Dwight HowardEveryone always talks about how strong Dwight Howard is. He loves to “eat weights.” He has the shoulders of Optimus Prime.
But he’s not the only guy who is an absolute hoss in the League. We turned on the Sixers/T-Wolves - and aside from watching Al Jefferson put some beautiful post moves on Samuel Dalembert - it’s astounding to see just how jacked Craig Smith is. While he put 12 points on Elton Brand in about eight minutes, it was tough to look at anything but his biceps. Honestly, Smith is like that dude who tried to break the Guinness World Record for having the biggest biceps by injecting steroids in his arms - and only his arms.
If you’re putting together a list of the ten strongest guys in the League, Smith has to be on there. Who else is on your list?
* Dwight Howard
* Ben Wallace
* Craig Smith
* Emeka Okafor
* Al Horford
* LeBron James
* Andrew Bynum
* Shaq
* Brandon Bass
* Tyrus Thomas
Related posts:
November 19th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
qUeSt??? says:
wasnt craig smith a lil overweight a few weeks ago?……. the strongest player in the nba is lebron james…. on another note rasheed and AI are killing the cavaliers
November 19th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
added says:
Tyrus Thomas?
November 19th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
qUeSt??? says:
Lebron James
Dwight Howard
Ben Wallace
Shaquille Oneal
Jermaine Oneal
Emeka Okafur
Andrew Bynum
NeNe
Greg Oden
November 19th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Tangman says:
Kevin Durant
Brendan Wright
Anthony Randolph
Luke Ridnour
Travis Diener
November 19th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Bone says:
Ron Artest anyone?
November 19th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Justin Solomon says:
If Zo comes back he is the strongest without a doubt. Mourning truly defines what a warrior is.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
itsakademiks says:
caron butler no homo but i was watching the game son is mad brolic
November 19th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Big T says:
jermaine o’neal…. ROFL
November 19th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Jason Maxiell says:
I will eat your firstborn for this snub.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Timmy D says:
Why the hell is Tyrus Thomas. Um I would add Ron Artest and Joey Dorsey to the list. And I know he isnt in the NBA anymore but I remember hearing that Earl Boykins was one of the strongest guys on the team when he was on the Nuggets he is like an ant or something and could bench like crazy amounts of weight.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Big North says:
Tyrus Thomas? Might as well say Tim Thomas (WHY DOESN’T THAT GUY JUST DOMINATE AREADY)
JOE JOHNSON!!!
November 19th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Dime Magazine says:
Smith might still be overweight - but that’s in his gut. He looks like he could bicep curl Al Jefferson.
- AK
November 19th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
LS says:
Andrew Bynum and Tyrus Thomas? You’re kidding, right?
Gotta add the Graham twins, Joey and Stevie… They’re both strong as shit…
November 19th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Dime Magazine says:
I agree on Joe Johnson - maybe he should replace Tyrus. He’s a mack truck. I’ve heard him called “Terminator” too many times to snub him.
- AK
November 19th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Dime Magazine says:
LS - have you seen Andrew Bynum recently? He’s undoubtedly on this list.
- AK
November 19th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
JC says:
I would substitute Corey Maggette for Tyrus Thomas and Amare for Bynum.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Big North says:
AMARE! BOOZ!
November 19th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Big North says:
What are you guys doing over there, Ty Thomas!?!?!
November 19th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
LS says:
I guess I need to see the evidence, but I take you at your word…
Tyrus Thomas though? Really?
November 19th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Big North says:
Ty Thomas, looks like Kevin Durant after he got stung by a bee compared to these cats.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
YGB (Obama 08) says:
@Dime. No Kenyon Martin. Pretty damn shocked. Corey Maggette.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
control says:
I’ve played Joey Graham in a few pickups before…he is a fucking beast. Stronger than most 7ft 300lbers I’ve played against.
Earl Boykins when he was in the league (can bench over 300lbs, weighs like 140lbs).
Vince Carter is actually pretty damn strong, can bench over 350lbs easy.
Cory Maggette LOOKS strong, but I bet he isn’t really that strong.
Tyrus Thomas? Really?
I wouldn’t put Jermane Oneal on that list. Guy doesn’t look that strong at all, certainly doesn’t play like a beast.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
marcus the great says:
bynum came in the league not bein able to bench 185 so he’s off the list. maybe on the strongest LOOKIN list
boykins was strong as shit
i agree maggette might just look crazy strong
November 19th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
driveatsleep says:
hey… you can’t leave Amare out…
November 19th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Mark says:
Pound-for-pound, inch-for-inch: Earl Boykins.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
control says:
Isn’t Nick Collison a beast? I think in the predraft camps he benched 185 like 20+ times?
November 19th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Sweet Jones says:
@ Control
ask that Detroit fan at the Palace if Jermaine O’neal is strong?
Ron Artest is #2 on this list behind the obvious D Howard.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
tahir says:
uM strocgest or just having musles? because all the guys they just named have big muscles! and don’t leave chuck hayes out of this list!
November 19th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Markito says:
Among the guards: D-Wade, D-Rose, Deron.
Wade versus Raps: 40pts, 3 rebs, 11dimes, 1 stl, 5 blocks
Fantasy beast.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Willis says:
get Tyrus off this list, and Bynum too.
LeBron, Artest, Nate Robinson, maybe. Instead of Horford. and Shelden Williams benches 400 pounds, but his forehead sucks at basketball.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
the rocket cat says:
I remember reading about Vince Carter lifting ridiculous amounts in the weight room, even though he put no effort into his training.
I believe Joey Graham is a bit of a freak when it comes to the weight room. Regrettably, he hasn’t done that much on the court with that.
I’m willing to bet that LeBron is capable of ridiculous feats of strength.
Shaq seems to be able to throw Rafer for significant distance.
One thing to consider when judging strength is that the longer your arms are, the harder it is to bench, so some of these tall guys (like Bynum) are probably a lot stronger than their pre-draft numbers would suggest.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
JCARR says:
STAT should be in that list and Robert Tractor Traylor.(350 pounds of _________ (fill in the blank). Where is he???)
November 19th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
A-Slam says:
no kidding put stat up thurr
November 19th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
No one mentioned Derek Fisher? The guy’s ripped. Also, Artest, Dorsey, Maggette.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Chan says:
What about the guns on Corey Maggette? And from the archives, remember the guns on David Robinson?
November 20th, 2008 at 12:01 am
heartbreaker85 says:
c/pf
- shaq, perkins, wallace, zo
sf
lebron, powe, artest
sg
battier, wade
pg
williams, kidd
DWIGHT HOWARD ISN’T STRONG. he just has broad shoulders, but other than that, he has the typical african-american basketball player bodytype.
also, sheed and the pistons were correct in saying that he doesnt have any strength in his legs. he can jump high, but he can’t hold his position against bigger, stronger guys. (no low center of gravity)
November 20th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Gerard says:
Dwight
LeBron
Artest
All-time
Malone
Robinson
November 20th, 2008 at 12:55 am
YGB (Obama 08) says:
@Control. Nick Collison you serious? LMAO!
November 20th, 2008 at 1:01 am
thaisito says:
gerard
lol those are my top 2 alltime also
the admiral then the mailman god damn
November 20th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Justin says:
Shaq is the strongest. He’s just a physical marvel. I think he’d be stronger than the next three on the list combined.
I would put Glen Davis on any list. He was a 5-star recruit as an offensive tackle coming out of high school. He’s a physical marvel like Shaq but of course not to the same degree. Davis is around 300 pounds, 6′8 and he moves with such light feet. When he guards the post, he defends like an offensive tackle: he uses his leverage and strength to uproot players away from the basket. He also uses his strength to carve out space for rebounds. Chuck Hayes is similar in the way he plays. He’s not as big as Davis but he’s so hard to back down. For a guy 6′6 to be as good a lowpost defender as he is takes a lot of strength.
In terms of all-time guys, one guy who gets overlooked is Dennis Rodman. He didn’t have big muscles but there was something he had that allowed him to hold up against Shaq in the post. He had great leverage, he would almost bolt his legs to the legs, he was wiry strong. He did such an amazing job harassing one of the strongest and greatest power forwards of all time in Karl Malone during their finals matchups.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:27 am
laballer says:
what about prince? tayshauns been lookin yoked recently..nah?
November 20th, 2008 at 1:33 am
solomon says:
gotta give it to shaq… who else can clear a brawl effortlessly???
top 5:
shaq
ben wallace
craig smith
brandon bass
ron artest
and being ripped ain’t synanimous to strong…
November 20th, 2008 at 1:44 am
youdontknow says:
ben gordon
November 20th, 2008 at 2:04 am
kg fan says:
Nate robinson and kelenna azubuike that dude is ripped
November 20th, 2008 at 2:17 am
solomon says:
eddy curry
jerome james
sean may
zach randolph
erick dampier
oh… this was strongest appetite, isn’t it?
November 20th, 2008 at 2:17 am
qUeSt??? says:
@ jcarr tracktor traylor is playing pro ball in puerto rico for the cangrejeros de santurce
November 20th, 2008 at 2:43 am
s says:
@heartbreaker 85 - Dwight Howard isnt strong? You see when Haslem tried to intentional foul him? Haslem went into the crowd, on his ass and Howard still dunked it. You are trippin.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:16 am
jayslay says:
i kno its not popular to say but kobe is pretty strong….i mean he was jacking up 30 40 shots a game gotta be strong for that
November 20th, 2008 at 3:47 am
dat dood says:
what about kelenna azabuki? him and maggette on the court together have some pretty big arms…
November 20th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Flying_Aussie_Dutchman says:
Def do a post on top ten skinniest guys in the NBA…
- Ben Wallace
- Corey maggette
- LeBron James
- Joey Graham
Derek Fisher was RIPPED last time I saw him.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:59 am
loot says:
list sucks without
CHRIS WILCOX
that dude is an ox.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:00 am
loot says:
did i say wilcox? wow…. sorry for that!
i meant fortson only to realize he’s not around anymore
fortson was huge.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:02 am
M Intellect says:
Jumping is potentially the most complete test of power so I bet everyone with hops has a MAD power-to-weight ratio. My bet for the strongest cats are Shaq, LeBron and Corey Maggette.
On a side note, lifting weights and functional strength is completely different. Weights use your muscles in isolation or near isolation whereas functional movements use your muscles in conjunction.
So don’t get it twisted a cat that can big bench can still get lift up.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:04 am
JAB says:
my posts start to sound the same, where’s ron ron
November 20th, 2008 at 5:27 am
AB_40 says:
nene should be on there, Greg Oden anyone? Baron Davis, ron artest
November 20th, 2008 at 5:44 am
Dequervaine says:
ANDREI KIRILENKO without a doubt!!!
Teyshaun Prince
Kevin durant
November 20th, 2008 at 6:12 am
UKnow says:
JOEY DORSEY.
That rookie is a monster.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Fiasco says:
Yao Ming is one of the strongest dudes in the game by virtue of his massive size. Anyone over 350 lbs is bought to have some diesel in em. Even Shaq said this years back…
November 20th, 2008 at 7:16 am
caribballin says:
i heard that wally weighs more then b. wallace and is beast in the wieght room
November 20th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Marian says:
How can you leave out alonzo morning since he didn’t put his retiring papers in yet?
just a joke, espacially with someone like tyrus thomas on that list!!!
Zo has to be the strongest guy of the league for the last 15 years!
November 20th, 2008 at 7:50 am
frankie says:
kaman with that retard strength
November 20th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Smitty313 says:
Ben Wallace is the strongest player in the nba period. He might not be the best but hes the strongest.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:29 am
GEE...to the highest bidder says:
Dorsey
November 20th, 2008 at 8:59 am
dude says:
kevin durant
November 20th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Kevin K says:
all you guys that said anyone else not named Shaq are retards. Shaq is by far the strongest. Doesn’t even come close
November 20th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Big V says:
Artest. And if you’re talking about pound for pound, Marbury’s gotta be in that mix as well.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:26 am
vinny says:
using pot 53(m intellect) logic- wouldnt you have to add nate robinson. Ok i’m late(damm its 6 something on the west coast)but t thomas over ron artest- dime just put that on there to start shit! and where is zo?
November 20th, 2008 at 9:27 am
vinny says:
post53
November 20th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Amar says:
no booz/millsap?
and as for all-time, d-rob is just cut, he wasn’t strong. malone fucked his couch with one elbow and knocked out misses robinson while his pussy spurs team mates just watched.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:21 am
johnny says:
Maybe Dampier, Ron, Dorsey and Maxiell.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:30 am
rkirby says:
@ heartbreaker95
“Dwight Howard isnt strong”
In the words of DL Hughley,”wtf r u talking abt?”
November 20th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Dennis Castro says:
Yea, someone mentioned Nate Robinson. Can’t he bench like 350lbs, not bad for someone who’s 5′9″ and about 175.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
dapro says:
there is a difference between weight lifting strength and natural brute strength
Ben Wallace was and maybe one of the strongest cats in the league
Bron is naturally strong
Shaq is naturally strong
These guys probably don’t live in the weight room but you see the brute strength when defenders bounce off them
November 20th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Jim McNeil says:
Dj Mbenga
November 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
MSkittle says:
Where is Corey Maggette?
November 20th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Ian says:
amar
did u see the elbow or just commentin because u read of that injury
if shaq gets hit like that from boykins hes going down also
THATS AN ELBOW TO THE HEAD
what did u want vinny del negro to do fight malone????? get real that man was alone in that team. hes my fav player ever but he was way too nice he shoulda told the spurs FUCK U get some players here or im leavin it finally happened in 99 with ellie and the others.
and that robinson wasnt strong???? u werent typin that with a straight face u need to find some videos of david in his prime playin shaq so u can see how david moved the diesel.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Ian says:
btw man u mentioned david isnt strong and u break out a boozer get real hes the softest shit this side of gasol
November 20th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
dano says:
i think an all time list would be something like this:
Chamberlain - testimonies from anyone he ever played against. look it up.
Shaq - just because he’s shaq
malone - legendary in the weight room. one of the first players to look like a body builder.
boykins - at 135 could bench over 300 lbs. make some fools look silly in the weight room
rodman - gotta be strong to AVERAGE 18 boards a game for a season.
Lebron - Malone with handles and speed
Zo - That classic bicep flex celebration says it all.
Barkley - at 6′4″ (maybe) one of the best power forwards of all time.
Honorable Mention
Deron Williams
Vince Carter
Ben Wallace
Dwayne Wade
MJ
Oden
November 20th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
VINNY says:
dano- if you want to go back to wilt there are some others
willis reed(fought a whole team once), wes unseld-he was like 6-7 280 and strong as shit! bill bridges,
al attles,
November 20th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
The saint says:
amarre
November 20th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
specialguydurrrrr! says:
For guards you guys gotta put B-roy in there. He tossed Zbo all the way to new york and put an entire city on his back the last two years!!!
November 20th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
specialguydurrrrr! says:
And I’ll be pretty disapointed if Oden doesn’t rip down a backboard this year. Did anyone see the game against G state? He dunked so hard that the shot clock was shaking over the backboard for like 3 minutes.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:03 am
Kevin says:
I’m surprised so few people put Artest and Iggy on this list.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:56 am
Chaos says:
Man you need to expand this list. Oden was hittin the weights when he was off and looks like it, what about glen davis, leon powe(dude is f***ing huge), Ron Artest (extension of craziness), corey maggette (i think he is bodybuilding workout). Zo is the strongest in the league still if he hasnt put in his retirement papers and by proportin boykins is the strongest
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:48 am
elk burger says:
yeah nate rob, gred oden got snubbed.
u cant convince me al horford & tyrus thomas are stronger than reggie evans or KG gtfoh
November 24th, 2008 at 3:04 am
buzz says:
Hey, I don’t know what you were thinking of when you wrote that Tyrus Thomas is a stong player ahahaha
Come on, put Greg Oden, that will be less ridiculous
November 25th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
eddyslick says:
Y’all are forgetting the baddest small forward of all-time Anthony Mason. Regulated all but Shaq back in the day and had a sick handle.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Dagomar says:
All-time:
WILT (not close).
Shaq.
Malone was a beast too.
Right now: Shaq, Howard, Lebron head my last. Artest as well. Those guys are all stronger than they look, and they are HUGE. Lebron and Howard have the added benefit of being young and insanely athletic.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Dresivo says:
90’s only
Shaq
Malone
Zo
Ewing
Mutombo
Hakeem
Barkley
Robinson
Kemp
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Matt says:
kevin durant.
tayshaun prince.
rajon rondo.