Why people think players are more athletic today

[BMOGEFan]

my god just shut the f*ck up already

because you don't know shit.. get the **** out.

[Soundwave]

I think there's more emphasis on hitting the weight room these days from an earlier age and getting on supplements (and yes, possibly PEDs).

But generally speaking I think athleticism in the NBA has sorta capped off since the mid-late 1990s.

Clyde Drexler, Shawn Kemp, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, Shaquille O' Neal, Dennis Rodman, Penny Hardaway (pre-injury), etc. are more athletic than anyone at their position nowadays with maybe the exception of LeBron.

[LT Ice Cream]

My dad who played college hoops says people throw down nastier dunks now because people are more motivated. We see these things happen every day on tv and youtube whereas it used to be more rare in the 70's.
Now anybody can watch videos of thousands of guys throwing down nasty dunks which makes people want to practice more.

[Myth]

I believe the average NBA player is more athletic these days, but the peak athletes are the same quality of athletes.

[red1]

because you don't know shit.. get the **** out.

do you even know what the dream shake is?

[eliteballer]

Players train more to develop athletic ability(ie plyometrics for jumping and weightlifting in general which people used to say hurt basketball ability). Look at Barkley, dude said he would jump back and forth over a fence everyday and he was short and fat(for his position) but a powerful leaper. Also, handles are more advanced which help mobility with the ball, and the shoes are lighter and less cumbersome.

[FKAri]

http://youtu.be/NakXs0mEdAA?t=59s

players got more athletic? really?

seems to me like people just like the way it sounds cause it makes it seem like we've "progressed" so they keep saying it. If there is any difference at all, it's likely due to PED's and such, and the difference in how it effects the quality of basketball is likely insignificant

That guy in today's league would be a poor man's Erik Spoelstra.

[BMOGEFan]

Players train more to develop athletic ability(ie plyometrics for jumping and weightlifting in general which people used to say hurt basketball ability). Look at Barkley, dude said he would jump back and forth over a fence everyday and he was short and fat(for his position) but a powerful leaper. Also, handles are more advanced which help mobility with the ball, and the shoes are lighter and less cumbersome.

Handles are not more advance...people get away with travel and palming more thats all. They were actually dribbling the right way back then, ugly but the right way.

[ralph_i_el]

Have the most athletic guy in the league...pull off a dream shake. See if he can control his body to pull off that move. I'm betting he can't.

You do know that jumping isn't the only indication of athleticism.

but you just said that you had to be athletic to master fundamentals like good footwork. Wouldnt the most athletic player have the best dream shake?

now i know you're trolling. I thought you were just retarded before

[BMOGEFan]

but you just said that you had to be athletic to master fundamentals like good footwork. Wouldnt the most athletic player have the best dream shake?

now i know you're trolling. I thought you were just retarded before

and thats why i said players are NOT more athletic than they were in the past.

People just think current players are more athletic because their jumping out of the roof ability is much more showcased than something like the dream shake.

[Poetry]

But just by watching you can tell that there are more hyper athletic players in the league right now than in earlier eras. People have struggled to explain this phenomenon but I think I've come up with an pretty decent explanation

You see, i don't know what you're talking about.

How do you explain away these athletic 1980's brothers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm1EEsgoITE

I get the feeling you just haven't seen that much basketball.

[BMOGEFan]

You see, i don't know what you're talking about.

How do you explain away these athletic 1980's brothers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm1EEsgoITE

I get the feeling you just haven't seen that much basketball.

Thats why Red1 and him think alike.

[ZaaaaaH]

I believe the average NBA player is more athletic these days, but the peak athletes are the same quality of athletes.

Yes Sir !

Tell those 2 "dimwits"

[Cladyclad]

I think there's more emphasis on hitting the weight room these days from an earlier age and getting on supplements (and yes, possibly PEDs).

But generally speaking I think athleticism in the NBA has sorta capped off since the mid-late 1990s.

Clyde Drexler, Shawn Kemp, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, Shaquille O' Neal, Dennis Rodman, Penny Hardaway (pre-injury), etc. are more athletic than anyone at their position nowadays with maybe the exception of LeBron.

Iggy
Rose
Westbrook
Kg
Cousins
Dwight
Blake
Bron
Durant

[andremiller07]

Iggy
Rose
Westbrook
Kg
Cousins
Dwight
Blake
Bron
Durant

Cousins is mobile and has good body control but hes not what you would classify a good athlete. Jermaine O'neal right now has more spring and quickness than him most of Cousins game is based on skill/size his athletic ability is average at best.

Hes not in the same catagory as any of those other guys or anywhere near.