Was Kobe ever an elite athlete in the NBA?

NoMoreLayups · Post #1 » by **NoMoreLayups** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:33 pm

For me, personally I never thought he was. I thought he had a great leaping ability, but I did not think much more. There have been arguments all over the net stating that Kobe was an elite athlete or Kobe was never an elite athlete. Some stated that he wasn't blessed like Wade with his quickness or Jordan with his huge hands and everything else. Some have said that Kobe actually was an elite athlete and that he actually was every bit as blessed with athletic ability as Wade, Lebron, Jordan, Rose, etc. are/were.

I'm not sure, you are the Laker fans here, I want your opinions on this. Though I think it's obvious that currently he is not an elite athlete.

rjvir · Post #2 » by **rjvir** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:34 pm

LApwnd · Post #3 » by **LApwnd** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:39 pm

obvioulsy now he isn't, but he got up there his 1st 5-6 seasons, he can still get up just not often :lol:

Atmanne · Post #4 » by **Atmanne** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:50 pm

He's certainly always been one of the most agile players in the league. His body control is amazing. That combined with his speed (relative to his size) and leaping ability, yes, I'd say he was undoubtedly an elite athlete.

Frantik · Post #5 » by **Frantik** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:52 pm

Kobe NBA Slam Dunk Champ - 1997.

Go google some old #8 pictures... see how high Kobe was flying

supaflash · Post #6 » by **supaflash** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:53 pm

This is laughable, Kobe was an absolute beast when he was younger.

The small hands is about the only physical tool he didn't have, but he was 6'7", very strong, extremely quick, and could sky. He was doing the elbow dunk before Vince, he won a dunk contest pretty easily. Go watch the 01 playoff games where he had the back to back 40 pt games vs Sac then SA, he was doing whatever he wanted on the court and it looked like he was barely trying at times.

He may not have been quite the fastest or had the highest vert, but he was both very fast and could get up. There have only been a handful of guy since that I would consider superior athletes. (well there are a decent amount, but many had little skill and never stuck around)

Its a bit subjective, considering that some of the And1 guys are better athletes then 98% of the NBA, but Kobe was an elite athlete for sure.

Recent guys that I would consider at his level or higher
Bron, Wade, Vince, TMac, Richardson, JR Smith, Wallace, Josh Smith, Rose, Wall, Iverson...

There have been some super athletic scrubs, but not a ton of rotation guys that are really more athletic then Kobe.

brandonkb8 · Post #7 » by **brandonkb8** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:53 pm

Yes we was an elite athlete, he probably isnt as good an athlete as he was in his younger years but hes still a very great athlete. The reason why this mis-conseption is out there is because he doesnt really dunk on people and what not anymore, the reason is because hes a much smarter player who conserves his energy, this is why hes been so great for so long.

Frantik · Post #8 » by **Frantik** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:08 pm

... its crazy how easily they forget...
I am so mad that this thread is even up right now....

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zisjH5XQLPA[/youtube]

Frantik · Post #9 » by **Frantik** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:12 pm

^^Is that enuf? Or do we need some more? There's plenty more where that came from...

Gerald3Wallace · Post #10 » by **Gerald3Wallace** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:13 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akMiX_FK ... re=related

NoMoreLayups · Post #11 » by **NoMoreLayups** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:15 pm

supaflash wrote:This is laughable, Kobe was an absolute beast when he was younger.

The small hands is about the only physical tool he didn't have, but he was 6'7", very strong, extremely quick, and could sky. He was doing the elbow dunk before Vince, he won a dunk contest pretty easily. Go watch the 01 playoff games where he had the back to back 40 pt games vs Sac then SA, he was doing whatever he wanted on the court and it looked like he was barely trying at times.

He may not have been quite the fastest or had the highest vert, but he was both very fast and could get up. There have only been a handful of guy since that I would consider superior athletes. (well there are a decent amount, but many had little skill and never stuck around)

Its a bit subjective, considering that some of the And1 guys are better athletes then 98% of the NBA, but Kobe was an elite athlete for sure.

Recent guys that I would consider at his level or higher
Bron, Wade, Vince, TMac, Richardson, JR Smith, Wallace, Josh Smith, Rose, Wall, Iverson...

There have been some super athletic scrubs, but not a ton of rotation guys that are really more athletic then Kobe.

Good post......I think Kobe was obviously athletic, but I'm not sure If I could say he's one of the best athletes in the NBA. I think a lot of people could match Kobe's athletic ability, but his athletic ability is not the reason why most NBA fans love him, his skill, mentality, and his ability to never get tired of winning is.

In my opinion, I don't think Kobe could use his athleticism to his advantage against every player like both Wade and Lebron can. It doesn't matter though because Kobe has so many other options to beat you. Like I'm not sure if Kobe could use his quickness against every player like Wade and Lebron can cleary do, I'm not sure If Kobe could overpower everybody like Lebron can, It's stuff like that.

I think Kobe may have been an elite athlete for a rotation player or greater, but I'm not sure If I could say he was an elite athlete in the NBA.

What do you think of my opinions on this?

Benedict Miller · Post #12 » by **Benedict Miller** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:28 pm

When he wore number 8 he was definitely elite as an athlete... I think his athleticism improved after his rookie season after winning the dunk contest, he was much more explosive in his 3rd year and so forth...

NoMoreLayups · Post #13 » by **NoMoreLayups** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:17 pm

Keep in mind, I'm not saying he's unathletic or anything like that. I just thought he was just a great athlete when he wear #8, not an elite one. #24, he was definitely not an elite athlete, more like a good athlete then. It's almost as if Kobe gets better with age and less athleticism.

supaflash · Post #14 » by **supaflash** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:17 pm

NoMoreLayups wrote:
supaflash wrote:Good post......I think Kobe was obviously athletic, but I'm not sure If I could say he's one of the best athletes in the NBA. I think a lot of people could match Kobe's athletic ability, but his athletic ability is not the reason why most NBA fans love him, his skill, mentality, and his ability to never get tired of winning is.

In my opinion, I don't think Kobe could use his athleticism to his advantage against every player like both Wade and Lebron can. It doesn't matter though because Kobe has so many other options to beat you. Like I'm not sure if Kobe could use his quickness against every player like Wade and Lebron can cleary do, I'm not sure If Kobe could overpower everybody like Lebron can, It's stuff like that.

I think Kobe may have been an elite athlete for a rotation player or greater, but I'm not sure If I could say he was an elite athlete in the NBA.

What do you think of my opinions on this?

I don't think its that he couldn't use it to his advantage, at his peak he did it at will, I just don't think he did it as much. He's always had a much better outside shot then guys like Bron and Wade, and he's had more post moves etc. Also the triangle gives him more options and attacks from different areas. I think he also understood the development of an overall game and the lessened impact on his body rather then just always using his physical gifts. I think lately you see Bron and Wade use their speed and power because their respective offenses are designed that way and the fact that they have more limited overall games then Kobe. I think that is part of why Wade got beat up, that constant full speed to the rim, jump over and into guys, wears you down. Lately you've seen both he and Bron start to shoot more jumpers and Wade especially, curtail their effort at times. The biggest challenge for those guys will be to evolve their games as their physical tools diminish. We haven't seen as much drop off from Kobe as some people expected because of his skills and work at his craft, much like what Jordan did as well.

I think he was elite, but it depends on how you define that. I think for a 4 year span or so he was probably in the top 10 possible top 5 athletes in the league and for a few might have been in the top 2 or 3. That's elite to me.

I think another part of the equation is not even that Kobe has dropped off that much, but that the league as a whole has increased. There has been such a precedent on athleticism and potential lately that average NBA player now is an amazing athlete to begin with. There are guys like LeBron that are superior now and in any generation, but perhaps Kobe was just elite for his time and is more closer to the average by comparison now, even when looking at him retrospectively.

Post #15 » by **snaquille oatmeal** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:24 pm

NoMoreLayups wrote:For me, personally I never thought he was. I thought he had a great leaping ability, but I did not think much more. There have been arguments all over the net stating that Kobe was an elite athlete or Kobe was never an elite athlete. Some stated that he wasn't blessed like Wade with his quickness or Jordan with his huge hands and everything else. Some have said that Kobe actually was an elite athlete and that he actually was every bit as blessed with athletic ability as Wade, Lebron, Jordan, Rose, etc. are/were.

I'm not sure, you are the Laker fans here, I want your opinions on this. Though I think it's obvious that currently he is not an elite athlete.

so having huge hands automatically makes you an elite athlete, but having great leaping ability doesn't? :lol:

NoMoreLayups · Post #16 » by **NoMoreLayups** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:39 pm

snaquille oatmeal wrote:so having huge hands automatically makes you an elite athlete, but having great leaping ability doesn't?

Obviously not, but he still had many other gifted athletic attributes. That was just another feature that Jordan was blessed with.

I don't think its that he couldn't use it to his advantage, at his peak he did it at will, I just don't think he did it as much

When do you suggest his peak was? I don't think it was in 02-03. I think that was his athletic prime/peak, but that wasn't his peak. His prime/peak to me was 05-08, his best season was 05-06 and I wouldn't say he used THAT much of his athleticism then.

I think he was elite, but it depends on how you define that. I think for a 4 year span or so he was probably in the top 10 possible top 5 athletes in the league and for a few might have been in the top 2 or 3. That's elite to me.

I think he was only in the Top 10, definitely never in the Top 5. Shaq was a better athlete than him, you might laugh because the way Shaq is now, but when Shaq was in his prime/in LA......he was one of the biggest freaks of nature ever.

Optms · Post #17 » by **Optms** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:43 pm

You must have been blind for two thirds of the decade.

Kobe in his youthful days could do things only a select few could do with their bodies out on the floor. And by select few I probably mean just 2 or 3. Maybe less. Congrats on your re-acquired vision btw.

sursidex3 · Post #18 » by **sursidex3** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:46 pm

The op sounds like either a guy who didnt watch laker games up until the last few seasons or just a idiot... ofcourse Kobe was an elite athlete in his early years all the way up to his prime I dont know too many guys who can reverse jam like Kobe not to mention all his other amazing dunks and layups he's made defenders look foolish its sad and disrespectfull to Kobe that the op even made this thread he must be really young and didnt watch kobe from 96 to say 06 because that's a decade worth of elite athletic superstar basketball for your ass!

CowsMoo · Post #19 » by **CowsMoo** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:48 pm

Trollin!

anyways, when you talk about athleticism, keep in mind Kobe's ability to really stay at a high level and miss few games. Endurance (especially at a high level) is part of athleticism, don't forget that.

sursidex3 · Post #20 » by **sursidex3** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:58 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OCSGp1NdS0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDtBZI0sNs&feature=channel[/youtube][youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzsvbheXscg&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLyM3tE23cI&feature=related[/youtube]
yea kobe was real average athletically :banghead: