Who's the most Athletic Guard of All Time?

[70sFan]

MJ's on the list, as with everyone there they deserve their due. My observations aren't exclusionary.

Though I don't think there is much there that would change my mind using a holistic view of athleticism.

Obviously vertical leap is the individual aspect which he would have an advantage. Body control, sure he would be on par with Rose.

I mean you said this:

"I can't think of anyone that rivals prime Westbrook's combination of size, speed, strength and leaping ability."

I think Jordan definitely rivals Westbrook. He's bigger, stronger and his leaping ability is significantly better. I don't know about the speed, Westbrook might have the edge. Of course, Jordan trashes Westbrook it terms of body control and coordination.

That's fine, fair and doesn't bother me, it was a casual throwaway comment. Personally I think Westbrook was stronger, different physique, broader, heavier built and used to great effect in combination with explosiveness in the paint.

MJs body control off the jump and gather was pretty much a signature, but I do think that underates Westbrooks control in the open court and downhill at the rim, they are quite distinct examples but equally as effective.

Jordan thrived in the post, he had extremely strong core strength. Westbrook didn't have the same effect in the post, nor he had the ability to finish through traffic. No, Westbrook wasn't stronger than Jordan.

Westbrook was very fast and his ability to use it as an advantage was certainly impressive, but his significantly weaker body control made him inefficient inside finisher and very turnover prone.

I don't think it's even close to be honest. Jordan's athleticism was much better suited to basketball.

[oaktownwarriors87]

I do think Jordan's body control in the air is unmatched but obviously that isn't the only attribute of athleticism. His huge hands played a role in that too.

When talking about athleticism relative to basketball, I think hand size and wingspan should be apart of the conversation.

There are a lot of guys that are quick, fast, strong etc. that wouldn't stand a chance as an athlete in the NBA because their hands and areas are too small.

[henshao]

There's just no way to divorce the conversation of athleticism from size, in a sport where size matters, unless the compared athletes are identical size, which is virtually never. There's not even consensus the degree to which size at a given position should count for or against them; which is more impressive, T-Mac or AI at 2 guard?

[Cavsfansince84]

I tend to lean towards MJ just due to so many things which are sort of tangential to athleticism but impact bb a lot such as hand size, ability to shift direction, first step and body control. He combined all of that with his innate size, leaping and strength in a way no other player ever has imo. Something else I'd mention that sort of gets lost is ability to adjust to what a defense is doing in the moment. MJ was amazing at that which includes making nifty passes in the paint.

[Im Your Father]

I’d be interested in hearing arguments for Westbrook over Wade.

I think Jordan is clearly first here and I’m inclined to pick Wade second.

I don’t see Westbrook as having any clear separation from Rose or Wall at all.

[afox]

MJ. I don't think it's close at the guard position. Kobe should be getting some love though. He pretty much did all MJ's moves. I saw MJ 2x live. '98 and '02. What struck me in '98 was the quickness! So fast...The reflexes, the preparedness, all came together in that man. For the gentleman that was arguing Westbrook. MJ gets the tiebreaker at the very least...And that tiebreaker is success. What good is athleticism if you're not getting the job done..(triple doubles aside..lol)

[afox]

I mean with MJ...We're not talking athleticism for athleticism's sake...The man had no wasted motion. They're may have been better athletes, but if they're not succeeding, we don't know who they are. Not just the most athletic, but in tune with accomplishment. MJ is one of the most accomplished ever, so a bit unfair...But like I said...IF he needs a tiebreaker!

[tmorgan]

Hard not to pick MJ as a *basketball* athlete.

If you just mean speed, strength, leaping sort of stuff, sure, there are other contenders, maybe even a few that were better. But when you factor in all the things that can make an athlete great at basketball (first step, coordination, body control, etc) i can’t see anyone equaling Jordan. Not even all that close, really.

[countryboy667]

Not strictly a guard hough he played there, and it depends on what you mean by athleticism (leaping ability? overall quickness? strength? foot speed? stamina? hand/eye coordination? Lateral movement?) but where's John Havlicek? He had a great combination of a number of those traits, including size at the position (6'5") But maybe his prime asset was that could wear down any guard I can think of with his almost inhuman stamina. I'd have LOVED to see him in his prime guard Michael Jordan...

[Peregrine01]

Jordan. Other guys could jump higher (VC off two feet), other guys were faster end to end (Westbrook) but none matched the combination of leaping, quickness, speed, dexterity and stamina like Jordan had. Prime Jordan moved like a cat.

[TheGOATRises007]

Michael Jordan.

[An Unbiased Fan]

Where's JJ Redick?

[SkyHookFTW]

Overall, I'm going MJ just ahead of Westy. For pure speed, first step and endurance I'd put Iverson right behind them, as he is the quickest of them all.

[giordunk]

On one end, I think the fact that after watching all these MJ highlights you can watch Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook highlights and think they are freak athletes is kind of saying that Rose and Westbrook are at least the same amount of athleticism.

On the other hand if you wear Jordans vs modern basketball shoes it's pretty crazy that Michael Jordan was this athletic balling in clunky blocks of shoes.

[CharityStripe34]

Where's JJ Redick?

Got that fireman physique.