Fastest player of all time?

[Im Still Ballin]

My pick is Lebron

Check out some of his 2009 playoffs games. At that space in time he probably ran a 4.4-4.5 at least.

[Eric Cartman]

Prime Rose or GOATbrook

[Legends66NBA7]

Prime Rose or GOATbrook

This.

PG's should be headlining this.

[LoneyROY7]

Straight-line speed, probably John Wall.

[Im Still Ballin]

Have you guys seen 2009 Lebron?

He is visibly faster than any player in NBA history. Only Rose really has an argument

[Straight_Ballin]

In terms of dribbling a basketball under control, creating a shot for a teammate or himself, the fastest player of all time is without a doubt Allen Iverson.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

Inb4 3ball says Jordan.

I like Westbrook, he takes it to the hoop at will. Starts from the 3pt line and in an instant he's there at the rim.

[Im Still Ballin]

Lebron ran a 4.4 and an unofficial 4.3 in high school

[Dro]

I'm probably going with Wilt


Calculated using the precise time it takes Wilt's body (specifically, the pelvis) to travel across the 12 foot half-court circle:

Colorado NCAA game sprint (2nd fastest known recording of him sprinting):
.410 seconds (slowed down 10 times and analyzed frame by frame = 4.10 seconds)

SFU NCAA game sprint (fastest known recording of him sprinting):
.401 seconds (slowed down 10 times and analyzed frame by frame = 4.01 seconds)

440 units of "12 feet" in a mile.
440 x .510 = 180.40 seconds to cover 1 mile = 19.96mph peak speed at Colorado game sprint.
440 x .401 = 176.44 seconds to cover 1 mile = 20.4mph peak speed at SFU game sprint.

http://youtu.be/1TG146Vgd38

Here's video I rendered of him crossing the lines. There is a precisely 1 second freeze frame the moment he is above the first half of the circle so you all can see it, followed by a 2 second freeze frame the moment when he crosses above the lines on the other end of the circle in each clip so you all can see it. The footage in between both freeze frames is slowed down precisely 10 times. So that the number of seconds it takes to cover the ground (12 feet) would simply require the decimal to be moved over to calculate what fraction of a second it took Wilt to cover a 12 foot distance which was then used to calculate his speed. I hope everyone follows. I'm posting all this data so that it can be analyzed openly for objective critics.

Here is a screen capture of what I described I did with the video:

In this screen capture you can see in the upper right corner the number "5:01" which represents 5.01 seconds which is where the red line on the video bar is standing - which is at the end frame of the SFU sprint across 12 feet. Subtract the 1 second of buffer freeze frame and there you have your "precise" 4.01 measurement. You can also see the footage in between is at precisely "10%".

**EDIT** Added time-code to the video.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308384

[Pointguard]

Have you guys seen 2009 Lebron?

He is visibly faster than any player in NBA history. Only Rose really has an argument
Can't really tell between Wall, Rose and '09 Lebron. But those would be my three.

[Pointguard]

I'm probably going with Wilt

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308384
There is a video of Wilt out running an all forward fast break without dribbles. That was impressive. Should show that one.

[Dro]

There is a video of Wilt out running an all forward fast break without dribbles. That was impressive. Should show that one.
Yeah, I know which one you mean, I can't remember what its called. I don't really feel like searching for it, maybe CavsFTW will see this and post it......

Edit - is it this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFy1i7mv0-I

[deja vu]

Wilt is the fastest, he could have qualified for the Olympics.

[theaussieguy]

I honestly think its neck and neck between Lebron, Rose and AI. Think Rose may have the edge

[jaybee682]

1. Rose

2. Lebron

3. AI

[JonatanRey]

I would take Lebron off the equation. He impresses because of his size, but I think Wall and Westbrook are slightly quicker than him.

[salwan]

Wilt is the fastest, he could have qualified for the Olympics.

wilt> usain bolt

[Alamо]

1. John Wall

2. Derrick Rose



3. Everybody else

[ralph_i_el]

Fastest I've seen straight line: Wall, LeBron, Westbrook

Fastest big man: Cody Zeller, Blake Griffin

[Foster5k]

After watching those Wilt videos, I'm thinking he might actually be the fastest. He had some super long strides. It reminded me of Usain Bolt. The world's fastest man. Prime Wilt just might be the fastest player to ever play in the NBA. I'm only going by the eye test. Guy look like he was covering a ton of ground with just one stride.

[theaussieguy]

After watching those Wilt videos, I'm thinking he might actually be the fastest. He had some super long strides. It reminded me of Usain Bolt. The world's fastest man. Prime Wilt just might be the fastest player to ever play in the NBA. I'm only going by the eye test. Guy look like he was covering a ton of ground with just one stride.

noway, look at the vid again, theres 2 white guys basically keeping up speed with him Wilt only overtakes them because they turn and slow down to defend, its also obvious wilt was going all out here because his head is down and hes really trying to move it. Lebron would blow him out of the water

also its no coincidence that the 3 contenders I have chosen (AI, LBJ, DRose) all have 40+inch verts, its usually representative of straight line speed and vice versa which is why we can take westbrook out of the mix.

[DatAsh]

After watching those Wilt videos, I'm thinking he might actually be the fastest. He had some super long strides. It reminded me of Usain Bolt. The world's fastest man. Prime Wilt just might be the fastest player to ever play in the NBA. I'm only going by the eye test. Guy look like he was covering a ton of ground with just one stride.

Crazy that a 7 foot guy like Wilt actually could have a case for something like this.

[The_Pharcyde]

Rose and Iverson are the 2 fastest I have seen. When they turned on the jets I don't think there is anyone ever who could keep up, scary fast

[sundizz]

Crazy that a 7 foot guy like Wilt actually could have a case for something like this.

No there is no case for Wilt. He would get dusted by a lot of players in a forty dash.

http://youtu.be/FNaLIhzSYDI

[SugarHill]

definitely Jordan

He dunked the most for guards so he used his speed better therefore he's the fastest. period

[SHAQisGOAT]

Gus Williams' speed always impressed the hellf out of me, especially from end-to-end.

Rose was extremely fast before injuries. Got dudes like Westbrook and KJ too.

Iverson and Tiny were crazy with their quickness with the ball, could go really fast while pulling some great moves.

Wilt was very fast yea, and he had those extremely long legs enabling big strides.

Lebron was scary in his combination of size plus full-court speed... Barkley something similar too.
With ball-handling too.

Jordan was a beast with it too, especially in his younger days.

Always loved Dr J and Bobby Jones on the break (on both ends) due to their combination of speed, overall athleticism, length, and also skill and smarts.

[Cali Syndicate]

Monta Ellis, anybody?

[DatAsh]

No there is no case for Wilt. He would get dusted by a lot of players in a forty dash.

http://youtu.be/FNaLIhzSYDI

Wilt looks visibly faster in the video posted earlier.

Also, Wilt's 40 times would disagree.

[Chadwin]

Cuttino Mobley

[Straight_Ballin]

Lebron isn't even faster than Speedy Claxton.....

[inclinerator]

younger wade is up there, ive seen a play from him a while back against the piston's and he was blazing fast

[Random_Guy]

underrated pick in ty lawsom

[Im Still Ballin]

You guys are clearly not getting the point

I'm not talking about quickness (first steo) or acceleration

Top end speed.

09' Lebron is untouchable. Maybe ONLY Rose or Wilt but 60's footage is dodgy.

[LAZERUSS]

I'm not sure that Wilt is the fastest of all-time, but he is certainly near the top of the list.

Hank Stram invited a 27 year old Wilt, who weighed 290 lbs at the time, to a Chief's tryout in the mid-60's. Guess who the fastest player on the field was? Yep...Wilt ran a 4.6.

In one of Wilt's books he claims to have run a 4.4 in college. Given what we KNOW, above,... a 19-20 year old Wilt, at 250 lbs, and actively participating in track (and a member of KU's 4x100 relay team)...I don't have any reason to doubt it.

[AirBourne92]

john wall or westbrook


most momentum created however is lebron

as much as i hate that ******* he is probably the best transition open court player of all time

but thats all he gets from me

[Mikebball1]

ish smith no question

[Mrofir]

Leandro Barbosa deserves a mention in this thread.

[dreamwarrior]

Jeremy Lin

[Nuff Said]

Norris Cole is pretty ****in fast. Too bad he sucks at the game.

[gcvbcat]

Carl Lewis was drafted by the NBA.

[WWRWestbrookDo?]

Wall is pretty fast but I gotta go with Westbrook.

Dude is even faster in person

[Le Shaqtus]

Inb4 Pauk essay on why LeBron is the fastest.

[Bigsmoke]

babosa, Westbrook, tj ford, or Drose

[Eric Cartman]

Inb4 Pauk essay on why LeBron is the fastest.

:lol can pick up where he left off in that lion essay

[Soundwave]

What exactly defines "fastest", to me in a basketball sense fastest player is the player with the fastest first step, because in basketball its fairly rare to get to run from one end of the court to the other unimpeded.

Kobe of a few years ago has a faster first step than LeBron, Wade (healthy) too, let alone Jordan. LeBron's first step is mediocre, I've seen him have trouble blow past 7-foot white stiffs if they play off him a little bit.

Westbrook is probably the fastest player in the league now.

[KevinNYC]

No mentions of Russell? How did his 400 times compare to Wilt

[Soundwave]

Aaaaand ... LeBron beautifully shows off what I was saying in my previous post.

His stop-go speed is nothing special and that's like 90% of basketball.

He's a Jeep/SUV ... he's never going to have the speed/handling of a Lamborghini. He's just too big/heavy.

[nathanjizzle]

d rose was a quick guy, as quick if not faster than a tiger in full court sprint and off of a step.

http://youtu.be/dEs8Vpdvxz8?t=1m51s

[HylianNightmare]

Cuttino Mobley
:biggums:

[ShawkFactory]

Aaaaand ... LeBron beautifully shows off what I was saying in my previous post.

His stop-go speed is nothing special and that's like 90% of basketball.

He's a Jeep/SUV ... he's never going to have the speed/handling of a Lamborghini. He's just too big/heavy.
Are you talking about speed or quickness? These aren't necessarily the same thing.

Lebron is like a stock car. Incredibly fast but takes a second to get going and doesn't turn on a dime.

[kshutts1]

Why does anyone bother making a.. "best X of all time" thread on ISH? 95% of the responses are current players. Always. And Jordan always gets a mention.

Just like the most athletic questions, the answer is likely some end-of-the-bench scrub that never played, and was drafted because he was fast as hell and could dribble while running full speed.

That said, I'm 99% sure SportsVU tracks this. So we could figure out fastest current players.

[Joyner82reload]

First off, this is a ridiculous thread because virtually no NBA player will achieve their maximum speed on the court. There simply isn't enough distance for them to reach it while playing basketball. Noone is sprinting more than 25 meters on a basketball court, so they're getting nowhere near maximal velocity. Period. As for you guys name LeBron, stop being ridiculous. He appears extremely fast due to his size, when it really comes down to it he is slower than half of the point guards in the league. He just gets the ball on fastbreaks far more often due to his size/dunking ability.

As for my answer, probably TJ Ford. He was otherworldly fast/quick.

[warriorfan]

If LeShook played in the 90's he would be the fastest player, the second he gets checked by Charles Oakley he would set the 200m world record as he sprints out of the stadium

[Pointguard]

What exactly defines "fastest", to me in a basketball sense fastest player is the player with the fastest first step, because in basketball its fairly rare to get to run from one end of the court to the other unimpeded.

Kobe of a few years ago has a faster first step than LeBron, Wade (healthy) too, let alone Jordan. LeBron's first step is mediocre, I've seen him have trouble blow past 7-foot white stiffs if they play off him a little bit.

Westbrook is probably the fastest player in the league now.
Quick - player can make swift moves in and out of traffic so fast that he can shift the way the defense is leaning. AI is the classic example. http://youtu.be/X_9YJMaVrIo?t=1m48s This and the Tmac clip are the only ones with short commercials in front of it.

Fast run faster than other players over a good distance. Rose starts this drive at midcourt with four defenders one step out of the lane or in it: http://youtu.be/MShYmCftBgU?t=30s or Lebron here who covers the court in 3 seconds in the first clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lT_uNa9XJA

Explosive - quick burst of power where player almost magically appears over everybody else. Westbrook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5Nz42kSpA.

First step - first step eliminates the first defender on its shear initiation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqU-IQizRw8 Tmac might be the best example.

Last step - last step has defender realize that he going to get posterized because the last step was more explosive than he imagined. Almost all of Jordan's dunks on a set defense. Tripucka has the honors here. http://youtu.be/F-VuFychut4?t=1m59s

[Im Still Ballin]

Lebron blows the rest out of the water

with or WITHOUT the ball

[Joyner82reload]

OP I'm guessing this is why you believe it's LeBron. He ends up with an extremely high percentage of dunks on fastbreaks and chasedown blocks. The reason for this is that players have to slow down when they go up for dunks/fastbreaks, and LeBron can run full speed behind them to block said attempts. This leads to it appearing LeBron outran the player because he caught him for the block. In actuality, the player had to slowdown for the layup and allow LeBron to catch up. On the opposite spectrum, LeBron is rarely blocked/caught from behind because the players that can outrun him are generally much smaller and that's prohibit his layups/blocks anyway.

[Cowboy Thunder]

I just can't take anyone serious that says John Wall.

I guess watching Westbrook blow by him time after time doesn't resonate with ISHers.

[Im Still Ballin]

:facepalm

So many of you cannot grasp the concept of being 'fast'

None of you have actually been athletes, i get it...

[sejoon101]

Nate Robinson. Fact. Pure fact. Quickest combine numbers of all time out of those who made it to the NBA. close thread

[Im Still Ballin]

Nate Robinson. Fact. Pure fact. Quickest combine numbers of all time out of those who made it to the NBA. close thread
NOT Quickness you moron.

Jesus christ

[warriorfan]

:facepalm

So many of you cannot grasp the concept of being 'fast'

None of you have actually been athletes, i get it...

someone from lebron family told me ur 5'7'' and cant even touch the backboard

[FKAri]

First step?
40 yard?
100 meter?
baseline to baseline?

[Im Still Ballin]

Fastest means top speed.

If you want to make it into basketball terms, full court, baseline to baseline speed. More specifically the fastest moment (Miles/phr)

[ILLsmak]

Quick - player can make swift moves in and out of traffic so fast that he can shift the way the defense is leaning. AI is the classic example. http://youtu.be/X_9YJMaVrIo?t=1m48s This and the Tmac clip are the only ones with short commercials in front of it.

Fast run faster than other players over a good distance. Rose starts this drive at midcourt with four defenders one step out of the lane or in it: http://youtu.be/MShYmCftBgU?t=30s or Lebron here who covers the court in 3 seconds in the first clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lT_uNa9XJA

Explosive - quick burst of power where player almost magically appears over everybody else. Westbrook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5Nz42kSpA.

First step - first step eliminates the first defender on its shear initiation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqU-IQizRw8 Tmac might be the best example.

Last step - last step has defender realize that he going to get posterized because the last step was more explosive than he imagined. Almost all of Jordan's dunks on a set defense. Tripucka has the honors here. http://youtu.be/F-VuFychut4?t=1m59s

First step can be a lot of technique. You can be 'slow' and have a good first step. A first step, to me, is dictating. It's like a karate move. If you can identify the correct angle and get your first step there it's pretty much gg.

-Smak

[sejoon101]

NOT Quickness you moron.

Jesus christ

The official NBA records recorded his pre-draft baseline sprint at one of the fastest ever, an impressive 2.96, faster than Derrick Rose (3.05).

Ok, by your quickness, do you mean slashing/ or 1/5th court? Nate is the fastest nikka to get from one end of the court to the other. quick/speed/fast whatever the fawk you wanna talk about, Nate is the fastest player to play in the NBA, bar none. Suck a d!ck

[christian1923]

This guy said Lebron ran a 4.3 :roll:

[Im Still Ballin]

This guy said Lebron ran a 4.3 :roll:
hand timed in school.

He ran an electronic 4.4

[christian1923]

hand timed in school.

He ran an electronic 4.4
No way he ran that.

[Joyner82reload]

hand timed in school.

He ran an electronic 4.4

You're so dumb. Bolt would run a 4.2 electronically timed 40 and he would have 5 yards on LeBron by the time he hit 40.

[Im Still Ballin]

You're so dumb. Bolt would run a 4.2 electronically timed 40 and he would have 5 yards on LeBron by the time he hit 40.
Usain bolt is the fastest ****ing man in the world.

Are you dumb?

[Im Still Ballin]

Usain bolt is the fastest ****ing man in the world.

Are you dumb?
http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kevin-garnett-reaction.gif

[christian1923]

To say he ran a 4.3 means he has world class track speed and also has the perfect form to run a 40. form that takes like 2 months to master :facepalm

[Joyner82reload]

Usain bolt is the fastest ****ing man in the world.

Are you dumb?

And? Do you think that makes him as fast as a fvcking cheetah? The difference between world class sprinters over 40 yards are nearly negligible.

[ShawkFactory]

You're so dumb. Bolt would run a 4.2 electronically timed 40 and he would have 5 yards on LeBron by the time he hit 40.
Calling other people dumb and then continuing to post this :facepalm

[Pointguard]

First step?
40 yard?
100 meter?
baseline to baseline?
Basketball measures are a bit smaller.

Speed is half court or 55 feet plus to keep it practical. Westbrook is a blurr 25 feet and in because of his explosion. If somebody is on his hip at half court he won't put on the jets and is more likely to change speeds http://youtu.be/NnmY3pRCAlM?t=1m9s whereas Wall will definitely try to outrun the player.http://youtu.be/nJArUkDnrjg?t=1m20s or Rose on the first two dunks here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e04uyfgVgjY The last dunk would be under explosion.

Explosion would be most similar to a long jump as its the power of exploding into air. Westbrook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjT9c5168iA.

Quickness is like a running back that isn't heavy near the line of scrimmage.

First step is like a sprinters start

Last step is like a powerful right cross.

[Pointguard]

First step can be a lot of technique. You can be 'slow' and have a good first step. A first step, to me, is dictating. It's like a karate move. If you can identify the correct angle and get your first step there it's pretty much gg.

-Smak
You need good balance, and electric hamstring muscles as well, I think. Exuum was drafted high largely because of ability to make good on his first step. I wish I had it, would be kind of pissed it there was an accessible technique to do it.

[Im Still Ballin]

You need good balance, and electric hamstring muscles as well, I think. Exuum was drafted high largely because of ability to make good on his first step. I wish I had it, would be kind of pissed it there was an accessible technique to do it.
As an actual serious former athlete unlike majority of these posters I know this stuff

It (first step/quickness) has ALOT to do about achilles tendon reflex and stiffness. It can be trained via drills.

[Round Mound]

Sir Charles has something to say about this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL-eM3GBOkA

[Smoke117]

Sir Charles has something to say about this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL-eM3GBOkA

Yeah, his opinion...nothing else.

[Im Still Ballin]

Sir Charles has something to say about this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL-eM3GBOkA
Sir Charles has nothing to say about this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-1sTG6d-0

[Im Still Ballin]

Sir Charles has nothing to say about this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-1sTG6d-0
http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kevin-garnett-reaction.gif

[Round Mound]

Ment. Sir Charles would have something to say about this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL-eM3GBOkA

:D

[rightsideup]

norm nixon

[hawksdreamfan44]

With the ball in his hands, probably Devin Harris. He holds the Guiness World Record for "fastest man with a basketball".

[kshutts1]

As an actual serious former athlete unlike majority of these posters I know this stuff

It (first step/quickness) has ALOT to do about achilles tendon reflex and stiffness. It can be trained via drills.
Speed can be trained via drills as well.
But everyone still has a theoretical ceiling, as well as a floor.

Other players I know were fast...
Webb
Hurley
Williams pre-motorcycle-accident
Doc
AI
Parker

But I still maintain that the fastest player ever was likely a guy that almost never played.

[Mass Debator]

Wade is up there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4eSC0gnwmw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txbblX6R3bI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp6We1EUAW8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dRDWC8oNsM

[sd3035]

Westbrook