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Both of these two specimens have had very muscular bodies from countless hours of excruciating muscle building sessions in the gym during their prime. Both were definitely gym rats, and had the genetic platform to build amazing bodies. Let's just say, these two had very tight bodies in their prime. Women may even point out they have sexy muscular bodies since most find big muscles attractive especially when wearing certain gym attire:









Now I'm not sure what these guys could squat or bench in the gym, but I would think that Karl Malone on sheer mass alone would be stronger in the gym, but maybe Lebron has more of that natural strength? But does gym strength translate on the court? Who was stronger on the court? I'd place my bets on Malone if it were a bench press match up. If the two were to post each other up, not sure who would win. Malone perhaps since he might be considered a more natural PF?

Malone was an amateur bodybuilder so on upper body strength and lifts he'd arguably be stronger, as LeBron doesn't train that way. I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron has a stronger lower body however, he appears to focus on that a good deal and it takes a whole lot to push 265 lbs 40"+ off the ground.

As for their position however LeBron is about as strong as any wing/SF there has been. Malone is up there for his postion for sure but a dude like Barkley probably has him when it comes to lower body strength and holding position at the 4.

Karl. Lebron is strong but his biggest strength is momentum(although for a PF I can't think of a PF who plays with more momentum than Karl). But yea Karl is stronger. Lebron took a wirey frame and added muscle. I don't think Karl was ever wirey after puberty or really before.
Btw can someone tell me why Karl is pegged as a back to the basket player? He was. That's his primary scoring resource.

Yeah.
This is Karl.
Dude was an absolute tank.
He and Barkley also are well above Lebron power wise.

With out question Karl



During the whole baseball steroids scandal I always believed that if any NBA player got busted it would be Malone.

Karl Malone's workouts are the stuff of legend in Utah. He and Stockton just kept going and going all day long, neither guy willing to give up first. (Tells ya something about Stockton too, right?)

Karl Malone and it's not close.

This comparison is easily Karl.

I think a better comparison would be Karl Malone vs Ben Wallace.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFnmJgxft_s[/youtube]

Malone no question.

Lakerfan17 wrote:[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFnmJgxft_s[/youtube]

Malone no question.

Lol that was just a bad call.

Paul Pierce isn't a small guy himself and look how he can't do anything to stop lebron here.

Positionally, LeBron has the greater relative strength. GOAT strength for a SF. Overall Malone, but there are guys who are on the same plane.

BasketballFan7 wrote:Positionally, LeBron has the greater relative strength. GOAT strength for a SF. Overall Malone, but there are guys who are on the same plane.

This is what I feel like, as well. LeBron's positional strength is off the charts type crazy, but he's still trailing Malone in absolute terms

magicmerl wrote:This comparison is easily Karl.

I think a better comparison would be Karl Malone vs Ben Wallace.

Is that Ben's head photo-shopped on someone elses body.

Lebron is strong, Karl is like strongman strong.

EasternHeretic wrote:Is that Ben's head photo-shopped on someone elses body.

Lebron is strong, Karl is like strongman strong.

No,Ben Wallace is a freak.



Edit: Apparently the first image *was* photoshopped. This one isn't though.

magicmerl wrote:

EasternHeretic wrote:Is that Ben's head photo-shopped on someone elses body.

Lebron is strong, Karl is like strongman strong.

No, Ben Wallace is a freak.

Yea I know he is, just the picture seemed off.

magicmerl wrote:This comparison is easily Karl.

I think a better comparison would be Karl Malone vs Ben Wallace.

It's crazy how different Ben looks without the fro?

lol

Both are very muscled. Karl used his muscles in games much more than LeBron uses his muscles.

Muscles are denser that fat. Many of us know how carrying fat slows us down even if we run enough to keep our hearts and lungs in shape. I think LeBron's upper body muscles slowed him down a bit.

Because LeBron relied on speed early in his career I think LeBron's game is more based on using speed than using muscle. Even though LeBron is still fast I think LeBron might be a better player if he was slightly quicker and did not have as much upper body muscles as he has.

Malone. LeBron is powerful against players smaller than him, not those in his weight class or bigger.

EyePlay2Win wrote:Malone. LeBron is powerful against players smaller than him, not those in his weight class or bigger.

Lol what does that even mean? Usually the bigger guys are stronger than the smaller guys. FWIW I have seen LeBron battle West and Griffin etc. and he's held his own against them pretty well.

I'd go with Malone too here anyway as he's stronger overall for sure.