One man's list of the NBA's greatest athletes ever (Robinson #7)

I think David Thompson gets short shrift from the press because his career ended in a blizzard of cocaine. That was a VERY common problem in the late 70s. The NBA was a cocaine league then like MLB was a steroid league from 1994-20??.

Since we're talking pure athleticism, I find it hard to believe that VC is not higher on the list. I never liked him as a player, he's almost the last teammate I'd hope to have, but his physical skills were otherworldly.

Greatest Athletes does not just represent "Greatest Vertical Leap", perhaps this answers some of the disputes.

I realize that, but then you look at the players he actually included in the list, and that reasoning doesn't make sense either..

Shaq has a legit shot to be in the list. Shaq was a freak early in his career and could jump and run, and push people around.

Shaq?

Pistol Pete played with a freakin hole in his heart.

Magic?

McDyess, when he was young, pre-injury. Could jump out of the gym with two guys on his back.
Yao? Yao trained his ass off to become the strongest guy on his team.

Wade, TMac?

This list is freakin impossible.

Freakin Anthony Mason was a thug, playing point-forward on strength alone.

How about Grandma-ma. Dude was strong, wide, and could jump, jump, jump. Pre-injury of course.

Yeah, this list is impossible.

Scottie "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better" Pippen?

Seriously. This list is doomed to failure.

Shawn Kemp. Hardest finishes on the fast break ever. Tomahawk that could break arms, had anybody been foolish enough to poke an arm in there.

Shawn Kemp Top 10 Dunks.

Isiah Rider? Reggie Lewis? Bernard King? Tim Hardaway? Michael Cooper? early 90s Dikembe?

Thunder Dan Marjerle? Ha!

Seriously, anyone commenting on this thread could make a legitimate argument for any number of players. Impossible list.

Steve Francis? AI? Harold Miner? Mitch Richmond?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phila_Chamberlain

Except Wilt at 1. That's dead on and I hald expected him not to be mentioned. As soon as I saw Russell at 5 though I knew Wilt would be 1. Still Doctor J was a freak in the ABA, but slightly less a freak in the NBA. Gerald Wallace is a nice athlete, but I don't put him on my top 10.

Also Oscar Robertson should be on this list.

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Big O could play in any era.

If you can play two professional sports at a high level, then you have to be a great athlete. No, I'm not talking Michael Jordan (BB and baseball) or Calvin Murphy (basketball and baton twirling?)

Who is: Another guy who lost his battle with cocaine, but played both professional tennis as well as NBA basketball for 14 years and once had 24 assists in one game?

Ta Da! John Lucas.