Who was more of an ATHLETIC FREAK? Orlando Magic Shaq or Zion

[jrask]

We’ve seen hundreds of special athletic freaks over the years

SHAQ was something we hadn’t seen before

[UcanUwill]

This dude obviously never watched Lebron in his athletic prime.

LeBron is the most athletic player of all time. Lol at Zion being more athletic than LeBron.

https://youtu.be/NGXxqhMSkZU

Go watch some of his highlights from 08-09 or 09-10. Zion will never come close to 09 Bron in terms of athleticism.

There is not another player who can do the things Lebron was doing on a night to night basis.


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I have watched peak Lebron all the time, I am not 12. But think just finding a 6'8 fast and strong guy is easier than finding the kid like ZIon. Zion is so big and strong and at the same time so explosive, that hasn't been seen in ages, where I think Lebronish type athletes were here and there over the years, they just didnt know how to play. Obviously LeBron is a freak and has Strength advante over mostly everyone that is fast explosive wing, but man, ZIon... Zion is a guy who is so athletic, he might not know how to play yet still be relevant simple because he is god tier athlete. 260 pound men literally bouncing off of him he is so strong.

Yes, Zion is strong as hell and jumps out of the building but he doesn't have the complete package that LeBron had. Guys like Westbrook and Wade had Bron type athleticism but the thing that makes Bron so special is that he was doing it at 6'8 /260. I don't know any other wing player that's on the same level as young Bron athletically.

Don't get me wrong, Zion is incredible but he just doesn't have the same package which is why you will never see him do some of the things Bron was doing on a nightly basis.

To me 2009 Bron was the most athletic player to ever play the game. Shaq and Wilt may be comparable when you think about how rare it is to be that athletic at that height and how dominant they were because of it but pure athleticism I don't think anyone bests Bron.

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I would probably put LeBron right below David Robinson in the top 5 athlete list, But Wilt and Shaq are clear top 2 in my eyes. Wilt and Shaq were so good, all you had to do were throw a ball near the rim to them and its two points or a foul or both.

[Rappid]

LeBron is not on Wilt and Shaq tier at all. His combination of that athleticism with skill and basketbal IQ is what makes him special, but other than durability, I wouldnt call LeBron god tier athlete. I would put ZIon way up LeBron actually.

What... Lol

He had an NBA body in hs and could jump out the gym. At his peak he literally may have been the fastest guy in the league while playing in Karl Malones body, and possibly the ability to be the best PG in the league if needed... Lol

OK, put him in a boxing ring with Shaq and how many rounds does LBJ last? I give him 10 seconds max, might be down after the first 3 after eating the first punch.

What? Then why no put prime Mike Tyson in a ring with Shaq? And Mikes like 5’9. You’d think Shaq would stand more than a minute?
You’re comparing the incomparable here.

Leo Messi is arguably the GOAT football player, dude’s like 5’5..Should we put him in a ring with Shaq? Or maybe throw Shaq in a football court and make him run a 110 meter yard for 90mins..?

[UcanUwill]

What... Lol

He had an NBA body in hs and could jump out the gym. At his peak he literally may have been the fastest guy in the league while playing in Karl Malones body, and possibly the ability to be the best PG in the league if needed... Lol

OK, put him in a boxing ring with Shaq and how many rounds does LBJ last? I give him 10 seconds max, might be down after the first 3 after eating the first punch.

What? Then why no put prime Mike Tyson in a ring with Shaq? And Mikes like 5’9. You’d think Shaq would stand more than a minute?
You’re comparing the incomparable here.

Leo Messi is arguably the GOAT football player, dude’s like 5’5..Should we put him in a ring with Shaq? Or maybe throw Shaq in a football court and make him run a 110 meter yard for 90mins..?

No one really says Messi has goat athleticism tho. Messi is kinda like Luka Doncic. That was a pretty weird point by that poster, but he has a case because he is putting 2 basketball players in the ring, same same situation, where you trying to compare baskertball player to boxing player in the ring, thats not fair. But true its pretty dumb point, Shaq would win a ring, but he could lose in some other athletic events, so entire point is barely relevant.

[DoubleLintendre]

Size, strength, durability I consider part of athleticism. Coordination might be too.

Shaq is a behemoth. Zion's career is too short to be weighed against him. Nobody knows how Zion's body will change (weight loss) or if his knee problems will worsen. Shaq did some crazy, crazy stuff back in the day-- it's hard to say Zion is on his prime athletic level yet.

Shout out to Wilt also. He may be more of a freak than anyone. Has the records/accolades outside of basketball to prove it.

[TheBullsDynasty]

When Zion does this, we'll talk:

Watch on YouTube

They’re all reinforced steel now so that’ll never happen...

Right, because of Shaq, which is kind of the point

I got that but even Shaq couldn’t do that today.

My point was, judging Zion’s athleticism just based on that isn’t a good idea.

——

Btw, Shaq was a freak athlete. Zion is a freak athlete too but I don’t think he is on Shaq’s level.

[Dupp]

LeBron is not on Wilt and Shaq tier at all. His combination of that athleticism with skill and basketbal IQ is what makes him special, but other than durability, I wouldnt call LeBron god tier athlete. I would put ZIon way up LeBron actually.

What... Lol

He had an NBA body in hs and could jump out the gym. At his peak he literally may have been the fastest guy in the league while playing in Karl Malones body, and possibly the ability to be the best PG in the league if needed... Lol

LeBrib is 6'8 super athlete, but we have seen similar level athletes, but none of them had IQ, skill and mentality to be next Lebron, thats what makes LeBron great. Just look how athletic WIggins is, he is nowhere close as strong, but my point is, if Wiggins was a superstar, we would be talking what a great athlete he is, but right now noone even notice his crazy athleticism because he sucks. Thats the way with tons of super athletes who had no skill and mentality to succeed.
Zion is a better athlete than LeBron easily, he is one of those guys who isnt super skllled, but most likely still be superstar just because his athleticism is out of this world.

Sorry Zion is not a better athlete than lebron was and wiggins is not even remotely comparable.

[Dupp]

LeBron is not on Wilt and Shaq tier at all. His combination of that athleticism with skill and basketbal IQ is what makes him special, but other than durability, I wouldnt call LeBron god tier athlete. I would put ZIon way up LeBron actually.

What... Lol

He had an NBA body in hs and could jump out the gym. At his peak he literally may have been the fastest guy in the league while playing in Karl Malones body, and possibly the ability to be the best PG in the league if needed... Lol

OK, put him in a boxing ring with Shaq and how many rounds does LBJ last? I give him 10 seconds max, might be down after the first 3 after eating the first punch.

What about an egg and spoon race?

[UcanUwill]

What... Lol

He had an NBA body in hs and could jump out the gym. At his peak he literally may have been the fastest guy in the league while playing in Karl Malones body, and possibly the ability to be the best PG in the league if needed... Lol

LeBrib is 6'8 super athlete, but we have seen similar level athletes, but none of them had IQ, skill and mentality to be next Lebron, thats what makes LeBron great. Just look how athletic WIggins is, he is nowhere close as strong, but my point is, if Wiggins was a superstar, we would be talking what a great athlete he is, but right now noone even notice his crazy athleticism because he sucks. Thats the way with tons of super athletes who had no skill and mentality to succeed.
Zion is a better athlete than LeBron easily, he is one of those guys who isnt super skllled, but most likely still be superstar just because his athleticism is out of this world.

Sorry Zion is not a better athlete than lebron was and wiggins is not even remotely comparable.

Yeah, I disagree

Watch on YouTube

[Rappid]

OK, put him in a boxing ring with Shaq and how many rounds does LBJ last? I give him 10 seconds max, might be down after the first 3 after eating the first punch.

What? Then why no put prime Mike Tyson in a ring with Shaq? And Mikes like 5’9. You’d think Shaq would stand more than a minute?
You’re comparing the incomparable here.

Leo Messi is arguably the GOAT football player, dude’s like 5’5..Should we put him in a ring with Shaq? Or maybe throw Shaq in a football court and make him run a 110 meter yard for 90mins..?

No one really says Messi has goat athleticism tho. Messi is kinda like Luka Doncic. That was a pretty weird point by that poster, but he has a case because he is putting 2 basketball players in the ring, same same situation, where you trying to compare baskertball player to boxing player in the ring, thats not fair. But true its pretty dumb point, Shaq would win a ring, but he could lose in some other athletic events, so entire point is barely relevant.

I feel this is where you are making the same wrong assumption you made with LB.
Leo is a TOP TIER athlete in football, his low centre of gravity allows him to be as technical as he is, his sprint times are insane. I cba to look it up atm, but Messi can sprint at something like 20m/h..
He could BLOW anyone’s head off with any football should he choose to.. he’s just too cerebral to not make mistakes like that.

Athleticism in sports are so so varied.
But agree to disagree, I guess.

[CodeBreaker]

I see, the Zion hype is going downhill

He's being compared to a young Shaq and even got a few votes. That's not exactly hype going down IMO.

If this thread was before the NBA draft, he would be winning the poll

[Clay Davis]

When Zion does this, we'll talk:

Watch on YouTube

They’re all reinforced steel now so that’ll never happen...

Then he'll never be as athletic

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[dsg2003mach1]

Damn, forgot how much I enjoyed watching Shaq try to wreck the rim on every dunk.

[NO-KG-AI]

What... Lol

He had an NBA body in hs and could jump out the gym. At his peak he literally may have been the fastest guy in the league while playing in Karl Malones body, and possibly the ability to be the best PG in the league if needed... Lol

LeBrib is 6'8 super athlete, but we have seen similar level athletes, but none of them had IQ, skill and mentality to be next Lebron, thats what makes LeBron great. Just look how athletic WIggins is, he is nowhere close as strong, but my point is, if Wiggins was a superstar, we would be talking what a great athlete he is, but right now noone even notice his crazy athleticism because he sucks. Thats the way with tons of super athletes who had no skill and mentality to succeed.
Zion is a better athlete than LeBron easily, he is one of those guys who isnt super skllled, but most likely still be superstar just because his athleticism is out of this world.

Sorry Zion is not a better athlete than lebron was and wiggins is not even remotely comparable.

Dude, Zion is so many levels above Wiggins, that I'm not even sure if you're trolling at this point. I'm not sure there is anything Wiggins is better at, even if you don't account for like the 70+ pounds in weight

[VanWest82]

I was there for Shaq the whole way and I ride for the big fella. That said, I voted for Zion. Not NBA Zion because he's fat and kinda sucks so far. Duke Zion is the craziest thing I've seen in pro sports. He's crazier than LT even, athletically speaking (hah).

[LakerLegend]

Allow me to put an end to this thread:

[dlts20]

LeBrib is 6'8 super athlete, but we have seen similar level athletes, but none of them had IQ, skill and mentality to be next Lebron, thats what makes LeBron great. Just look how athletic WIggins is, he is nowhere close as strong, but my point is, if Wiggins was a superstar, we would be talking what a great athlete he is, but right now noone even notice his crazy athleticism because he sucks. Thats the way with tons of super athletes who had no skill and mentality to succeed.
Zion is a better athlete than LeBron easily, he is one of those guys who isnt super skllled, but most likely still be superstar just because his athleticism is out of this world.

Sorry Zion is not a better athlete than lebron was and wiggins is not even remotely comparable.

Dude, Zion is so many levels above Wiggins, that I'm not even sure if you're trolling at this point. I'm not sure there is anything Wiggins is better at, even if you don't account for like the 70+ pounds in weight

Isn't that exactly what he said?

[NO-KG-AI]

Sorry Zion is not a better athlete than lebron was and wiggins is not even remotely comparable.

Dude, Zion is so many levels above Wiggins, that I'm not even sure if you're trolling at this point. I'm not sure there is anything Wiggins is better at, even if you don't account for like the 70+ pounds in weight

Isn't that exactly what he said?

Ah I see, the wording confused me some. Apologies y'all.

[theforumblue]

zion is strong as hell but i dont think he's got anywhere the end-to-end speed lebron had. at least i havent seen it in the highlights. to me speed matters more than strength when it comes to comparing athleticism.

[Dupp]

Dude, Zion is so many levels above Wiggins, that I'm not even sure if you're trolling at this point. I'm not sure there is anything Wiggins is better at, even if you don't account for like the 70+ pounds in weight

Isn't that exactly what he said?

Ah I see, the wording confused me some. Apologies y'all.

Yeah I just meant physical peak lebrons a better athlete than Zion and wiggins isnt close to either guy.