The NBA’s 10 Most Athletic Players

The most athletic players in the NBA today are highlight reels in waiting. These athletic freaks of nature – if you will – process incredible leaping skills and hops, massive wingspans, electrifying speed, amazing explosiveness, and impressive hang time. They continually keep the fans on the edge of their seats, and leave them scratching their heads and saying, “How did he do that?”

Before going any further, it should be noted that Derrick Rose is omitted from this list due to his injury that is sidelining him for the regular season. Because of his multiple serious injuries, there are now questions of what form the former MVP will return in and play with for the remainder of his career. If Rose returns to his pre-injury style of play, he will certainly rank in the top five of this list.

With that said, let’s take a look at who the top 10 athletic players in the NBA today are.

Honorable Mention: Paul George and DeAndre Jordan

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10. DeMAR DeROZAN
DeMar DeRozan is making a steady climb of progress in the past four-plus years in his overall game. He is currently playing his best season yet, as he is entering the beginning stage of his prime at the age of 24. From being a player who was simply known for two things, his athleticism and potential, DeRozan has now evolved into the go-to-guy for the Toronto Raptors and a potential All-Star.

DeRozan’s natural athleticism willed him into a top-ten pick, and has spurred other improvements to his game, such as creating space around the perimeter and in the midrange. He already equipped NBA elite level explosiveness during his one-and-done tenure at USC. He is a terrific finisher at the rim, and while he possesses an average wingspan and standing reach numbers, his leaping abilities – up to 40 inches – has impressed basketball fans everywhere. DeRozan’s athleticism was compared to Vince Carter‘s when he entered the draft in 2009. That should tell you something.

9. KENNETH FARIED
Kenneth Faried’s nickname, The Manimal, perfectly sums up his athletic ability. He has hops that are quite astonishing, enabling him to outreach seven-footers on the glass on a regular basis. Faried is insanely quick on the court for his size, as he will chase-down opponents on the break and demoralize them with a denial at the rim, as he showed with a monster, two-handed block against Dion Waiters on Friday (below).

The Manimal uses his freakish athleticism to throw down the hammer with fury over opponents, regardless of size. Faried’s athleticism is the perfect fit for Denver’s transition game – even though it has slowed down a bit under Brian Shaw‘s tutelage – and has provided a plethora of jaw-dropping plays for the highlight reels.

8. ERIC BLEDSOE
Eric Bledsoe is perhaps the best athlete pound-for-pound in the game today. Standing at 6-1, 195 pounds, Bledsoe is an undersized point guard on paper. However, his insane athleticism certainly makes up for his undersized stature on the court. Bledsoe is easily tagged as one of the league’s top athletic freaks.

Bledsoe has electric speed in the open court and thrilling explosiveness in half-court sets. He has a wingspan of 6-7.5 and an incredible 40-inch max vertical leap, which allows him to throw down ridiculous slams and crushing blocks at any moment of the game. He has often been referred to as a “Mini LeBron” due to his athletic talents. When you compare LeBron’s wingspan of 7-0.25 inches while standing at 6-8 to Bledsoe’s smaller stature, you can truly appreciate the 24-year-old’s ultra-impressive athleticism.

7. ANDRE IGUODALA
Many thought the Golden State Warriors had the best offseason last summer, based off of one acquisition: Andre Iguodala. Iggy’s raw talents automatically lifted the Warriors to legitimate title contender status, as his impact has been felt and seen from the first day of his arrival in Oakland.

Iggy’s pure athleticism can be seen in his leaping, size, strength, and speed. His natural athleticism pours out in his on and off-the-ball defense, primarily around the perimeter. He additionally catches lobs with grace, but finishes with great displays of power. Iguodala has made a tremendous career out of using his athleticism.

6. JOSH SMITH
The list of the most athletic players in the NBA today would not be complete if Josh Smith was not included. Standing at 6-9 and weighing in at 225 pounds, Smith’s athleticism is often tagged as “freakish” for a player of his size. According to DraftExpress.com, Smith has a 7-0 wingspan, a standing reach of 8-10.5, and a max vertical leap of a whopping 39.5 inches.

J-Smoove’s athleticism additionally spots him with his agility on the court, as he has been clocked at running a ¾-court sprint in 3.24 seconds. Smith uses his athleticism to his absolute advantage on both ends of the floor, as he excels in defending multiple positions. Whether it is packaged in a demonstrative dunk or a blazing block, Smith’s athleticism has provided amazing moments that will be remembered by fans for decades.

5. GERALD GREEN
Gerald Green is in all probability the best leaper in the game today. Even the athletically skilled Paul George of the Indiana Pacers said in 2012:

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Green has downright ridiculous hops, as he was marked down to have a 39-inch maximum vertical leap by DraftExpress.com. However, it has been reported that his max vertical leap could be up to 48 inches, which is simply mind-boggling.

In fact, it is a rare sight to see Green’s head below the rim on any given dunk; that’s how phenomenal his hops are. While there are still rough edges in his all-around game that need to be smoothed out, his eye-opening athleticism keeps fans on the edge of their seats for all 48 minutes. Now that he is receiving consistent playing time and thriving in Phoenix under Jeff Hornacek, viewers are able to witness his athletic prowess at a higher level, which is great news for viewers and highlight reels everywhere.

4. DWIGHT HOWARD
A new breed of centers is taking over today’s NBA. Heck, the NBA even tossed the center position from the All-Star ballot. The traditional, back-to-the-basket center is evolving into athletic, pick-and-roll centers. Dwight Howard epitomizes the new breed of center, as he is the most effective of the athletic centers in the game right now.

Howard is one of the best finishers at the rim, as he currently ranks third in the NBA in dunks with 97 – behind DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond. Howard sports a long, athletic build rather than the traditional big and bulky build, which allows him to move around the court – especially in transition – with ease. It also helps him excel on the defensive end in post-up sets and while defending the pick-and-roll. His wingspan and reach potential mixed in with his athletic abilities have provided fans with jaw-dropping plays throughout his career. Howard’s athleticism on both ends of the floor has made him an impact player and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

3. BLAKE GRIFFIN
For every Clippers game, there is a great chance that Blake Griffin will throw down at least one emphatic dunk. When his famous dunk on Timofey Mozgov a while back led to “Mozgov’d” becoming a verb that basketball fans and analysts have adopted in the regular vocabulary, you know his hops are ridiculous.

While Griffin’s focus is on expanding his game to a more well-rounded one, especially on the offensive side, there is no doubt that the 2011 Dunk Contest champion remains one of the best athletes in the league today. Griffin’s spin moves in the post have improved greatly, as he has found yet another way to attack the rim. His speed in transition – both offensively and defensively – allow Griffin to use his strength, explosiveness and leaping abilities to awe the crowd on a consistent basis.

2. RUSSELL WESTBROOK
Russell Westbrook has provided stunning displays of insane athleticism for the masses since his days as a UCLA Bruin. His explosive speed in the open court is downright dangerous. Westbrook can either stop on a dime to launch a pull-up jumper or use his athleticism to attack the rim in powerful fashion.

Westbrook can be argued as the top athlete in the league with complete merit, as he continues to dazzle fans on a nightly basis. His explosiveness is also arguably the best among the elite point guards in the NBA, and in combination with his freakish athleticism, results in Westbrook being one of the must-watch players in the league and a threat to make the highlight reel at any point.

1. LeBRON JAMES
Well, this should not be too shocking to anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes watching LeBron James doing work on the hardwood. ‘Bron is an athletic freak, especially when you consider that he holds a 6-8, 250-pound frame. He runs the floor like an elite point guard, has the strength of a dominant center, and has athletic ability that is unreal. LBJ is essentially a freight train on the floor.

Yes, LeBron has perhaps the best explosiveness for any player of his size in the history of the game, specifically in the open court. Yes, LeBron has insane hops and power to finish at the rim like no one else in the league. Yes, he has hang time and a wingspan that is ever impressive. However, his versatility that stems from his raw athleticism allows the four-time MVP to guard virtually any player in any position on the court in the game today. That is what escalates him to the top of this list as the NBA’s most athletic player.

Who do you think are the NBA’s most athletic players?

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