NBA / Nov 20, 2008 / 7:30 am
The Ten Fastest Players in the NBA
D-RoseAfter last night’s conversation about the Ten Strongest Players in the NBA, we turned on the Bulls/Blazers late-night ESPN action, and watched perhaps the fastest player in the NBA today, Derrick Rose. He’s so freakishly fast, he doesn’t even need to make a move when he goes to the basket, he just blows by his man in one direction or the other.
I’m not sure whether he’s the singular fastest guy in the League today. Here are nine other names who deserve consideration:
* Leandro Barbosa
* Tony Parker
* T.J. Ford
* LeBron James
* Rajon Rondo
* Chris Paul
* Allen Iverson
* Monta Ellis
* Aaron Brooks
Who do you think are the ten fastest guys in the NBA today?
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November 20th, 2008 at 7:33 am
josh tha roc says:
yao ming
November 20th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Timmy D says:
Id add Mike Conley to the list.
But as a Memphian its gotta be D. Rose, he is the fastest person Ive ever seen play basketball and Ive seen a lot of NBA games and other than Tony Parker Ive never been amazed by someones speed like Rose’s
November 20th, 2008 at 7:45 am
YOUNGFED says:
Remove Lebron and replace him with Kobe
November 20th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Schmoget13 says:
DWade is pretty fast with the ball. He blows by people whenever the heck he likes, gets to the cup and will bang on you …. he may not look it because he plays at varying speeds but when he wants to be the fastest player on the court, he is.
BTW, he is playing at a whole ‘nother level right now. Damn, he gave Toronto the business last night.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:48 am
F.L.A.S.H. says:
no schmoget13, dwade is a master of changing directions, he himself said he’s not that fast, neither is chris paul, i still think tony parker is the fastest end to end player without a doubt, just ask steve nash….
November 20th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Eduardo says:
If we want to go to big guys who can really run the floor, we have to pick Nowitzky, man he is a 7-footer..
November 20th, 2008 at 7:51 am
ks says:
Dee Brown
November 20th, 2008 at 7:51 am
chiaki says:
you wont see another 6’9 260 lbs as quick as Bron..
November 20th, 2008 at 7:52 am
sxrs says:
wtf is the whole bron loving about
top ten strongest
top ten fastest
whats next?
look, he’s good and all that, but you gotta be serious here, stop overhyping him. he’s strong. yes. he’s fast. yes. he’s not top ten in either category. it’s like you guys can’t make a list w/o having lebron on it. you guys have a deal with nike?
November 20th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Marcus says:
Eddy Curry
Jerome James
Just watch them eat. They’re top 3 speedwise
November 20th, 2008 at 7:57 am
DPGC says:
You can’t let Devin Harris out of that list…also don’t forget about Will Bynum, he’s real fast too…and Jason Terry and Stephon Marbury used to be fast in their early days…
November 20th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Marcus says:
Seriously, just put a Big Mac on the other basket and they’ll run the fast break and get there first even limping.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:00 am
DPGC says:
Jordan Farmar is real fast too, especially when the wind is blowing in the right direction
November 20th, 2008 at 8:03 am
the_don_mega says:
ONE MAN FASTBREAK…
November 20th, 2008 at 8:06 am
rodnets says:
E-City and Jerome James. Kobayashi looks like a turtle in a hotdog contest with them.
As regards speed:
Tony Parker
Wade
Monta Ellis (on foot or with his mop?)
2001 Jason Kidd
D-Rose
CP3
TJ Ford
Luke Ridnour
Devin Harris
Aaron Gray
Peace
November 20th, 2008 at 8:08 am
NauticFactor says:
I’d have to say it’s Barbosa. He runs non-stop and is tough as hell to guard.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:08 am
patrick says:
If this was a couple years ago it would have definitely been TJ. He made it to the league with no shot and limited playmaking ability just because he was the quickest human being on the planet.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:09 am
FluffyG says:
Aaron Brooks is probably the fastest in the NBA. I havent seen anyone faster than him.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Sweet English says:
Remember the rumours after the olympics bout Usain ‘Lightning’ Bolt playing ball in the States? that wudda settled this argument.
other than that. Mugsy?
November 20th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Smitty313 says:
Lebron faster than D-Wade. Don’t think so. I’m starting not to like Lebron.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Smitty313 says:
Lebron faster than Devin Harris? Don’t think so.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Smitty313 says:
Lebron faster than Jordan Farmer? Dont think so.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:21 am
rangerjohn says:
chric kaman!!!! now hat guy is a streak of lightning
November 20th, 2008 at 8:27 am
smity far away says:
@
DPGC
i agree, devin harris has to be on that list…
i’d take bron off that list (he’s the only big dude on there) and put devin harris. your boy russell westbrook seems like he’s pretty quick too…
November 20th, 2008 at 8:27 am
GEE...to the highest bidder says:
Conley got to be there
November 20th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Kevin says:
D Rose, by far.
Then TJ, Barbosa, TP.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:38 am
caeubona says:
chris paul
tony parker
tj ford
leandro barbosa
derrick rose
not lebron though
November 20th, 2008 at 8:43 am
snoop_robb says:
aaron brooks… for.. the.. win!!!! dude’s quicker than my girl gettin to the ‘spot’… haha who am i foolin, i mean ME! haha
November 20th, 2008 at 8:44 am
NB says:
Devin Harris? He was the only guy who could check Tony Parker in the West. That’s why TP was happy Devin got traded to NJ.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:57 am
fallinup says:
I’m putting Melo on my list. Did you guys see how fast he retreated after punching Mardi Collins a few years back?
It was like dude traveled through time!
November 20th, 2008 at 9:05 am
JCARR says:
lebron is just fast for his size. Agree on the list for the most part. What about rose? What about devin harris?
What about Shawn Bradley???
November 20th, 2008 at 9:13 am
vinny says:
mike taylor(clippers) is fast as hell! he just doesnt play a lot.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Big V says:
I’d have to agree with the folks who added Devin Harris.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Charlie says:
Actually Sebastian Telfair is pretty fast too.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:22 am
alex says:
Lebron is fast enough to be on that list. The problem is he’s being compared to short guys who are just as fast (but they look faster because their short legs move more). I’ve seen Lebron take the ball from the other side’s 3pt line, weave through 2 defenders in under 4 seconds and get a layup because his strides are just huge
November 20th, 2008 at 9:26 am
justice says:
Will Bynum!!
November 20th, 2008 at 9:26 am
one66soul says:
Acie Law
November 20th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Kobeef says:
@Flash
YOu are totally correct. Wade has incredible strength, body control and balance (a Mike Vick type athlete)but is not really fast.
Rose and Barbosa are the two players that jump to mind. Both seem to move faster than everyone else on the court when they are playing. White Chocolate was also pretty damn fast in his day.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Ansonious says:
Last nights game between the blazers/bulls was outrageous it was seriously in your paint 08-09 tour I mean Jesus Christ their paint was like a church parking lot on Superbowl Sunday wow. Also I think the bulls are figuring out why Cleveland traded Drew Gooden no inside presence what so ever that was a good beating to watch the blazers are in line to be chip contenders in the next few years. I’m out like the bulls defense in the paint peace!
November 20th, 2008 at 9:27 am
thaisito says:
LOL@ post 30
parker is the fastest like someone mentioned ask nash
now devin harris is not on the list????
November 20th, 2008 at 9:42 am
karizmatic says:
As long as Allen Iverson is on the list I’m happy, you can say he lost a step but what’s a step when you were already 3 steps faster than anyone in the league?
November 20th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Student Of The Game says:
I agree with SXRS… Realistically are you gonna say Lebron is top ten strongest and fastest? Your tellin me Lebron is stronger than most centers and power forwards in the league? Then your gonna tell me he is faster than most point guards and shootin guards? He is fast, and he is strong, but hop off the man’s jock
November 20th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Amar says:
I agree re: one man fastbreak . . . dee brown is still in the league, he doesn’t get burn, but he’s flat out faster than some of thsoe slow footed guys you guys listed.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Michorizo says:
What about Marcus Banks? He is FKN fast…He just doesnt look like it because he is sitting on his ass on game days.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:59 am
ticktock6 says:
Chris Paul is insanely quick laterally, but he doesn’t play in a running system. So it’s not often on display in a way that’s as impressive as some of those other guys.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:00 am
rick says:
I can’t believe nobody put Nate Robinson in that list
November 20th, 2008 at 10:04 am
isotope says:
Aaron Brooks has to be #1
November 20th, 2008 at 10:15 am
johnny says:
Shmarion, T-Mac, Gilbert and Nate might belong.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
qUeSt??? says:
i agree with ur list, except ill put AI at the top
November 20th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Derik says:
Gheorghe Muresan
November 20th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Dime Magazine says:
LeBron is undoubtedly is in that “freak of nature” category that few people on Earth belong to. I put him up there with the Bo Jackson’s, Herschel Walker’s of the world as people who can be called among the fastest and the strongest at the same time.
- AK
November 20th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Amar says:
johnny — what list is that? fasted to get injured list? (save for nate)
November 20th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Willis says:
We are talking fast, like baseline to baseline? Or are we talking quick, cuz those are two different things. Either way I think Kevin Martin legitimately makes both lists.
fastest end-to-end would be
AI
Leandro Barbosa
Devin Harris
TJ Ford
Lebron
Aaron Brooks
Monta Ellis
Kevin Martin
Sebastian Telfair
Gilbert Arenas
Mike Taylor, Bobby Brown (Kings), Marion, Robinson, Rondo
they all run pretty fast too. I really don’t think Tony Parker runs that fast. I just think he is incredibly quick off the screens. Same with Chris Paul.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:10 am
tee says:
What about JSmooth? You cant black as many fast break lay ups, off the glass, like he does unless you are like lightning. Ask Rondo and half the other guys listed here. Fast with amazing closing speed.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Eduardo says:
@snoop_robb
LMAOOO
November 20th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Shogun says:
I’d say Telfair belongs on that list. He’s crazy fast, even if the rest of his game has some holes (jumpshot, cough, jumpshot).
November 20th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Dennis Castro says:
As a Sixer fan, I think Lou Williams belongs on the bottom half of that list.
But D Rose is probably in the same convo as AI was back in 96-97. He gets to the rim at will without any type of move.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am
weezy f says:
have them do a barkley bavetta type race!
November 20th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
marcus the great says:
the fact that Lebron is even in the argument at his size (look at the rest of the list) is freakish. dude’s a monster.
i also agree Devan Harris should be on the list
November 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
BxBaller says:
Take BronBot off the list and replace him with Nate Robinson or Devin Harris.
Brooks or Rose have to be #1.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
MissChick says:
1. AB – Aaaron Brooks. End of story.
2. DR – Derrick Rose. That guy doesn’t look quick, but you seem he blowing by not only the guy guarding him, but the WHOLE TEAM to to the basket
3. AI – Would be #1 or 2 a few years ago, but has lost his first step quickest a little
4. Devon Harris
5. TJ Ford
6. Leandro Barbosa
November 20th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
hoopfan86 says:
wow Ai should be at least 2nd. when he came into the he was the fastest nba player ever. today he still quick but he not playing that wild because his game has matured alot but nobody in the league still cant guard him
November 20th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
dibiaseink says:
wheres nate rob?
November 20th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Talented says:
@ sxrs
lol wow you sound like a hater. like somone said you wont find a 6’9″ 260lber as fast as him. Watch him go to the basket and say hes not top ten strongest. And if you think about it there arent too many top ten list you can leave him out of.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Student Of The Game says:
It’s not hatin on Lebron, it’s just tryin to be realistic. He is an amazing athlete, but if you take Lebron and line him up with a bunch of point guards and tell them to go end to end with the ball are you saying Lebron would finish in the top 10 out of EVERY point guard in the league? That is just talkin about basketball speed. If you put Lebron on the track and tell him to run the 100 against a bunch of point guards then he definetly isn’t comin in the top 10. So either way he is an AMAZING athlete, but top 10? I dont think so. Not in basketball speed, or track speed.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
B Court says:
I’d have to go with Speedy Clac Clac Clac Claxton.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
VINNY says:
OK Bcourt, you figured at post 66 no one would notice- speedy claxton, man he cant jog let alone run-he’s been hurt for like 3 years, at least!!
November 20th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Ace says:
farmar is faster than iverson
November 20th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
MBE18 says:
Nate Robinson?
November 20th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
David Brandon says:
i’d have to take off james and put devin harris in.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
dlee says:
I read somewhere a few years ago back when Iverson was still in philly, that Sam Dalembeast was just as fast as Iverson baseline to baseline. seriously.
rip hamilton = fast ALL DAY lol
but seriously, Lebron would definitely hold his own against said “fast point guards”
November 20th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
dlee says:
forgot to add,
Fastest players – ’05-’07 phoenix suns “7 seconds or less”
November 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
v says:
LOL farmar faster than iverson u must be some die hard lakers fan to say that LMAO!!!
November 21st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Ricko says:
Patty Mills out of St Mary’s will be faster than any of them when he gets drafted next year. The Aussie blew Chris Paul away in two games at the Olympics and trials. Nobody in this league will be able to stay with that kid when he gets in to the NBA
November 21st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Brownsac says:
Some of you must not watch many cavs games, because besides maybe Barbosa and Parker, Lebron is as fast or faster end to end with the basketball than those other guards. I’ve seen him run down Rondo from way behind and block his layup….
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
baron von faulk says:
TONY PARKER
AARON BROOKS
DEVIN HARRIS
NATE ROBINSON
ALLEN IVERSON
MONTA ELLIS (pre-moped)
LEANDRO BARBOSA
TJ FORD
then eddy curry, glen davis, donyell marshall
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
tcam says:
1. Allen Iverson
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Nate Robinson
4. Dwayne Wade
5. LeBron James
6. Chris Paul
7. Tracy McGrady
8. Rajon Rondo
9. Derrick Rose
10.Tony Parker
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
hahns says:
KYLE LOWRY
and wtf….tmac?!?!?!
November 26th, 2008 at 9:37 am
hooper5013 says:
Nate Robinson, Louis Williams, Devin Harris. ADD EM somewhere!
December 1st, 2008 at 12:13 am
Gary Gaston says:
Derrick Rose without a doubt. Everyone describes him as a “freakish athlete”…. with “freakish speed and explosion”. He plays at different speeds. But when you see him hit high gear, put the throttle down and gun it… wow!! There is nothing like this dude. His speed is off the charts.
December 1st, 2008 at 12:34 am
Willie Dee says:
Derrick Rose breaks ankles!!!!!!!!!!! He plays at “warp speeeed”.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
mike says:
theres alot of fast players in da nba….but ive seen aaron brooks play…i think he’s the fastest
ps. tj ford is very fast 2
December 24th, 2008 at 2:00 am
d-wade3 says:
anyone forgetting me ?
December 24th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Dre says:
R u people crazy or just young and dumb? Lebron is very fast have you seen him get a steal and accelerate? He was one of the fastest football players in Ohio. He was like a bigger version of Randy Moss or a slightly faster version of TO. Please pay attention to the game… just because the little guy’s legs are moving faster doesn’t actually mean he is. It isn’t 5 people in the NBA that could beat him in the 40 yard dash… I guarantee it. I think just because he is big people don’t think he is but ask any of those players.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Dre says:
There is a difference between quick and fast. Bron is fast but not that quick.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Sam says:
There’s word that LeBron runs a 4.2 40. You guys have to realize the difference between quickness and speed. Of course Devin Harris is quicker than him, but end to end, LeBron is one of the fastest. And whoever said Kobe, HAH. No.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Willie Dee says:
Lebron ran a 4.6 40 in high school. That was his best time. He has probably gotten faster since high school but I highly doubt he is running below 4.4
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Jordan says:
lebron james ran a 4.2 40 yd dash in his book. nobody on the list other than Iverson and Rose can do that, Unlike 40-yard dashes in football where athletes start from a three-point stance, basketball players start the 20-meter dash (65 feet, seven inches) from a natural, upright position. The fastest time in the field was recorded by junior-to-be Derrick Rose of Simeon High in Chicago. The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Rose covered 20 meters in a blazing 2.65 seconds, .18 seconds faster than the second best score turned in by 6-foot-6 Isaiah Dahlman (2.83 seconds). thats olympic timed speed and the timer was electronic so it is accurate!!
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Jordan says:
kobe has the foot speed cruising giraffe
January 4th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Mani Ramamoorthy says:
You gotta put Dwade, Devin Harris on that list. Not Lebron James. Lebron is not fast. He is just explosive. Dwade is scary fast, so is Tony Parker, Derrick Rose, TJ Ford, and Leandro Barbosa.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
nextnba says:
1. A. Brooks
2. R. Rondo
3. M. Ellis
4. D. Harris
5. T.J. Ford
6. A. Iverson
7. T. Parker
8. C. Paul
9. D. Rose
10. D. Wade
11. L. Barbosa
April 25th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
bballboy says:
1.) Nate Robinson
2.) CP3
3.) D-wade
May 20th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Jay says:
lebron shouldnt be on that list…
he may be the best (or the second best, whatever you think) but he is not in the top ten…
1. Aaron Brooks
2. Devin Harris
3. TJ Ford
4. Tony Parker
5. Derrick Rose
P.S. – 5 years ago Allen IVerson would have been number 1.
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:47 am
Mr.Lee says:
Raymond Felton is the fastest and strongest PG in the NBA.
June 11th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Nick Etter says:
iight heres mine-
1.Allen Iverson
2.Tony Parker
3.Jason Kidd
4.Rajon Rondo
5.Chris Paul
6.Monta Ellis
7.Aaron Brooks
8.E.J Ford
June 18th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
mike says:
WHERE IS RODNEY CARNEY?
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:48 pm
c23 says:
i can see why u guys would say lebron is fast but hes not getting covered by guards so i dont think he should be on that list and iverson should be 1 or 2 cuz even with a lost step he’s still ridiculous fast and if you guys gonna put lebron on that list u out to mention melo too
July 9th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
tha best in da west says:
without question aaron brooks
July 18th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
seth says:
dwight howard i like
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
j bball says:
Wat? Devin Harris set the record for the fastest time baseline to baseline dribbling a ball and hes not on there? He should at least be in the top 4
October 26th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
syrym says:
no, not Lebron, maybe WAde but not Lebron
I would also add to this list Louis Williams instead of James
also Nash
Rafer Alston
November 12th, 2009 at 12:42 am
eargasm says:
I just have to reply. Yeah, Rose is number 1 without a doubt. I hate to give up Parker, but damn Nash is slick. Of course the 40 yard dash is an empirical way to judge speed, but when it comes to the game, right now Steve Nash is the best.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Thomas says:
rondo is def the fastest player in the nba he runs the 40 yard dash in 3.9 seconds and can run the court in 3.1 seconds
December 8th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Bjezzy208 says:
First off anybody that didn’t put Devin Harris in they top five it goes like this
1.)LeBron
2.)Devin Harris
3.)Derrick Rose
4.)Chris Paul
5.)D. Wade
December 9th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
PHILLKIDD617 says:
I think Rondo is the fastest followed by Derrick Rose. RR recorded a 3.1 record running the court
December 12th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Jeff Wade says:
All you guys who left Rondo off your list need to go back and do your homework. He leads the league in steals; doesn’t that give you a clue?
December 28th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Mr. Bister says:
I think that everybody is getting confused between speed and quickness. Speed is the how fast you can run. Quickness short bursts of speed. A lot of the players named on the list aren’t really fast, they’re quick.
January 1st, 2010 at 9:40 pm
gswarriors says:
monta. he ran rondo down when they played last week… so at least rondo isnt #1
January 1st, 2010 at 9:42 pm
gswarriors says:
monta. he ran rondo down when they played last week… so at least monta is ahead of rondo
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:16 pm
2ne1 says:
Shaquille O’neal
February 10th, 2010 at 10:38 am
royal bloodline says:
kids, it can be summed up like this. whenever one of your “fastest players” gets on a fastbreak, lebron runs them down and tosses the shot attempt. when LBJ is on a break, if no one is in front to foul him, it is a highlight-reel dunk.
P.S. on his highlight dunks, notice no one else is within 30ft of him.
February 27th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Hugo says:
How about Darren Collison, not a starter but he’s mad crazy for the NOH.
And Johnny Flynn is CRAZY QUICK, you agree?
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Kcirraj says:
Every NBA player run together on a short distance dash, and the top 5 will be : monta ellis, lebron james, tony parker, derrick rose and usain bolt lol
March 6th, 2010 at 1:21 am
im_a_warriorfan8 says:
im goin with
monta
monta
monta
monta
and monta ellis
March 6th, 2010 at 1:21 am
im_a_warriorfan8 says:
im goin with
monta
monta
i luv him
March 11th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
ryan says:
Rodrigue Beauobis will be #1 next year on this list
March 30th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
jamal says:
Rondo is the fastest in my opinion because of how he plays. he’s running the floor from each end in under 3 seconds. just look at he’s able to keep up with everyone he guards and doesn’t guard. I think he’s underrated by a lot of people. in the skills challenge, he would finish under 25 seconds, at least that’s what i think. Lebron is just explosive. he’s fast but not that fast. Rondo’s nickname should be “nine caliber” because of his jersey # and that he has the speed of a bullet!
April 6th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
jdeuce says:
steve francis
tim hardaway
jameer nelson
rajon rondo
tj ford
April 18th, 2010 at 6:11 am
buhbuhbuh says:
TY LAWSON. HIS SPEED SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW… SON!