RealGM

Peak For Peak More Athletic: A.I or Young Kobe

Oooh. That's a good question.

Kobe was pretty athletic, but AI was RIDICULOUSLY fast, and his motor basically did not stop. He had absurd stamina. And of course, he could bounce, too, but it was that change of direction speed and his seemingly-endless stamina. Unreal. Even if you weren't a huge fan of the player, you had to respect the physical tools.

Isn't putting "young" in the title redundant?


Um..if athleticism means who is more physically imposing I'd say it is Kobe probably. Kobe is significantly bigger than Iverson, and was bigger and stronger than most guards in general.

In a track meet Iverson would beat Kobe in most of the events, but in terms of actual practical basketball applications - Kobe Bryant has a better body.

Killer speed scales insanely well in basketball, but not so much when you're only 160 pounds and under 6 feet.

AI was the better athlete. Kobe was just better at basketball.

tsherkin wrote:Oooh. That's a good question.

Kobe was pretty athletic, but AI was RIDICULOUSLY fast, and his motor basically did not stop. He had absurd stamina. And of course, he could bounce, too, but it was that change of direction speed and his seemingly-endless stamina. Unreal. Even if you weren't a huge fan of the player, you had to respect the physical tools.

I'm not a huge soccer guy but I've always wondered what type of soccer player AI would have been if he grew up in a soccer country. His body/athleticism seem more suited for that sport that hoops

Pound for pound AI, almost freak like early in his career. In terms of impact Kobe's size will have a big edge over AI in that regard of course as basketball is so height dominant a sport.

sp6r=underrated wrote:

tsherkin wrote:Oooh. That's a good question.

Kobe was pretty athletic, but AI was RIDICULOUSLY fast, and his motor basically did not stop. He had absurd stamina. And of course, he could bounce, too, but it was that change of direction speed and his seemingly-endless stamina. Unreal. Even if you weren't a huge fan of the player, you had to respect the physical tools.

I'm not a huge soccer guy but I've always wondered what type of soccer player AI would have been if he grew up in a soccer country. His body/athleticism seem more suited for that sport that hoops

Yea, 165 lbs soaking wet at probably 5'11 he's close to a footie player.

Think he could have played most positions in footie. But a wing position seems most natural for somebody with endless energy and speed.
As a goalie he'd have enough wingspan.
Only at CB he might have lacked size.

sp6r=underrated wrote:

tsherkin wrote:Oooh. That's a good question.

Kobe was pretty athletic, but AI was RIDICULOUSLY fast, and his motor basically did not stop. He had absurd stamina. And of course, he could bounce, too, but it was that change of direction speed and his seemingly-endless stamina. Unreal. Even if you weren't a huge fan of the player, you had to respect the physical tools.

I'm not a huge soccer guy but I've always wondered what type of soccer player AI would have been if he grew up in a soccer country. His body/athleticism seem more suited for that sport that hoops

I like soccer too so that's interesting question, haha.

frica wrote:Think he could have played most positions in footie. But a wing position seems most natural for somebody with endless energy and speed.
As a goalie he'd have enough wingspan.
Only at CB he might have lacked size.

I can see him playing as a goal-scoring Left Wing Forward in the Spanish/Dutch 4-3-3, where he can cut in and score... but not as a right winger in the traditional English 4-4-2, because that might be too boring for such an attacking minded person. I could also see him play as a second striker in the 4-4-2. Don't think he has the positional instincts to be a central midfielder. Really can't see him playing any part of the defense, unless maybe it's as a right attacking fullback in the 3-5-2... that position probably requires more stamina than even Iverson has though and the coach would be constantly yelling at him from the sidelines to get back on defense, lol. There have been some short great centerbacks (like Cannavaro or Mascherano) but they were NASTY on defense and had very developed thighs and legs. He's also too short to be a goalie IMO. Keylor Navas is short by usual goalie standards and he is 6'1".

I think size means a lot. A lot of the things that made Kobe better at basketball were due to the size difference. Defensive potential, post game, finishing, durability, etc.

If size doesn't matter at all, it's no comparison, but obviously it does. Given two guys with the exact same skills and abilities, I'll take the 6'6 215+ pounder over the 6', 170 pounder. Kobe was plenty athletic

NO-KG-AI wrote:I think size means a lot. A lot of the things that made Kobe better at basketball were due to the size difference. Defensive potential, post game, finishing, durability, etc.

If size doesn't matter at all, it's no comparison, but obviously it does. Given two guys with the exact same skills and abilities, I'll take the 6'6 215+ pounder over the 6', 170 pounder. Kobe was plenty athletic

Well put.

tsherkin wrote:

NO-KG-AI wrote:I think size means a lot. A lot of the things that made Kobe better at basketball were due to the size difference. Defensive potential, post game, finishing, durability, etc.

If size doesn't matter at all, it's no comparison, but obviously it does. Given two guys with the exact same skills and abilities, I'll take the 6'6 215+ pounder over the 6', 170 pounder. Kobe was plenty athletic

Well put.

That's true and I agree.

I think the OP is asking who is more athletic pound-for-pound though. Or inch-for-inch, in this case.

So I have voted for AI from that perspective.

LAL1947 wrote:

tsherkin wrote:

NO-KG-AI wrote:I think size means a lot. A lot of the things that made Kobe better at basketball were due to the size difference. Defensive potential, post game, finishing, durability, etc.

If size doesn't matter at all, it's no comparison, but obviously it does. Given two guys with the exact same skills and abilities, I'll take the 6'6 215+ pounder over the 6', 170 pounder. Kobe was plenty athletic

Well put.

That's true and I agree.

I think the OP is asking who is more athletic pound-for-pound though. Or inch-for-inch, in this case.

So I have voted for AI from that perspective.

Im having trouble deciding. AI was faster, jumped higher and had better stamina. But like NO-KG said, how does size factor in? That too is a physical trait. I think strictly from measurables, you gotta gonAI but Kobe was a better basketball athlete.

LAL1947 wrote:

sp6r=underrated wrote:

tsherkin wrote:Oooh. That's a good question.

Kobe was pretty athletic, but AI was RIDICULOUSLY fast, and his motor basically did not stop. He had absurd stamina. And of course, he could bounce, too, but it was that change of direction speed and his seemingly-endless stamina. Unreal. Even if you weren't a huge fan of the player, you had to respect the physical tools.

I'm not a huge soccer guy but I've always wondered what type of soccer player AI would have been if he grew up in a soccer country. His body/athleticism seem more suited for that sport that hoops

I like soccer too so that's interesting question, haha.

frica wrote:Think he could have played most positions in footie. But a wing position seems most natural for somebody with endless energy and speed.
As a goalie he'd have enough wingspan.
Only at CB he might have lacked size.

I can see him playing as a goal-scoring Left Wing Forward in the Spanish/Dutch 4-3-3, where he can cut in and score... but not as a right winger in the traditional English 4-4-2, because that might be too boring for such an attacking minded person. I could also see him play as a second striker in the 4-4-2. Don't think he has the positional instincts to be a central midfielder. Really can't see him playing any part of the defense, unless maybe it's as a right attacking fullback in the 3-5-2... that position probably requires more stamina than even Iverson has though and the coach would be constantly yelling at him from the sidelines to get back on defense, lol. There have been some short great centerbacks (like Cannavaro or Mascerano) but they were NASTY on defense and had very developed thighs and legs. He's also too short to be a goalie IMO. Keylor Navas is short by usual goalie standards and he is 6'1".

Goalie is more about wingspan, and Iverson has plenty.
Jorge Campos was a very good goalie despite being 5'6, but had a 6' or 6'1 wingspan.

frica wrote:Goalie is more about wingspan, and Iverson has plenty.
Jorge Campos was a very good goalie despite being 5'6, but had a 6' or 6'1 wingspan.

Fair enough. Leap, quickness off the ground, and good hands also matter, and Iverson has all these.

AI would likely be a better multi-sport athlete but people really underestimate how much of an athletic marvel it is for guys that tall to be that coordinated.

.

mdonnelly1989 wrote:.

Low-effort bump, dude.

I'll go with Allen Iverson. People talk about his chucking, but his ability to create that many shots for himself without spacing is just remarkable, it's a testament to his ability to physically dominate the competition. People simply weren't able to keep him away from the rim. The speed, coordination, first step explosion, bounce, stamina... it was all pretty much as good as it got.

Kobe was a tier below in a vacuum, but he is one of the more athletic shooting guards ever. But I give it to AI.

In a sports vacuum, AI is much more athletic. Ridiculous run jump athleticism, explosiveness, acceleration, deceleration, agility, co-ordination, stamina and injury resistance.

In a basketball context it's Kobe though, extra 6 inches of height is too much to overcome.

Pelly24 wrote:I'll go with Allen Iverson. People talk about his chucking, but his ability to create that many shots for himself without spacing is just remarkable, it's a testament to his ability to physically dominate the competition. People simply weren't able to keep him away from the rim. The speed, coordination, first step explosion, bounce, stamina... it was all pretty much as good as it got.

Eh, Kobe is probably the best ever at creating space and shot creating though.