have the body control of young Kareem.

[ImKobe]

http://pintaw.com/images/wallpapers/Serge-Ibaka-photo.jpg

[RightToCensor]

wtf is body control? :oldlol:

Nikka making up shit to make Kareem look athletic.

All that matters is their vert, agility, and speed.

[LAZERUSS]

wtf is body control? :oldlol:

Nikka making up shit to make Kareem look athletic.

All that matters is their vert, agility, and speed.

That's why Bird was a flop in his NBA career.

I would take James White any day of the week over that stumblebum.

[CavaliersFTW]

wtf is body control? :oldlol:

Nikka making up shit to make Kareem look athletic.

All that matters is their vert, agility, and speed.
You don't know what body control is? AKA agility and coordination? Are you new to sports?

[ImKobe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcCHtvMF3LU

[RightToCensor]

That's why Bird was a flop in his NBA career.

I would take James White any day of the week over that stumblebum.
No need to be sarcastic.

White>Bird athletically.


It isn't even close....

[CavaliersFTW]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcCHtvMF3LU
Ibaka is 6-10 with shoes, not without, he doesn't qualify if OP means legit 6-10+ players. He's in the same boat as Howard, Jordan, Drummond, Davis etc... sub 6-10 players tend to be more athletic. That's why OP specified 6-10+. It's rarer to find athletic players that height and up. It's rarer still to find players legitimately 7 feet tall or up that aren't straight up stiffs.

[LAZERUSS]

Slightly off topic, but I remember when the 49ers landed world-class hurdler Ronaldo Nehemiah. During the press conference Nehemiah was asked what he ran the 40 in. He replied, "about 4.5.... but then again, I am doing the hurdles in that time."

In any case, he played for a couple of seasons, and in one game, he went across the middle for a pass, and was just cold-cocked. He promptly retired.

[RightToCensor]

I love exposing dumb posters

[LAZERUSS]

I love exposing dumb posters

Does skill not count in terms of "athleticism?" Coordination? Dribbling? Range? Touch? Strength?

[ImKobe]

Ibaka is 6-10 with shoes, not without, he doesn't qualify if OP means legit 6-10+ players.

Ibaka is a legit 6-10

http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/150/572/hi-res-182109797-serge-ibaka-russell-westbrook-and-kevin-durant-poses_crop_exact.jpg?w=650&h=434&q=85

He's slightly taller than KD, and KD as a rookie was a legit 6-9 and has noticeably grown at least an inch, NBA interviewed all the teammates and nearly all of them said he was above 6-10. So we might as well add Durant into the mix of players that could be more athletic than a prime Kareem at 6-10 or bigger.

I'd also add in Drummond, a legit 6'11 with his size and strength? I haven't seen a player quite like KG and Duncan in their primes were at least as athletic from what I've seen.

[RightToCensor]

Athletism and skill are 2 completly different things.

Andre Miller has skill.

James White has athletism.


You can teach skill, you can teach athletism a small bit.

[CavaliersFTW]

Ibaka is a legit 6-10

http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/150/572/hi-res-182109797-serge-ibaka-russell-westbrook-and-kevin-durant-poses_crop_exact.jpg?w=650&h=434&q=85

He's slightly taller than KD, and KD as a rookie was a legit 6-9 and has noticeably grown at least an inch, NBA interviewed all the teammates and nearly all of them said he was above 6-10. So we might as well add Durant into the mix of players that could be more athletic than a prime Kareem at 6-10 or bigger.

I'd also add in Drummond, a legit 6'11 with his size and strength? I haven't seen a player quite like him since Shaq himself in terms of that size and body.
Prime KG most definitely is another candidate.
They look the same height man... and pretty much all NBA players refer to themselves by list heights, most don't even know their real height unless they go out of their way to measure it out of curiosity sake. For example Kobe, was listed 6-7 early on, then was listed 6-6... he never knew his actual height for many years until one day he had his wife measure him. Turned out to be 6-4 and 3/4 without shoes on. Most NBA players just assume their heights based on others around them, but in the NBA almost every player is billed over an inch taller than their real life height. So most players probably all assume they are taller than they really are, including everyone in the Thunder locker room.

[Johnny Jones]

http://counterkicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/javale-mcgee-peak-shoes-dunk-contest-slam-2011-nba-1.jpg

[ImKobe]

They look the same height man... and pretty much all NBA players refer to themselves by list heights, most don't even know their real height unless they go out of their way to measure it out of curiosity sake. For example Kobe, was listed 6-7 early on, then was listed 6-6... he never knew his actual height for many years though until one day he had his wife measure him. Turned out to be 6-4 and 3/4 without shoes on. Most NBA players just assume their heights based on others around them, but in the NBA almost every player is billed over an inch taller than their real life height. So most players probably all assume they are taller than they really are, including the Thunder locker room.

KD and Ibaka are both more athletic than a prime Kareem, and they're both 6'10.

[sd3035]

Slightly off topic, but I remember when the 49ers landed world-class hurdler Ronaldo Nehemiah. During the press conference Nehemiah was asked what he ran the 40 in. He replied, "about 4.5.... but then again, I am doing the hurdles in that time."

In any case, he played for a couple of seasons, and in one game, he went across the middle for a pass, and was just cold-cocked. He promptly retired.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_17DrPj0Noa0/S_miNGVxfRI/AAAAAAAAANQ/MX1ZkEbeGQ4/s1600/Joseph-Ducreux-Riveting-tale-old-chap.jpg

[ImKobe]

http://counterkicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/javale-mcgee-peak-shoes-dunk-contest-slam-2011-nba-1.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t47--3XpTAo

[LAZERUSS]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfkalgtZraE

True, incredibly true... Just look at Kareem as a teenager, he's 7-1 and 3/8ths of an inch tall WITHOUT shoes in this footage as a TEENAGER, most 6-10+ grown men don't have that coordination even at the NBA level. Milwaukee Bucks Kareem was even more precise and powerful with his footwork and body control, and grew to 7-1 and 7/8ths.

If we're talking NBA players with a minimum of 6-10 WITHOUT shoes on than I'm not sure any are currently in his class of athleticism, though Kevin Garnett would have qualified in his hey day. Currently though, most all of today's 'athletic' bigs are under 6-10, this includes Andre Drummond, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Deandre Jordan etc. Players 6-10 and up tend to be less athletic. 7-0 and up and most players tend to err on the side of being straight up stiffs, a la Hasheem Thabeet.

BTW, and I have no way of proving it, but IMHO I suspect that a fully grown Kareem was probably every bit of 7-2, and maybe 7-2.5. And much like Wilt, he just towered over players who were listed at 7-0 or 6-11. He was noticeably taller than Tom Burleson, who was listed as tall as 7-4 in college, and then at 7-2 in his NBA career.

Hell, I honestly believe that he was taller than Ralph Sampson, who at times was listed at 7-4. And I remember the '72 NBA-ABA All-Star game in which Chamberlain not only appeared much bigger than the 7-2 Gilmore (and his 3" afro...which would have made him about 7-5), but taller, as well.

[LAZERUSS]

KD and Ibaka are both more athletic than a prime Kareem, and they're both 6'10.

KD more athletic? You have got to be kidding.

[CavaliersFTW]

KD and Ibaka are both more athletic than a prime Kareem, and they're both 6'10.
They're both under 6-10, sorry. Durant's been measured and they're both the same height.

[LAZERUSS]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_17DrPj0Noa0/S_miNGVxfRI/AAAAAAAAANQ/MX1ZkEbeGQ4/s1600/Joseph-Ducreux-Riveting-tale-old-chap.jpg

BTW, there were those that believed that Jerry Rice was too slow to be a star receiver.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Rice


Rice's record-breaking season at Mississippi Valley caught the attention of many NFL scouts, but his speed (reportedly only 4.692 in the 40-yard dash)

[CavaliersFTW]

BTW, and I have no way of proving it, but IMHO I suspect that a fully grown Kareem was probably every bit of 7-2, and maybe 7-2.5. And much like Wilt, he just towered over players who were listed at 7-0 or 6-11. He was noticeably taller than Tom Burleson, who was listed as tall as 7-4 in college, and then at 7-2 in his NBA career.

Hell, I honestly believe that he was taller than Ralph Sampson, who at times was listed at 7-4. And I remember the '72 NBA-ABA All-Star game in which Chamberlain not only appeared much bigger than the 7-2 Gilmore (and his 3" afro...which would have made him about 7-5), but taller, as well.
No there's too much citable data of his height, his height appears to have been accurately tracked throughout his career. His tallest measurement was 7-1 and 7/8ths his 2nd season with the Bucks, he is adamant about being that height and tells the writers they are incorrect if they assume he is taller. His most often cited measurement is 7-1 and 5/8ths which is what he measured coming out of UCLA. At UCLA they also measured him every season, he started out at 7-1 and 3/8ths there. When Jabbar came into the league, there was beginning to be a lot of scouting and talent competition between the NBA and ABA... that's when inflated heights likely started to become more common, as such, that's probably why Kareem appears so much taller than other guys listed similarly. Ralph Sampson was never even close to 7-4, Mark Eaton calls him "7 foot 1" when Chick Hearn asks him how tall he thinks he is after Mark Eaton says (paraphrasing) that he was 7-3 and 3/4 without shoes, and that Sampson is not as tall as he was.

[RightToCensor]

Op and Cavs are getting shook :oldlol:

[LAZERUSS]

Op and Cavs are getting shook :oldlol:

For what? I don't see it anywhere in these threads.

Someone claimed that the twig Durant, who isn't even 6-10, is a better "athlete" than Kareem was...which is just a complete joke.

[LAZERUSS]

I'll let someone else do the research, but I recall a rookie Kareem being invited to a Packer training came session, and just blowing them all away in the 440.

[CavaliersFTW]

I'll let someone else do the research, but I recall a rookie Kareem being invited to a Packer training came session, and just blowing them all away in the 440.
Probably true, he was the fastest guy on the Bucks squad in the early 70's:

http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1082876/index.htm

True, he missed shots he should have made. "But he's great to pass to," said Milwaukee's Guy Rodgers, who used to feed Chamberlain. "He's the most agile big man I ever saw, and the fastest. [In the Bucks' 300-yard preseason trials, Alcindor won in 38.9.] He moves around. You pass him the ball and he can put it down, move on the man guarding him and score. And he's great at the lead pass to start a fast break."

[DonDadda59]

http://counterkicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/javale-mcgee-peak-shoes-dunk-contest-slam-2011-nba-1.jpg

I think Kareem is a better overall athlete than Javale (or anyone else mentioned outside of maybe Davis). Don't know what their verticals are, but Kareem could get up for blocks just like Javale but had far more quickness and coordination.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oro9W5C70g

[LAZERUSS]

Probably true, he was the fastest guy on the Bucks squad in the early 70's:

http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1082876/index.htm

Thank you sir.

:cheers:

[PistonsFan#21]

For what? I don't see it anywhere in these threads.

Someone claimed that the twig Durant, who isn't even 6-10, is a better "athlete" than Kareem was...which is just a complete joke.

Kevin Durant is listed as 6'9'' 215lbs
Kareem was listed as 7'2'' 225lbs

If anything Kareem is even more of a twig than Durant. Also Durant has more coordination, is quicker/faster and more explosive. What does Kareem have over him other than strength?

[Miller for 3]

ITT: Grumpy senior citizens that got turned down at McDonad's for senior discounts on their breakfast burritos now turn to ISH to vent their anger.

[CavaliersFTW]

Kevin Durant is listed as 6'9'' 215lbs
Kareem was listed as 7'2'' 225lbs

If anything Kareem is even more of a twig than Durant. Also Durant has more coordination, is quicker/faster and more explosive. What does Kareem have over him other than strength?
Durant also isn't more explosive than young Jabbar, not from what I've seen. Nor does he have the same degree of body control.

[PistonsFan#21]

Durant also isn't more explosive than young Jabbar, not from what I've seen. Nor does he have the same degree of body control.

yes he is...
show me clips of Kareem beating defenders of the 1st step and explosing for a dunk like in this Durant mixtape: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14l3EWLUrMk

Durant is going against some of the fastest and best perimeter players everytime he steps on the floor and he still blows by them at time. Kareem was defended by centers and still didnt look as explosive as Durant.

[IGOTGAME]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfkalgtZraE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Athletically he was a monster.

[RightToCensor]

These old nikkas doun too much to make KAJ relevent. :roll:

[bizil]

Athleticism and size do not automatically make a great NBA player.

There has never been a 7-3+ NBA player to ever win a rebounding title. But there have been 6-5, 6-7, and 6-8 players winning them.

And how come a 7-1 325 athletic freak Shaq couldn't win a rebounding title, but a 6-8 Rodman could just blow everyone away? Or a 6-8 Kevin Love winning a rebounding title, and running away from a 6-10 athletic Dwight while doing so?

And how come players like Gerald Green, James White, and Javale McGee haven't just crushed the league? Or the fact that a 7-4 340 Priest Lauderdale couldn't even make an NBA team.

KAJ was an exceptional athlete, with exceptional skills. And he would be trashing this NBA just as he did his own.


I agree! Rebounding is about anticipation, positioning, instincts, etc. Its not just about size. And Kareem at 7'2 was an awesome athlete. Much more athletic than a 7'2 player should be allowed to be. Combined with his awesome skill level, he would dominate any era in the L without question!

[SHAQisGOAT]

These old nikkas doun too much to make KAJ relevent. :roll:

You can't even spell, must be like 12.

Why would they need anything to make Kareem relevant? He's still, and will forever be, regarded as one of the best basketball players ever, and he's still pretty famous.

****ing ignorant children, ban this tool. Talking shit about one of the GOAT's, got jack one off to Jeremy Lin or something :oldlol: