Best athletes all time by position?

[Bronbron23]

Pg: westbrook
Sg: mj
Sf: bron
Pf: shawn kemp
C: wilt chamberlain

Not sure about kemp at pf but i'm drawing a blank at the competition at the moment. Plus there may be players in the 80's or before that i'm missing that i never really saw.

Who yall got?

[Full Court]

Shawn Kemp? Better than Malone or Barkley?

And Westbrook....really? You have Westbrook ahead of Magic, Curry, Robertson, Stockton...?

I hope this is just a troll thread.

[MadDog]

That would also be my 5. At PF though Rodman was probably as good of an athlete as anybody.


Shawn Kemp? Better than Malone or Barkley?

And Westbrook....really? You have Westbrook ahead of Magic, Curry, Robertson, Stockton...?

I hope this is just a troll thread.

Lol you don't think Westbrook was more athletic than Stockton and Curry? Think you're confusing the topic with best players ALL TIME.

[Axe]

Kobe and curry stains are to fume about this.

[RRR3]

Shawn Kemp? Better than Malone or Barkley?

And Westbrook....really? You have Westbrook ahead of Magic, Curry, Robertson, Stockton...?

I hope this is just a troll thread.
In what universe is Curry close to Westbrook as an athlete? Can you read?

[Bronbron23]

Shawn Kemp? Better than Malone or Barkley?

And Westbrook....really? You have Westbrook ahead of Magic, Curry, Robertson, Stockton...?

I hope this is just a troll thread.

Athletes as in most athletic. Not best players by position.

[Full Court]

That would also be my 5. At PF though Rodman was probably as good of an athlete as anybody.



Lol you don't think Westbrook was more athletic than Stockton and Curry? Think you're confusing the topic with best players ALL TIME.


In what universe is Curry close to Westbrook as an athlete? Can you read?

The best athlete is whoever performs the best in their athletic endeavor. There's more to being an athlete than running fast and jumping high.

Hand-eye coordination, quick reaction time, skill in shooting and passing - all those go into being athletic as it applies to the game of basketball.

[Bronbron23]

That would also be my 5. At PF though Rodman was probably as good of an athlete as anybody.



Lol you don't think Westbrook was more athletic than Stockton and Curry? Think you're confusing the topic with best players ALL TIME.

Yeah kemp is probably the most debatable one. Rodman was a pretty crazy athlete. He's stronger than kemp and probably as fast if not faster but kemp was a better jumper and more fluid movement wise. There's alot if really good raw athletes at the pf position

[Bronbron23]

The best athlete is whoever performs the best in their athletic endeavor. There's more to being an athlete than running fast and jumping high.

Hand-eye coordination, quick reaction time, skill in shooting and passing - all those go into being athletic as it applies to the game of basketball.

True but but it wasn't meant that way. It was meant as most athletic by position. Should of been more specific.

[Full Court]

True but but it wasn't meant that way. It was meant as most athletic by position. Should of been more specific.

Ok, gotcha. I no longer hope this is a troll thread. :cheers:

[Axe]

Yep, stephen curry isn't athletic. If we are talking about skill, then yes he gets some consideration but here? Nope.

[MadDog]

The best athlete is whoever performs the best in their athletic endeavor. There's more to being an athlete than running fast and jumping high.

Hand-eye coordination, quick reaction time, skill in shooting and passing - all those go into being athletic as it applies to the game of basketball.

Of course, but it sounds like you're playing semantics here. In sports, there's a distinction between best athlete and player. Many consider Walter Payton, Bo Jackson & Deon Sanders three of the top athletes in NFL history. Tom Brady is who people call the best player though. Sure he's technically a GOOD athlete. Just nowhere near those names I mentioned. :confusedshrug:

[Bronbron23]

Ok, gotcha. I no longer hope this is a troll thread. :cheers::cheers:

[JohnMax]

Westbrook
Jordan
Lebron
Anthony Davis
Shaquille O'Neal

[Phoenix]

True but but it wasn't meant that way. It was meant as most athletic by position. Should of been more specific.

You didn't need to be more specific. The thread title is clearly stated and I'm sure *most* people here understood the intent and discussion you wanted to have.

[Bronbron23]

Westbrook
Jordan
Lebron
Anthony Davis
Shaquille O'Neal

I disagree with davis but i won't argue it but you think shaq is more athletic than wilt?

[RRR3]

You didn't need to be more specific. The thread title is clearly stated and I'm sure *most* people here understood the intent and discussion you wanted to have.
Full Court is a bit slow. Poor guy.

[SouBeachTalents]

You didn't need to be more specific. The thread title is clearly stated and I'm sure *most* people here understood the intent and discussion you wanted to have.
For real, the guy who didn’t is mad dumb :lol

[Bronbron23]

You didn't need to be more specific. The thread title is clearly stated and I'm sure *most* people here understood the intent and discussion you wanted to have.

I hear u but i can see some people getting it confused. I mean when we hear someone ask who is the greatest athlete of all time we don't usually assume they're asking who's the most athletic. You would think by my 5 choices it would be clear i meant it in athletic terms but but maybe he just thought i was trolling with the westbrook and kemp picks.

[FKAri]

I hear u but i can see some people getting it confused. I mean when we hear someone ask who is the greatest athlete of all time we don't usually assume they're asking who's the most athletic. You would think by my 5 choices it would be clear i meant it in athletic terms but but maybe he just thought i was trolling with the westbrook and kemp picks.

There's also a distinction that can be made between basketball athlete and all-around athlete. I think the former makes more sense as the latter is harder to define.

[Round Mound]

PG: Allen Iverson
SG: MJ
SF: Lebron
PF: Kemp
C: Wilt

[FultzNationRISE]

Athleticism is always so subjective.

Does height count toward athleticism? Nate Robinson has a higher proportional vertical than Russ, but doesnt have the overall size to throw it down the same way consistently. So whom do you say is more athletic?

Allen Iverson was basically Michael Vick on the football field in high school. But again, because hes not as tall we dont see nearly as many highlight reel dunks as, say, Blake Griffin who is a foot taller.

It all depends on how athleticism is defined.

[Bronbron23]

PG: Allen Iverson
SG: MJ
SF: Lebron
PF: Kemp
C: Wilt

Yeah man iverson definitely has an argument

[Bronbron23]

Athleticism is always so subjective.

Does height count toward athleticism? Nate Robinson has a higher proportional vertical than Russ, but doesnt have the overall size to throw it down the same way consistently. So whom do you say is more athletic?

Allen Iverson was basically Michael Vick on the football field in high school. But again, because hes not as tall we dont see nearly as many highlight reel dunks as, say, Blake Griffin who is a foot taller.

It all depends on how athleticism is defined.

Good point. I think we're more fascinated by bigger and taller guys when they have crazy athleticism so we put more value in it. That's the good thing about going by position because most of the candidates are around the same height.

[RRR3]

T-Mac deserves a mention. He hasn’t been mentioned yet.

[iamgine]

The most athletic players are probably scrubs like James White or Spud Webb.

[nayte]

I would take Rose over Russ and the pg spot

[Xiao Yao You]

The most athletic players are probably scrubs like James White or Spud Webb.

Spud was hardly a scrub :facepalm

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Griff and Kemp were super athletic. Same with Worm.

Wilt is def he best athlete at center. but I'll give Russell a shoutout. He was an Olympic level high-jumper. Ran track and field too. Its no wonder he was everywhere on the court :applause:

[Elosha]

Shaq is getting seriously underrated here as an athlete. Look at him in his prime at Orlando and his prime with LA. I think he compares very favorably to Wilt in explosiveness, strength, and he's definitely quicker overall than Wilt. Overall speed and stamina might go to a young Wilt, but again that's why all this is debatable. Also, I think Dwight Howard should be mentioned, because his athleticism and strength in his prime was off the charts. Hell, even DeAndre Jordan was an incredible athlete. And David Robinson could jump over the moon and maybe is the fastest end-to-end center to ever play the game. All of these centers could have a legitimate or at least possible argument.

[Manny98]

Westbrook
Wade
LeBron
Josh Smith
David Robinson

[000]

Dennis Smith Jr
Shannon Brown
Gerald Green
Aaron Gordon
Javale McGee

[k0kakw0rld]

Shawn Kemp? Better than Malone or Barkley?

And Westbrook....really? You have Westbrook ahead of Magic, Curry, Robertson, Stockton...?

I hope this is just a troll thread.
He said athlete not player.

[Bronbron23]

I would take Rose over Russ and the pg spot

Shit yeah forgot about rose. That's a tough one

[Bronbron23]

T-Mac deserves a mention. He hasn’t been mentioned yet.

Yeah only thing is i think he's a sf and that's the same position as bron.

[Bronbron23]

The most athletic players are probably scrubs like James White or Spud Webb.

Yeah problem with spud or james white is they're probably not very strong. D rose or westbrook are probably close in jumping and speed but they're probably alot stronger than spud. Same goes with white who i think was a sf. He an jump higher than bron but i think bron is faster and he's definitely stronger.

[Bronbron23]

Westbrook
Wade
LeBron
Josh Smith
David Robinson

Wade more athletic than mj? It's not crazy but i disagree. Mj could jump higher and was just as fast. Not sure was stronger but alot players talk about how strong mj was. I have heard the same about wade although he does look and seem pretty strong.

[Bronbron23]

Dennis Smith Jr
Shannon Brown
Gerald Green
Aaron Gordon
Javale McGee

Interesting picks. I like the brown and gordon picks. Can't argue mj over brown or kemp over gordon. I would say wilt was a significantly better athlete than mcgee. He could jump as high if not higher and he was definitely faster and stronger. He also had way better body control and dexterity. I don't know about dennis smith jr. I haven't watched much of him but he's definitely athletic. I don't think he's on a d rose westbrook level though but i'd have to look again

[SaintzFury13]

I disagree with davis but i won't argue it but you think shaq is more athletic than wilt?

To be fair, Shaq in his orlando days was an unreal athlete. But I can't agree with any list that doesn't have Wilt at the center position.

[iamgine]

Yeah problem with spud or james white is they're probably not very strong. D rose or westbrook are probably close in jumping and speed but they're probably alot stronger than spud. Same goes with white who i think was a sf. He an jump higher than bron but i think bron is faster and he's definitely stronger.

Not if you don't consider strength as part of athleticism. Stephen Adams is often considered the strongest player but no one consider him very athletic. In the meantime, Ja Morant is probably not very strong but people consider him very athletic, even as rookie.

[RRR3]

Yeah only thing is i think he's a sf and that's the same position as bron.
I always thought of him as a SG

[FireDavidKahn]

Shawn Kemp? Better than Malone or Barkley?

And Westbrook....really? You have Westbrook ahead of Magic, Curry, Robertson, Stockton...?

I hope this is just a troll thread.

Magic wasn't some super athlete...Westbrook is easily and unquestionably more athletic then Magic.

[Bronbron23]

To be fair, Shaq in his orlando days was an unreal athlete. But I can't agree with any list that doesn't have Wilt at the center position.

True orlando was insane. Just not sure he was on wilts level. The one argument that some might make is strength but apparently wilt was stupid strong also so even that's debatable i guess.

[Carbine]

I think Young Amare was as good an athlete at PF as I've ever seen.

[Bronbron23]

Not if you don't consider strength as part of athleticism. Stephen Adams is often considered the strongest player but no one consider him very athletic. In the meantime, Ja Morant is probably not very strong but people consider him very athletic, even as rookie.

True depends on what u consider athleticism. I consider it to be all of the above. Speed, jumping, strength how far you can throw ect. In basketball all we can really go by is speed, strength and jumping fir the most part. You could throw in body control. Someone like Kyrie erving or mj back in the day had insane body control.

[iamgine]

True depends on what u consider athleticism. I consider it to be all of the above. Speed, jumping, strength how far you can throw ect. In basketball all we can really go by is speed, strength and jumping fir the most part. You could throw in body control. Someone like Kyrie erving or mj back in the day had insane body control.

I just go by what most people generally consider athleticism in basketball. If someone else want to consider strength or body control or height or even foot size part of it, that's fine.

[Bronbron23]

I just go by what most people generally consider athleticism in basketball. If someone else want to consider strength or body control or height or even foot size part of it, that's fine.

I think most people consider strength part of athleticism. Isn't that why bron is generally considered the games most athletic player ever? It's not just his speed or jumping ability that sets him apart. It's those things combined with how big and strong he is that's earned him that title. It's the same with bo jackson.

[000]

Of course people count more things than vertical. Why would folks like Shaq be considered athletic if that wasn't the case.

[iamgine]

I think most people consider strength part of athleticism. Isn't that why bron is generally considered the games most athletic player ever? It's not just his speed or jumping ability that sets him apart. It's those things combined with how big and strong he is that's earned him that title. It's the same with bo jackson.

Just like Shaq or Wilt or a superfat agile sumo wrestler, when people say most athletic, they mean for their size. Unless we're also including height, weight, body contour as part of athleticism, it's a separate thing.

[Jasper]

I believe Giannis could be placed on OP PF list.

[Gougou]

Westbrook (was also think about prime D Rose or Kyrie, Kyrie ball-handling is way too good)
Jordan
Lebron
Giannis
Shaq

[HoopsNY]

Westbrook
Jordan
LeBron
Giannis
Wilt

[RogueBorg]

Pg: westbrook
Sg: mj
Sf: bron
Pf: shawn kemp
C: wilt chamberlain

Not sure about kemp at pf but i'm drawing a blank at the competition at the moment. Plus there may be players in the 80's or before that i'm missing that i never really saw.

Who yall got?

Younger Barkley was quite an athlete. So was a young Shaq. Since I never saw Chamberlain I'm going to go with 1992-1996 Shaquille O'Neal at center and 1985-1993 Barkley at PF.

[expansionera]

MJ fanatics freak out when they realize 3/5ths of the all time most athletic players at their position play in the modern era.

[MrFonzworth]

PG: McConnell
SG: Jordan
SF: Bran
PF: Griffin
C: Wilt

[97 bulls]

In what universe is Curry close to Westbrook as an athlete? Can you read?

Lol

[Bronbron23]

MJ fanatics freak out when they realize 3/5ths of the all time most athletic players at their position play in the modern era.

3/5ths don't though. Bron is the only one that's not arguable. You could easily put players from different era's in the other 4 spots.

And even if that was the case why would it bother mj fans? It's the most athletic list not best player list.

[Bronbron23]

Younger Barkley was quite an athlete. So was a young Shaq. Since I never saw Chamberlain I'm going to go with 1992-1996 Shaquille O'Neal at center and 1985-1993 Barkley at PF.

That's fair. Barkley was crazy athletic and so was shaq even though i disagree. Based on the footage i'ves seen on wilt i'd say shaq dosn't have an argument. It's pretty clear wilt was faster and jumped higher and was just an overall better athlete. The only argument that shaq has is strength and i don't even know if he wins that argument. Apparently wilt was strong as hell.

[expansionera]

3/5ths don't though. Bron is the only one that's not arguable. You could easily put players from different era's in the other 4 spots.

And even if that was the case why would it bother mj fans? It's the most athletic list not best player list.

Lebron just happened to play in an era where players had more athleticism AND more skill

[bizil]

Russ
MJ
Bron
Greek Freak
Wilt

[Bronbron23]

Lebron just happened to play in an era where players had more athleticism AND more skill

Again that's debatable. Skill isn't better it's just different. There's less skill in the post and mid and more skill on the perimeter. As far as athleticism it's impossible to say

[expansionera]

Again that's debatable. Skill isn't better it's just different. There's less skill in the post and mid and more skill on the perimeter. As far as athleticism it's impossible to say
Today’s players have the capability of scoring in the post and mid range (see a relatively low skilled player such as Fultz with bad form’s ability to endlessly drain on the move mid range jumpers a la Jordan), it’s just a low IQ inefficient shot comparatively to the three. Lebron could be Malone if he so chose, Malone could never be Lebron who is not in conversation for the league MVP despite being a far superior player to elderly Malone.

90s players needed the three point line pushed up in order to shoot a horrendous percentage comparatively to today’s NBA role players.

[MrFonzworth]

Lebron just happened to play in an era where players had more athleticism AND more skill

Cool another one of these accounts

[jlip]

The most athletic players are probably scrubs like James White or Spud Webb.



Dennis Smith Jr
Shannon Brown
Gerald Green
Aaron Gordon
Javale McGee

I agree with the sentiments, if not necessarily the names, in these two posts.

[CTbasketball92]

PG: Westbrook: His combo of power, speed, first step and versatile bounce and motor are ridiculous. All GOAT levels.


SG: No question it's MJ, who is probably the greatest athlete in NBA History. Ran the fastest, was the quickest, had the best reflexes, the best balance, the best coordination, agility, best feet, great strength, etc.

Small Forward: Like MJ in terms of having GOAT functional athleticism and run/jump athleticism, turn in some of the agility for GOAT power.

Power Forward: Charles Barkley or Zion Williamson. Zion is basically MJ in that he's got the body control of a 6'1" guard but has a 45-inch vertical and is equally explosive off one foot or two. But Zion is 300 pounds and is a bit less fast in the open court, though his first step is devastating.

Center: Wilt: Wilt could jump super high and was super fast and strong, but then you add in his size and it's crazy. Someone like Shaq might also work.

[Xiao Yao You]

Bill Walton
Connie Hawkins
Dominique Wilkens
Darrell Griffith
Steve Francis

[LeCola]

Doing things on air-wise:

Rose
Lavine/White
Carter
Gordon
Amare

Strenght-wise:

Westbrook
Jordan
Lebron
Giannis
Shaq

[RRR3]

Bill Walton
Connie Hawkins
Dominique Wilkens
Darrell Griffith
Steve Francis
Wtf is this shit

[Xiao Yao You]

Wtf is this shit

great athletes

[Thenameless]

Wtf is this shit

When you see Bill Walton, you gotta know the guy is joking.

[Xiao Yao You]

When you see Bill Walton, you gotta know the guy is joking.

incredible athlete

[Bronbron23]

When you see Bill Walton, you gotta know the guy is joking.

Prime walton was actually pretty athletic. I don't think he deserves to be on this list though

[Gohan]

Wtf is this shit

Educate yourself

[Xiao Yao You]

Educate yourself

an educated troll? :lol