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Is Giannis the best big athlete in NBA history ?...

245

Comments

  • ThelordjohnsonThelordjohnson Posts: 4,077 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:
    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.

    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.

    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 get it but thats not the game they played. 28 inch vert is horrible in todays terms where guys are 40+ (Barnes has a 38 standing vert) but Johnson had speed, quickness, and flexibility. Best attributes for a athlete.

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  • WCDawgWCDawg Posts: 17,293 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
    edited February 2019

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:
    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.

    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.

    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 get it but thats not the game they played. 28 inch vert is horrible in todays terms where guys are 40+ (Barnes has a 38 standing vert) but Johnson had speed, quickness, and flexibility. Best attributes for a athlete.

    Johnson had beyond great instincts, vision, creativity and hand eye coordination, Bird did as well, along with being strong and tough as nails, but jumping...that I'm not so sure about.

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  • orlandoorlando Posts: 2,322 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:
    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.

    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.

    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 get it but thats not the game they played. 28 inch vert is horrible in todays terms where guys are 40+ (Barnes has a 38 standing vert) but Johnson had speed, quickness, and flexibility. Best attributes for a athlete.

    Being 6’9 Magic was the first big point guard that I remember and the name definitely fits

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  • MeR3htidMeR3htid Posts: 2,525 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Larry Bird literally had no weaknesses on the basketball court unless u penalize him for not being a great athlete which I dont. The only knock I could find on Birds game was his less than stellar physical conditioning. It didnt catch up with him until he reached his late 20s and he was already a 3 time champion and a back to back to back league MVP already. Thats how good this man was at basketball for the uniformed. Poor offseason conditioning habits and annual playoff runs that went into June caused his body to break down and that, and Magic Johnsons Lakers were and are the only think that could stop his quest to rule this league in a manner that would have him in the G.O.A.T. debate with Michael, LeBron and Kareem IMHO.

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  • WCDawgWCDawg Posts: 17,293 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
    edited February 2019

    @orlando said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:

    @WCDawg said:

    @Thelordjohnson said:
    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.

    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.

    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 get it but thats not the game they played. 28 inch vert is horrible in todays terms where guys are 40+ (Barnes has a 38 standing vert) but Johnson had speed, quickness, and flexibility. Best attributes for a athlete.

    Being 6’9 Magic was the first big point guard that I remember and the name definitely fits

    Oscar Robertson played like a PG at 6' 5'', but Magic was far more creative than Big O and 4 inches taller.

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  • AnotherDawgAnotherDawg Posts: 6,762 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    @Thelordjohnson said:
    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.

    Nice of you to mention Bias. Such a loss. He was the only guy I ever saw who was (maybe) in the same league as MJ.

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  • TeddyTeddy Posts: 7,109 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Haven’t seen Kevin Durant mentioned, unless I missed it. Almost 7 foot with long wingspan and can play like a PG/SG if needed.

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  • AnotherDawgAnotherDawg Posts: 6,762 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Thanks for the thread WC. I don't follow the NBA closely so I pulled up a highlight reel for Giannis Antetokounmpo to see what you meant, and he's definitely something else. Fun to watch.

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  • BigcalidawgBigcalidawg Posts: 1,363 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    @LOR said:
    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.

    I’d say Hakeem, Sean Kemp, T-Mac, and Michael Finley could fly for a big man.

    Ive never seen Simmons, or Giannis play in person, but they are ridiculous, too.

    On another note, imagine Zion as a TE, or make him drop weight and put him at wideout.

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  • LincolnParkDawgLincolnParkDawg Posts: 346 ✭✭✭✭ Senior

    Giannis is a beast and what a great story he is!

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  • MeR3htidMeR3htid Posts: 2,525 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    T-Mac and Michael Findley weren't bigs. Unless everyone else in the league were Isaih Thomas like in stature. 😂😂😂😂😂

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  • MeR3htidMeR3htid Posts: 2,525 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Michael Finley I'm sorry.

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  • WCDawgWCDawg Posts: 17,293 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    @MeR3htid said:
    T-Mac and Michael Findley weren't bigs. Unless everyone else in the league were Isaih Thomas like in stature. 😂😂😂😂😂

    If the discussion moves to athletes without qualifications, Russell Westbrook should be on every short list, like very short list. If he could shoot he'd be the greatest player ever. Nobody had averaged a triple double for a season since Oscar Robertson, Westbrook has done it 2 straight years and his triples usually come while scoring 30 or more.

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  • WCDawgWCDawg Posts: 17,293 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    @MeR3htid said:
    Michael Finley I'm sorry.

    That Maude Finley chick was tall.

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  • MeR3htidMeR3htid Posts: 2,525 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Agreed, never thought of it but if. Westbrook could shoot even league average from 3 he'd b in the G.O.A.T. debate.

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