Who was/is the most athletic player ever?

[Im Still Ballin]

Athletic means physical qualities such as:

- Jumping (two-footed, one-footed, height of jump, quickness of jump, broad/length of jump hang-time)
- Speed (How fast is their top speed)
- Quickness/acceleration/first step
- Deceleration
- Lateral movement
- Change of direction speed
- Change of pace
- Coordination

There are other qualities but that covers a great chunk.

I also think about how size plays a factor in our perception of athleticism. Do we consider someone more athletic if they're able to move equally as well at a heavier weight or height? Is LeBron more athletic because of his 260+ pound frame? Would he be less athletic if he were 220 pounds?

Even if size is a multiplier of athleticism, I still think MJ comes out on top.

He can pretty much do it all athletically. He can jump off both one and two legs. He jumps high, quick, and can hang in the air for a long time and cover long distances like a broad jump. He's fast, has a very quick first step, can stop and go, and moves laterally, and changes direction extremely well.

Can't think of a single athletic weakness.

LeBron is much bigger but doesn't have nearly as complete of an athletic package. Doesn't jump off two feet nearly as well as he does one foot. Stiffer, limiting his lateral movement and ability to change direction as fast.

Shaq is probably the same. Don't know enough about Wilt and Russell - both great athletic specimens.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUo8skGvl-Q

[ArbitraryWater]

whie MJ might not have had a rea athetic weakness, Brons strengths were much better.

Even with the ess gracefu atera movement, Id go with him.

[Im Still Ballin]

whie MJ might not have had a rea athetic weakness, Brons strengths were much better.

Even with the ess gracefu atera movement, Id go with him.

Fair enough. Strengths can be so great they outweigh weaknesses.

LeBron probably had more top-end speed than MJ. Maybe a better one-foot jumper. LeBron's probably the best one-foot jumper ever. Jumps as high and perhaps a little further lengthwise.

[Im Still Ballin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQLUvMNRQ-o

:applause:

[ArbitraryWater]

Absoute freight train.

That speed at that size...

Giannis has some of it but is far stiffer. Nowhere near as demonstrative out of the haf court.

[HoopsNY]

Wilt

[AlternativeAcc.]

LeBron is the perfect combo of size, strength, speed, agility, dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and endurance.


LeBron is the answer. He always has another athletic gear in pivotal moments. Game 7 2016 block is a great example. There's no limit to what he can do.

[ArbitraryWater]

Wilt


https://i.gyazo.com/b11374e65f9d4a05e117f53aad7ca2ad.jpg

[Manny98]

LeBron

[getting_old]

Wilt easily

he dabbled with the pro volleyball circuit at the time

his track&field work was notable

his pure strength was incredible, a hoopster with that kind of strength and size is usually up there for weightlifting records with his university football team

sadly he was one of the weakest clutch players, Russell played him to perfection

[AlternativeAcc.]

Wilt easily

he dabbled with the pro volleyball circuit at the time

his track&field work was notable

his pure strength was incredible, a hoopster with that kind of strength and size is usually up there for weightlifting records with his university football team

sadly he was one of the weakest clutch players, Russell played him to perfection
Nowhere near the dexterity or coordination of LeBron.

Doesn't have a case.

[Wardell Curry]

I don't know and I wouldn't argue with anyone that picked one of these guys but Chamberlain, Jordan, O'Neal and James are the four candidates. Size is an underrated part of this equation. It comes down to Chamberlain and O'Neal. O'Neal's movement, agility, speed and coordination at his size are probably the answer.

O'Neal probably goes #1 in an all time draft without the benefit of hindsight on a player's career for this very reason.

[AirBonner]

Imagine bragging about dabbing in pro volleyball lol

[RRR3]

LeBron haters say he has no skill but also refuse to call him the GOAT NBA athlete. How the hell does he score so much then? :lol

[Wardell Curry]

I keep going back to thinking about Wilt averaging over 48 minutes per game in a season. Even in a less physical league at the time, that is virtually an incomprehensible amount of endurance and cardio for a guy that size. Like I said, I wouldn't argue with anyone that wants to go with any of the four. Serious arguments can be made for them all.

[nineiron]

LeBron haters say he has no skill but also refuse to call him the GOAT NBA athlete. How the hell does he score so much then? :lol

Stiff arms and travels

[RRR3]

I sob myself to sleep every night because of LeBron
:lol

[HoopsNY]

Wilt had unspeakable endurance, speed, quickness, and strength. Couple that with being 7'1" 275-290 lbs, then I'm not sure how anyone can choose anyone else. He had a 48" vertical (though probably less than that), and incredible long jump results. Wilt said it himself that he dunked on a 12 foot rim.

[HoopologyPhD]

Has to be Russ Westbrook, he obviously has no BBall IQ and is therefore completely dependent on athleticism which is why he is so terrible now.

[RRR3]

Wilt had unspeakable endurance, speed, quickness, and strength. Couple that with being 7'1" 275-290 lbs, then I'm not sure how anyone can choose anyone else. He had a 48" vertical (though probably less than that), and incredible long jump results. Wilt said it himself that he dunked on a 12 foot rim.
Wilt said a lot of things. He was a liar. Sure he’s the athletic GOAT if we believe everything he said but why would you? He said he fought a mountain lion :lol

[j3lademaster]

Wilt said a lot of things. He was a liar. Sure he’s the athletic GOAT if we believe everything he said but why would you? He said he fought a mountain lion :lolIt's not just Wilt either. Players and coaches love hyping up their eras in every sport like they aren't billion dollar industries that keep evolving.

[RRR3]

It's not just Wilt either. Players and coaches love hyping up their eras in every sport like they aren't billion dollar industries that keep evolving.
Yeah. And I'm not saying Wilt isn't in the discussion, he was a phenomenal athlete obviously, but some of the stories about him are absolute nonsense. I think given LeBron's longevity it has to clearly be him by now though. The fact that he's still a very good NBA athlete at 38 is crazy.

[Baller789]

Young Shaq gets my vote.

[coastalmarker99]

Kansas City Chiefs coach Hank Stram is interested in signing Wilt Chamberlain.

“The seven-foot-one center, who weighs 290 pounds, was timed in 4.6 seconds for a 40-yard run in bare feet.”

(Jun 22, 1964)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huF3PFXU-V0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDMCh5HrcG0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEKC4oAM4VU

[Wardell Curry]

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

Only a handful of guys capable of doing it and he did it twice in a row as an old man in NBA terms.

[LeCola]

James White.

[John8204]

I would pick Wilt, but honorable mentions to John Stockton and Lebron James. Weight classes and what you value matter, Stockton's cardio and discipline was second to none. Lebron has elevated himself physically to a different level...he would be a champion at any sport...but for me it's Wilt Chamberlain

[bison]

LeRoid, Wilt Chamberoid and Michael Roidan should top any list in no particular order

Honourable mention for David Thompsroid, Julius 'Dr. Roid' Irving, Roidinique Wilkins and Dwight Howroid

[HoopsNY]

Wilt said a lot of things. He was a liar. Sure he’s the athletic GOAT if we believe everything he said but why would you? He said he fought a mountain lion :lol

Because he's not the only one that said it; there is a lot of corroborating evidence that substantiates what he said. There's plenty of video that shows Wilt's insane size, strength, speed, agility, etc at play. He is absolutely the most athletic player the league has ever seen without any competition.

[getting_old]

Wilt bedded many women apparently, despite not really being seen around with them, and a propensity for cats and ferns at home.

Best anecdote as well, during a tour of the Soviet Union he was asked by their press how often his owner literally put a whip on his back.

That would have been an interesting concept if was remotely possible...

[PP34Deuce]

The way I see it as:

PG- Derrick Rose- 6'3 190 strong, fast, explosive in so many ways. Westbrook and Durant are elite but prime Rose was video game level
SG- MJ- Self explanatory. 6'6 generational athletiscm
SF- Lebron- Self explanatory. 6'8 sturdy 250 and moving faster than most guards while bodying forwards.
PF- Tough, I feel like Shawn Kemp was a freak but Kevin Garnett had ridiculous agility and speed in his prime while being strong. Prime Stoudemire was tough
C- Shaq or Wilt. Anomalies athletically.

[red1]

lebron

[red1]

The way I see it as:

PG- Derrick Rose- 6'3 190 strong, fast, explosive in so many ways. Westbrook and Durant are elite but prime Rose was video game level
SG- MJ- Self explanatory. 6'6 generational athletiscm
SF- Lebron- Self explanatory. 6'8 sturdy 250 and moving faster than most guards while bodying forwards.
PF- Tough, I feel like Shawn Kemp was a freak but Kevin Garnett had ridiculous agility and speed in his prime while being strong. Prime Stoudemire was tough
C- Shaq or Wilt. Anomalies athletically.
he grew since he was 19.

they remeasured him at 6'8.5 barefoot and list him at 6'9 now

[dankok8]

Russell should at least get a mention. 6th best high jumper in the world in 1956 IIRC and supremely fast and agile for his size.

MJ, Lebron, Wilt will get most of the attention but Russell might be the most athletic.