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Is Giannis the best big athlete in NBA history ?...
WCDawg
Posts: 17,293 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
in Basketball
If there's been a 6' 11'' 245lb player with a 7' 3'' wingspan who moved like this guy and had guard instincts like he does, I can't place him.
It's like watching a new breed of human being at times. The only thing left is to develop a shot from 3 pt range, if he gets that weapon, he might well be the best player to ever play the game at any size of position.
Lebron combines power to great athleticism and instincts like no other, but he doesn't have Giannis's otherworldly nimbleness.
Thoughts ?
Comments
If we're talking pure athleticism, I feel like Blake Griffin needs to be up there. Or rather, the 2011 version of Blake Griffin. He's expanded his game a lot in recent years as his athleticism starts to wane, he just doesn't get a ton of recognition anymore because Detroit is not a good team. Now in terms of basketball ability plus physical traits, Giannis is some kind of freak.
Griffin would be in the conversation of best run fast, jump high big athletes. Ben Simmons is going to creep into the conversation of most versatile and skilled bigs, if he isn't there already. I expect Giannis vs Simmons will be debated in the coming years.
Definitely a freak but forget about Nique
greek freak is a unicorn and you are most likely right
A guy who probably is the best athlete LeBron James (6'9 245-275), Magic Johnson, Zion Williamson soon enough, and a guy who died Len Bias.
Dom was off the charts explosive, but he wasn't nearly as skilled and nimble as Giannis.
Magic couldn't jump over a puppy, but he had remarkable basketball savvy.
Had a 30" vert. I just dont think that was his game jumping everywhere.
I never saw either Bird or Johnson jump over a few inches high.
Bird was 28 inches. Magic 30 inches. Magic was better with assists, Bird already taller than most didnt need to jump to shoot. Just got by on their given talents.
Shawn Kemp is in the conversation somewhere. I’d also say Kevin Garnett.
I’m terms of footwork, nimbleness and touch I’d go with Olajuwon.
True but I had to do it
Sorry, I don't believe either of them could jump that high.
I don't doubt somebody has it listed, but both were famously Earth bound.
I would say young Shaq would be the most athletic big I’ve ever seen.
Dom was a great athlete for sure, he might have been the most explosive leaper of any big in history.