How does Kawhi rank in athleticism?

[testies]

Simmons said he is the 3rd best athlete in the NBA after Lebron and Ginger; I agree.

[r0drig0lac]

DJ, Jimmy Butler, Giannis, Unibrow...

[RD2191]

I honestly don't think he's all that athletic, tbh. His drive and determination is what makes him a beast.

[Em-City]

.... yeah, length doesn't necessarily equal athleticism

[Arc]

he's not an athletic monster like chimpbrook, DJ, lebron, ginger, etc.

[testies]

hes pretty athletic man, his first step is pretty great

[apalisoc_9]

Kawhi is not really athletic, tbh.

He doesn't run fast. :lol

He doesn't jump high :lol

In terms of strength and power though..among SF's he's probably the 2nd strongest might even be the strongest..Lebron has like 5 pounds on him. It doesn't look like it but kawhi is almost the same weight as Lebron :lol

It's a good thing because it prolongs his peak....hexk Ginobili was faster and had a higher vertical than kawhi.

Kawhi is just strong...If he's talking power and strength..then yeah he might be third.

[daslicer]

He's an above average athlete but like others have mentioned he's not a super athlete like Lebron,Westbrook,Griffin,or prime Wade.

[Malik Hairston]

Kawhi is not really athletic, tbh.

He doesn't run fast. :lol

He doesn't jump high :lol

In terms of strength and power though..among SF's he's probably the 2nd strongest might even be the strongest..Lebron has like 5 pounds on him. It doesn't look like it but kawhi is almost the same weight as Lebron :lol

It's a good thing because it prolongs his peak....hexk Ginobili was faster and had a higher vertical than kawhi.

Kawhi is just strong...If he's talking power and strength..then yeah he might be third.


Ya, he's not noticeably fast or a high leaper, but he has a perfect NBA body..massive length, monstrous hands, etc..

[Malik Hairston]

People underestimate length, tbh..Timmy's athleticism is always downplayed and his skill-set is emphasized, but his length has been a huge part of his success..

[dabom]

Dude is built like a tank for his position. Dude looked massive up close. He doesn't look like he can jump because he doesn't need too. He has major hops in him though. He will age like wine since he has an old mans game.

[dabom]

Dude has amazing reflexes. Cat like even.

[dabom]

Fast twitch.

[dabom]

High IQ BB player too.

[apalisoc_9]

I don't know if length is part of athletic ability...

but good news for the sprus, Length is always going to b there..Players lose their jump in their thirties.

Kawhi jumps like a 30 year old man tbh...

[Malik Hairston]

Dude is built like a tank for his position. Dude looked massive up close. He doesn't look like he can jump because he doesn't need too. He has major hops in him though. He will age like wine since he has an old mans game.

Ya, he's a lot stronger than he looks, tbh..there weren't many instances this year where he wasn't able to physically toy around with opposing SFs..

[Outlier]

I'm kinda glad he's not gifted with super athleticism... He's had to work had with the cards he's played and these cards will outlast the others.

[benstanfield]

Quick reflexes and coordination are part of athleticism, and he has those in spades. With his strength and quickness, if he worked on his first step and finishing at the rim there's no reason he couldn't be as unstoppable as Griffin or Westbrook in transition tbh....






:lmao meanwhile Pop wants him to be like Charles Barkley:lmao

[apalisoc_9]

Like I said, in terms of strength and power..he is for sure the 2nd strongest SF and probably the strongest...I wouldn't be surprised.

kawhi does a better job bodying bigs in the paint than Lebron.

No way he's didn't gain weight since his rookie year...He is still listed as 230 like his rookie year but he's probably around 240 or 245 now. He looks way bulkier.

[dabom]

Ya, he's a lot stronger than he looks, tbh..there weren't many instances this year where he wasn't able to physically toy around with opposing SFs..

I don't see any SF besides Lebron that he can't back down tbh. And he can shoot right over everyone that is small too. He can just drive to the hoop if you slow. He has tons of weapons for different types of players.

[dabom]

People underestimate length, tbh..Timmy's athleticism is always downplayed and his skill-set is emphasized, but his length has been a huge part of his success..

Massive hands and long arms. Kawhi has timmy arms on a SFs body. :lmao

[Cloud786]

In terms of pure jumping ability, kawhi is actually below average for an NBA player. I believe Matt Bonner had a higher vertical coming out of college.

[808]

Dude is built like a tank for his position. Dude looked massive up close. He doesn't look like he can jump because he doesn't need too. He has major hops in him though. He will age like wine since he has an old mans game.

Yup, may not be top three, but he is quite the strapping gentleman.

http://youtu.be/7j9F5rjYx_k

[SpurPadre]

In terms of pure jumping ability, kawhi is actually below average for an NBA player. I believe Matt Bonner had a higher vertical coming out of college.

I call bullshit on that reading. I've seen it listed online somewhere, maybe hoopshype, but the person who gauged it was probably eating a sandwich at the time Bonner was jumping.

[Malik Hairston]

I call bullshit on that reading. I've seen it listed online somewhere, maybe hoopshype, but the person who gauged it was probably eating a sandwich at the time Bonner was jumping.

You ever seen the video of Bonner winning a dunk contest?:lol

[SpurPadre]

You ever seen the video of Bonner winning a dunk contest?:lol

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not a regulation rim, lol.

[Old School 44]

People underestimate length, tbh..Timmy's athleticism is always downplayed and his skill-set is emphasized, but his length has been a huge part of his success..
Yes...just like TD. Deceptively athletic, but that length and knowing how to use it.

[100%duncan]

He's not that level of athleticism but he's above ave to good for sure. I don't agree with him not having high vertical leaps right now since he seems to get those high alley oops all the time :lol

[spursparker9]

Above average compared to the whole league

probably top 10 for the SF position

[cd021]

Simmons said he is the 3rd best athlete in the NBA after Lebron and Ginger; I agree.

No way he's the 3rd best.

Gerald Green
Russell Westbrook
Paul George
DeAndre Jordan
JaVelle McGee ( Athletic Freak)
Dwight Howard


Leonard is probably closer to an above average athlete, who has a freak arm-span (7 inches longer than his height without shoes)

[cd021]

In terms of pure jumping ability, kawhi is actually below average for an NBA player. I believe Matt Bonner had a higher vertical coming out of college.

I'm pretty sure you're right. In terms of vertical leap to height, Cory Joseph is the best athlete on the team. 34 inch vert for a 6'2 guard is really good. He shows bursts of it.

[SupremeGuy]

He doesn't have the footwork or rhythm to be that highly ranked in athleticism. I think a lot of his game is based on straight up hard work, and his god given length and large hands.

[phxspurfan]

Above average compared to the whole league

probably top 10 for the SF position

this

He's on par with Harrison Barnes in terms of athleticism, but has way better moves, reflexes, and strength

[look_at_g_shred]

Top 10 Id say. How many players in the league would've caught that alley oop from green?

[wildchild]

He's not that level of athleticism but he's above ave to good for sure. I don't agree with him not having high vertical leaps right now since he seems to get those high alley oops all the time :lol

Agree, but not only high alley oops and slam dunks...

http://giant.gfycat.com/UnequaledConstantBighornedsheep.gif
Amazing rebound :toast

[cd021]

this

He's on par with Harrison Barnes in terms of athleticism, but has way better moves, reflexes, and strength

Barnes is a much better athlete in terms of vert. Barnes has a 40' inch max vert to KLs 34. Leonard's game utilizes his athleticism more than Barnes.

[testies]

:lol people saying he's an average athlete

come on man, that alley oop the other day, the putback dunk vs miami

[lefty20]

:lol people saying he's an average athlete

come on man, that alley oop the other day, the putback dunk vs miami

That play was sick but you could see that his head was well below the rim, it was his length that allowed him to go up and get it. So yeah, he's definitely not in the same club as LBJ, Chimpbrook and DeMonkey. Those guys are what I would call hyper athletes.

That being said, athleticism ages poorly and length doesn't... just ask Timmy, tbh.

[FkLA]

Are some of yall serious when yall say Kawhi is not that athletic? :lol

His combination of size, power, quickness and speed is probably Top 1% in the NBA. Vertical isn't the only thing that makes up athleticism tbh.

[FkLA]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6avVfKKZuIs

His speed is underrated, especially for a player his size. Dude regularly goes coast to coast after his steals or rebounds, we haven't seen it as often this postseason because CP3 picked him from behind twice early in the series.

[lefty20]

Are some of yall serious when yall say Kawhi is not that athletic? :lol

His combination of size, power, quickness and speed is probably Top 1% in the NBA. Vertical isn't the only thing that makes up athleticism tbh.

True, but Vertical is often the first attribute to be judged when ppl try to determine an individual's athleticism. And I'd argue it gets weighed higher than other attributes as well. At least in the NBA.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Not sure if he's even top 40-50 athletically. As mentioned, if you mean length and strength, that's different.

[spurraider21]

Agree, but not only high alley oops and slam dunks...

http://giant.gfycat.com/UnequaledConstantBighornedsheep.gif
Amazing rebound :toast
damn, his head was at rim level

[Fireball]

he is not that athletic at all ... I mean his alley oop dunk everyone here was fuzzy about was great, but there are so many more athletic guys in the league that would have made that dunk easily because they can jump that much higher. Athleticism is not just jumping, but what makes Kawhi special is the lengths of his body and arms as well as the size of his hands.

[jag]

Based on his draft combine numbers, he was about the same level of athlete as Chandler Parsons. If Kawhi were white, he probably wouldn't be lauded for his athleticism.

That being said, he's a tough one to figure out because his raw numbers don't really jump out at you but he makes some really athletic plays sometimes. It seems like he's always as athletic as he needs to be based on the situation.

[TampaDude]

He's athletic enough. Kawhi has a very high BB IQ and cat-like reflexes and timing on defense. He's one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA if not THE best.

DPOY, bitches! :hat

[hitmanyr2k]

Kawhi is athletic no doubt but one thing I notice is when he slashes his leap lacks explosion off the dribble and he barely gets off the floor which is tough when trying to finish among traffic. That's all that's separating him from being among the elites. Sometimes it's not about the vertical leap but how quickly you can get off the floor and rise over the defender and catch him off guard. Westbrook doesn't have a great vertical leap but the way he detonates off the dribble and gets up in the air so fast in combination with his length he's usually either scoring or going to the free throw line.

[UZER]

Quick reflexes and coordination are part of athleticism, and he has those in spades. With his strength and quickness, if he worked on his first step and finishing at the rim there's no reason he couldn't be as unstoppable as Griffin or Westbrook in transition tbh....






:lmao meanwhile Pop wants him to be like Charles Barkley:lmao

And once again, that's pop for you. He doesn't know what to do with athletic players in his system. He tries to put them in a box.


Agree, but not only high alley oops and slam dunks...

http://giant.gfycat.com/UnequaledConstantBighornedsheep.gif
Amazing rebound :toast

Love me some Kawhi but he's actually not that athletic based on vertical, coordination with the his body, maneuvering the ball in mid air. He's slightly above average. Still, now of that takes away from of how badass an nba player he is.

He got bumped up by green on that rebound. If you're already moving up in the air, the slightest bump in the same direction give you extra lift.

[DJR210]

Most athletic player on the planet IMO. Tony is also the best pass first PG in the league.

[JohnnyMax]

Kawhi Leonard
(http://vorped.com/1-nba/2014-2015/player/1290/kawhi-leonard/shotchart/)
http://i.imgur.com/1EYCn4O.png

Russell Westbrook
(http://vorped.com/1-nba/2014-2015/player/1110/russell-westbrook/shotchart/)
http://i.imgur.com/UouEJyU.png

[JohnnyMax]

Kawhi finishes at the rim much better than Westbrook

[still.focused]

Hes not as much athletic as he is just plain physically impressive
Good size, strong for his size, great speed for his size, wingspan & hands
To top it off he uses all of those very well which kinda gives the illusion of superb athletisicm

Hes definitely not 3rd
Lebron, Westbrook, Blake, AD are easily better athletes
Prolly Deandre Jordan & Giannis too

[still.focused]

Kawhi finishes at the rim much better than Westbrook

This simply is not true
The FG % doesnt factor in the WB simply takes horrible shots
Like shots that arent even makeable & that he shouldnt be taking
Its his fault but it drops his % quite a bit lower

[MR-Clutch]

He's not the most explosive player, but he's not lacking in athleticism.

[$pursDynasty]

this is a definition thing I guess when I think athleticism, I think an explosivephysical ability that others even if they know it's coming can't match, I think Lebron, Westbrook, I guess prime Wade and prime D Rose. Blake, DJ, Wilt, prime Kareem. It is not just explosive because Barkley was explosive but he wasn't athletic. As for Kiwi I can't think of anyone on the Spurs roster right now that is more athletic but that doesn't put him in top 10 NBA wide arena.

[JohnnyMax]

This simply is not true
The FG % doesnt factor in the WB simply takes horrible shots
Like shots that arent even makeable & that he shouldnt be taking
Its his fault but it drops his % quite a bit lower

Westbrook shoots 56 and 47 % at the rim.
Kawhi shoots 66 and 60 % at the rim.

It has nothing to do with total fieldgoal %.

[Raven]

30% of the players are more athletic imo.

[still.focused]

Westbrook shoots 56 and 47 % at the rim.
Kawhi shoots 66 and 60 % at the rim.

It has nothing to do with total fieldgoal %.

Fuck you talking about?
Are you attempting to say WB doesnt take horrible shots at the rim?
Kawhi shoots a better % we all can read
But while FG% is a decent measure it is greatly skewed when a player takes either really easy or really hard shots & doesnt adequately reflect skill level
Deandre Jordan shot fuckin 70% from the field but theyre almost ALL dunks
Nobody would say that hes better at it or even that much better at scoring at the rim than the rest of the league
Westbrook to his detrement & by his own commission takes that many bad shots from everywhere INCLUDING at the rim that a simple % isnt as comprehensive a stat as it usually is
EVERY OKC game is good for a goo 5-8 one foot in the paint , jump & try to score over a defender or 3 shots from WB
You wouldnt say the same about Kawhi
And even then im not sayin he isnt better, im sayin that his % being better mean hes "much better" as you put it
Comprende sensei

[Mouth is Bleeding]

Yeah Simmons is in an early phase of falling in love with Leonard but he hasn't really gotten to know him fully or paid enough attention to him before more recently.

[313]

As far as vertical and speed/explosiveness, he's average. He dunks like Vince Carter at 36.

[MateoNeygro]

I honestly don't think he's all that athletic, tbh. His drive and determination is what makes him a beast.

I agree with Rob. He doesn't strike me as super athletic(for a professional athlete). I think it's kind of a good thing for him though because he's had to work hard and develop nuances to his game that most uber athletic dudes don't. Most players just rely on their athleticism and once that goes so does their productivity. This is a reason why I think if he stays healthy he can have a nice long career just like Tim has. Tim never relied on athleticism and that's why he's in his 18th year and going GOD mode in the POs.

[ceperez]

I agree with the consensus here, he's has slightly above average athleticism, but no where in the top 20 in the league.

What he hasn't is length, work ethic, determination and one of the largest hands in the NBA. His vertical isn't really something to be impressed about.