Shaq & LeBron are the two most profound athletes in the history of the NBA

[Orlando Magic]

There have been guys that are faster, there have been guys that are bigger, there have been guys that are stronger, there have been guys that have jumped higher, there have been guys that are quicker...

But when you look at the total package and you look at how big they are, there have never been two more impressive athletes in the history of the league.

All things considered, they stand above everyone else when you truly evaluate all of their natural physical abilities in comparison to their size. That's not all they had obviously, but I'm talking just on physical talent... they are in a tier above everyone.

I really can't think of anyone else that belongs on this list...

Who was, overall, more impressive than Shaq or LeBron physically?

Did I miss someone?

[Proctor]

https://media.giphy.com/media/J0hUVTsoEGvV6/giphy.gif

[Asukal]

Shaq? Sure. LePosse? No. :oldlol: :lol :roll:

[Prime_Shaq]

Shaq's combination of size and quickness was amazing and was deceptively fast when he was leaner back in Orlando.

That being said, I believe LeBron is the perfect combination of size, speed and strength you can achieve in a basketball player. An absolute physical specimen.

[LAZERUSS]

https://media.giphy.com/media/J0hUVTsoEGvV6/giphy.gif

THIS.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Chamberlain was taller, longer, stronger, faster, could jump higher, was more athletic, had more endurance, and was more skilled than Shaq.

[Dray n Klay]

THIS.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Chamberlain was taller, longer, stronger, faster, could jump higher, was more athletic, had more endurance, and was more skilled than Shaq.


All that doesnt matter when Wilt was only packing a measly 3"

[Orlando Magic]

Shaq? Sure. LePosse? No. :oldlol: :lol :roll:

Your bias is showing.

LeBron is a bitch and mentally weak but if you think he's not one of the best 5 athletes in the history of the NBA at absolute worst, you need to pack your bags and get the **** out of ever having any hope of doing any type of productive basketball analysis... like ever.

[Proctor]

All that doesnt matter when Wilt was only packing a measly 3"
You know they say the camera adds 10 pounds, so it's safe to assume LeShrivel was wielding no more than a 1.5"

[Orlando Magic]

THIS.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Chamberlain was taller, longer, stronger, faster, could jump higher, was more athletic, had more endurance, and was more skilled than Shaq.

Wilt is up there based on what I've read and arguably #1 overall. But I've seen so little of him it's just hard to say for sure.

We've seen a clip or two that makes Bill Russell look like the fastest player in the history of the league... doesn't make it so.

[SpaceJam]

All that doesnt matter when Wilt was only packing a measly 3"

It's good to know the most important thing bout a man for you is what he is packing

God bless your brave soul

[ClipperRevival]

If we are talking combo of size/strength/athleticism, those two do stand out. But you also have to include Wilt then. That guy was right there with Shaq as an athlete.

For me, I like the gumby like athletes. The guys who had no wasted motion and had off the charts reflexes and fluidity. Like MJ and Hakeem. They didn't overwhelm anyone with their size/strength but could outquick you.

[warriorfan]

OP is captain ****ing obvious

[r0drig0lac]

Wilt

[sundizz]

Wilt lacked explosive power and fluidity. Not arguing about being weight room stronger, straight sprint faster, pure vertical etc. Shaw and Bron are pure explosive power that is combined with amazing body control, agility and quickness.

Similarly, Mike Tyson was that for heavyweights. There were stronger punchers, bigger guys, faster guys etc but no one that had the explosive power.

Athleticism = explosive power in a usable form.

I'd say Charles is up there also by this standard.

If we are doing track and field athletics though I'd probably put chamberlain at 1, and David Robinson at 2.

[AirBonner]

Wilt would be a glorified Jevale Mcgee in todays league. Its easy to look good win you play against a bunch of 5'10 white stiff centers.

[Father Prime]

Giannis is taller and longer than Lebron, but jumps just as high and is just as fast. Not as quick though. He has been looking stronger every year and he's only 21. Giannis is a freak athlete. Too bad his shooting skills are dead sea below average to Lebron's average or he'd be averaging near 30 every night.

[Orlando Magic]

Giannis is taller and longer than Lebron, but jumps just as high and is just as fast. Not as quick though. He has been looking stronger every year and he's only 21. Giannis is a freak athlete. Too bad his shooting skills are dead sea below average to Lebron's average or he'd be averaging near 30 every night.

Not true. LeBron was still accelerating as he neared the edge of the court when he was younger. He literally looked like video game speed. He's not as fast as LeBron. That's not a knock. Nobody is. I'm not sure I've seen a guy faster than LeBron in the NBA. I'm sure that pre draft combine stats say otherwise... but there's that good old thing called the eye test. I know what I've seen.

[Prometheus]

Not true. LeBron was still accelerating as he neared the edge of the court when he was younger. He literally looked like video game speed. He's not as fast as LeBron. That's not a knock. Nobody is. I'm not sure I've seen a guy faster than LeBron in the NBA. I'm sure that pre draft combine stats say otherwise... but there's that good old thing called the eye test. I know what I've seen.

Baseline-to-baseline, young LeBron was faster than any player I've ever seen.

[miggyme1]

Baseline-to-baseline, young LeBron was faster than any player I've ever seen.



STOP IT.....:facepalm :facepalm

[pedromarinho]

Shaq still the beast peak!

[warriorfan]

Shaq still the beast peak!

Yes he was a monster in the 4th quarter

Most 4th Quarter Points during the Finals

1995 Shaquille O'Neal 11.5
2000 Shaquille O'Neal 11.5 (61.1% TS)
2015 Stephen Curry 10.8 (75.1% TS)
1997 Michael Jordan 10.7 (55.1% TS)
1998 Michael Jordan 10.6 (50.6% TS)
2011 Dirk Nowitzki 10.3 (68.0% TS)
1993 Michael Jordan 10.3

[SouBeachTalents]

Yes he was a monster in the 4th quarter

Most 4th Quarter Points during the Finals

1995 Shaquille O'Neal 11.5
2000 Shaquille O'Neal 11.5 (61.1% TS)
2015 Stephen Curry 10.8 (75.1% TS)
1997 Michael Jordan 10.7 (55.1% TS)
1998 Michael Jordan 10.6 (50.6% TS)
2011 Dirk Nowitzki 10.3 (68.0% TS)
1993 Michael Jordan 10.3

Curry was the only player from a winning team on that list not to win FMVP :oldlol:

[pedromarinho]

Curry was the only player from a winning team on that list not to win FMVP :oldlol:75% TS in the 4th during the finals? That's ridiculous for a guy of his size. Ridiculous.

[SouBeachTalents]

75% TS in the 4th during the finals? That's ridiculous for a guy of his size. Ridiculous.

A good amount with the game out of reach, especially the last 3 games of that series

[pedromarinho]

A good amount with the game out of reach, especially the last 3 games of that seriesIt's the finals.

[ShawkFactory]

STOP IT.....:facepalm :facepalm
Rewatch Lebron from like 2006. Dude was like a sawed-off round in the transition. He made a lot of great athletes look like they were in quicksand

[PP34Deuce]

Rewatch Lebron from like 2006. Dude was like a sawed-off round in the transition. He made a lot of great athletes look like they wee in quicksand


This. Lebron from 2003 to 2010 was pure explosiveness all game. There are video clips of him blocking dwight howard Tyson chandler and other athletic big men.

What makes lebron special physically is his build. We've had 6 8 6 9 wings and forwards but not quite lean strong and powerful like him.

Stronger legs than guys like Josh smith and Rudy gay but he's also leaner than them while being consistently 250 pounds. Do people realize how hard it is to be that lean. He's not ripped like other players but he's built to handle contact and injuries.

Shaq was the same way. Strong legs and core.

[Cold soul]

Yeah both rank up there Wilt is likely GOAT freak athlete however.

[Kblaze8855]

I dont know if you want to include him or not but....


7'1'' guys who look like this:

https://s17.postimg.org/w5kxcwh4f/rsz_1david_robinson.jpg






Should not be moving like this and evading Michael Jordan on a full sprint in the open court:



https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ThunderousIdleIlsamochadegu-size_restricted.gif

[ClipperRevival]

Giannis is taller and longer than Lebron, but jumps just as high and is just as fast. Not as quick though. He has been looking stronger every year and he's only 21. Giannis is a freak athlete. Too bad his shooting skills are dead sea below average to Lebron's average or he'd be averaging near 30 every night.

But LeBaldo has about 40 lbs on him and therefore, can absorb and play through contact much better.

But I would say that based purely off the measurables, Giannis should be the best player in the game. He is truly a unique talent because he retains small man explosiveness and coordination despite his height/length. He looks like a cheat code.

[pedromarinho]

His Giannis body that different from KD's?

[LAZERUSS]

Wilt would be a glorified Jevale Mcgee in todays league. Its easy to look good win you play against a bunch of 5'10 white stiff centers.

Yep...like the near 6-10 Bill Russell, who was a world-ranked high jumper, and who was just as tall as Dwight Howard, Demarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan, and Andre Drummond. Oh, and Chamberlain had entire seasons of 38, 39, and even 40 ppg against Russell, with five 50+ point games, and a high game of 62 points.

Or the listed 6-11 HOFer Walt Bellamy, (who was actually 7-0 in socks), and whom Wilt had entire seasons of 48 and even 53 ppg against, with three 60+ point games, and a high game of 73. Incidently, Wilt's high game of 62 against Russell, and his high game of 73 against Bellamy, came on consecutive nights.

A prime Wilt was also considerably more dominant against the 6-11 Nate Thurmond, than a peak Kareem was a few years later (KAJ's high game against Nate was 34 points,...a prime Wilt had games of 38 and even 45 against Thurmond.)

Oh, and then Chamberlain was also battling these two "5-10 white stiffs" as well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwHP04TWOps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1utx7OxiaoU

[Smoke117]

David Robinson was a once in a generation athlete. He had legit center size, but could move like an athletic SF. (like Scottie Pippen or Grant Hill)

[Gougou]

I would say, Lebron, Wilt, Shaq, in that order.

Lebron is just the most gifted basketball player ever, the speed, the power, the size, everything you want to have in a basketball player.

Wilt is quick as a center, he can pass well too, high vert, stronger than shaq.

Shaq only power is his size and mass combined, hard to beat in the post.

[LAZERUSS]

A 27 year old Wilt, with little preparation, and at 290 bs...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tDn7lBlbaC8/T1BIb5WnVRI/AAAAAAAADIM/L7D28hRYEzY/s1280-Ic42/Wilt%252520Chamberlain%252520football.jpg

And then this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B22U73v7kAA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmBc8NX_oL8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF8yJ1J1W7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJGCySdvlPo

[Smoke117]

Drob > Wilt as an athlete.

Watch Laz now write about 3 essays on why Wilt is a better athlete.

[aj1987]

1. LeBron
2. D-Rob
3. Shaq

[Big164]

Wilt would destroy the modern era. There is no one playing right now at C or PF that could check him.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zoDxe6WWpzc/UIMJAoVDQJI/AAAAAAAADsw/StuVunu35jE/s0/%2528Wilt%2520Davis%2520Scale%2529.jpg

[Round Mound]

[B]Sir Charles: 6