Athleticism is far too often defined as explosiveness or pure leaping ability. Athleticism is a combination of explosiveness, agility, lateral quickness, body contortion and stamina.
These elements make up the broad term of athleticism. They’re not all weighted equally, especially in basketball.
While you’ll still find most of the league’s most explosive leapers on this list, some could surprise you…
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Honorable Mention:
Bam Adebayo
Jaylen Brown
Damian Jones
Jerami Grant
Miles Bridges
HM: DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan’s vertical ability has slightly diminished with age, but his agility and body control are rivaled only by few players to ever play the game. Every fadeaway is textbook, from the fake to the landing. And he’ll still rise up with the best of them.
15. Larry Nance Jr.
Larry Nance Jr. has certainly received his dad’s best genes. Poster dunks are his specialty but he moves with a gracefulness unmatched by most players his size.
14. Jordan Bell
Jordan Bell is a true locomotive. If he had any semblance of ball-handling ability, he’d be widely considered as one of the best athletes in the league. He also doesn’t get a ton of opportunities on the Warriors. He’s a leaper, who has great timing and an abundance of power while airborne.
13. Dennis Smith Jr.
Dennis Smith Jr.’s first step is elite. Once he gains the smallest bit of seperation, often via a hesi, he showcases his 45+ inch vertical. Smith Jr is not particularly quick moving side to side and is also not relatively fast. He makes the list because of his ridiculous vertical leaping ability and body control.
12. Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is one of the smoothest athletes in the game, if not the smoothest. We all know about his vertical athleticism, but LaVine has taken strides in becoming stronger and more agile. He rarely gets knocked off of his direction like he used to early in his career. LaVine has also added a number of combinations out of the post this season, and his footwork is excellent.
11. Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis isn’t stereotypically athletic, but his ability to glide across the court at his size shouldn’t go unnoticed. He’s all over the floor on defense and even when you think he can’t get to the ball, he goes and gets it. Not to mention AD runs the floor with the best of them….
10. Derrick Jones Jr.
Derrick Jones Jr. is simply one of the most vertically explosive players on the planet. He lacks elite speed, agility and overall strength, but when you can leap like he can, nothing else really matters.
9. John Wall
Injuries have clearly robbed Wall of some of the physical gifts we were used to seeing on a nightly basis, yet he is still among the NBA’s elite. Speed, explosiveness, strength, Wall’s got it.
8. De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron is coming for Wall’s title for fastest player in the NBA. His top speed has to be among some of the league’s all-time best. He can change directions and stop on a dime very well. It’s how he gets the majority of his shots offensively.
7. Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell is clearly one of the more explosive players in the league. Listed at 6'3", Mitchell is probably a cool 6'1 on a warm day, making his vertical ability all the more impressive. What strikes me the most about Mitchell as an athlete, is his ability to jump off of both feet, particularly finishing around the rim.
6. Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons is a locomotive. At 6'10" 240 lbs, Simmons has an identical frame to guys like Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, Antonio Mcdyess and Rasheed Wallace. He’s quick, graceful and strong and sneakliy explosive around the basket, often finishing dunks in an unorthodox, off-foot manner.
5. Victor Oladipo
Once Oladipo did a 360 in college with ease, we all knew that he was a different athlete. What can I say, he’s really the prototypical NBA athlete. Quick, fast, great change of direction and change of speed. He’s explosive and can dunk with the bets of them. Though I believe he’s still a level below him, Oladipo’s ability to move side-to-side is actually much better than his former teammate, and “alienlike” athlete Russell Westbrook.
4. Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon is a “high flyer” in every sense of the phrase. He can get off the ground with such ease. No matter if it’s on a drive, a second jump offensive rebound or if he’s standing under the rim, Gordon will get higher than you faster than you can. He’s also made great strides to become a better athlete since he’s entered the league, agility and quickness/foot-speed being the most notable.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis uses his frame in ways we’ve never seen. His ability to remain graceful at 7 feet, euro stepping, drop stepping and taking off of one foot is truly remarkable. He can get across the court in minimal strides and is rarely caught in a compromising position. He’s agile and explosive unlike anyone we’ve ever seen at his height. There’s a reason every 7'0"+ guy can’t be a guard…
2. LeBron James
Though LeBron has had a definite decline in his athleticism over the years, he’s still among the league’s best . He is literally built like your favorite ‘80s-’90s power forwards, yet he can sprint full-speed as fast as anyone in the league at age 34. Outside of the explosiveness that comes with LeBron, his ability to control his body in spin moves and change of direction is on par with most of today’s elite guards. The post fade is one of the more underrated showcases of athleticism. You’ve got to have an elite amount of body control to even get the shot off, let alone make them at a high rate.
1. Russell Westbrook
Westbrook’s explosiveness is clearly the greatest attribute of his athleticism. His ability to grab the rebound and go coast-to-coast is rivaled by few to ever play the game. “Prime” Derrick Rose is the only other person who is in his league (young LeBron too). Russ imposes his will every night as an athlete. His Straight line drives, adjustments in the air (core strength), and his ability to stop on a dime and rise up for mid-range jumpers are how he uses his №1 worthy athleticism. Off one foot or two feet, Russ will dunk on your whole team.
Thanks for Reading!
Shoutouts: Zion Williamson, Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Shawn Kemp, Clyde Drexler, Wilt Chamberlain
