I think if you take into account his height and weight, he is pretty mobile. Who can you compare his size too? Maybe Gheorge Muresan. He was stiff, but he moved okay. Yao is way more agile then he was. Yao could probably look pretty agile with normal people, but when you put him in a setting with gazelle's in the nba, he looks slow, though in reality, he's not that slow.
Hee, hee. ... lol. Yes. take his height into account, Yao is the most athletic man on the earth. I did see some 7'8" people, they barely can walk, they would be so happy that they can sit up everyday.
When people dont read postings properly makes you go hmmm... pound for pound there guy, shawn bradley average 4 blocks a game in 97 so I guess he was athletic as all hell, huh? Didnt realize Athletic equals blocks, time to update wiki.
Ralph was a legit 7'4" and was MUCH more athletic than Yao is, at least until he screwed up his knee. Yao's talent comes via his constant desire to improve and his amazing work ethic more than it does via natural atheticism.
Think if Aaron Brooks was 6'7... Yao and Brooks would be my 2 votes. Yao cuz he's doing something with his body that is quite remarkable and Brooks cuz if he was 6'7, he would be Lebron x 2. I would love to see these 2 in a 2-on-2 competition like White Man Can't Jump. They should be able to hustle peeps out of a lot money (Chinese guys aren't known to ball and a small midget). This I think would be the most entertaining duo.
I don't need to compare him with another player. My eyes have convinced me that Yao is damn athletic as a 7'5" giant. Whoever says his grandma can move faster than Yao is just r****ded and need a cat scan to his brain right away.
I think you are mistaken, probably because the best teams also consist of players that have skills that overshadow their athleticism. I'd say the Lakers are probably one of if not the most athletic teams in basketball. Rondo/KG are superior athletes for their positions, Dwight/Rashard are extremely athletic, Lebron, etc. I'd say, the best teams usually have a few players who are among the top athletes at their position AND have the skills and chemistry to boot.
Not hatin or anything but how the hell do you have single digit posts and already have member status? Connections??? Old dude 24 on a roll is pretty much in the same situation but has rookie still. Just askin.
I'm saying from the Starting lineup to the bench, from numbers one to twelve. I am not talking about one or two players, but the team as whole. I'd give you Orlando and maybe Boston, but LA...nah. If the teams that have alot of great athletes on them are those odd teams, like Memphis, Charlotte, Toronto, Denver (from last year), Atlanta, and New York. Those teams have athletes every where, the Lakers do not have multiple players, like that sitting on the bench. I'd put Detroit and Cleveland over Lakers. Most of the players that are usually in Phil Jackson's system, beyond the superstars are typically good system players, but slightly below average players. They've usually have specific duties...in a very potent system.
Also, that's not necessarily true, see the Bulls of the late 90s, Jazz, the 00s Lakers, and the Spurs of 00s...those teams, outside of their key players did not have a great number of outstanding athletes. Those teams had good systems and great defenses that propelled them to the title. In fact, the Jazz of the late 90s were probably one of the most unathletic teams in the league (and they often admitted that), but they killed teams with shooting efficency, passing, and tough-physical play.
totally true about Ralph Sampson. I wonder sometimes though if his athleticism hurt his career in the long run. Would his knees have held up better if his was more limited in his range of movements?
that might be one of the "good" things about Yao actually. As he ages, any decrease in athleticism might not hurt him - since he has none anyways. If someone like Dwight Howard loses a step, his game is totally changed. Yao never had a step to lose
Inch for Inch, Yao is one of the most the athletic guy ever born. I'm not just saying he's the best 7'3 + ever but I genuinely think he is one of the best inch for inch guy. If he was hakeem's size, he'd be at the least as athletic. But then "IF" thing is not my cup of tea. However, only thing that matters is if he brings home the trophy. Fortunately, he's got more than enough talent to do it. Just getting the team that he can thrive on is the key.
I know I've used it myself in the past, but frankly the "inch for inch" or "pound for pound" stuff doesn't really make sense in basketball. I think it's a boxing expression, and its more appropriate in individual sports where there are more legitimate claims to being the "greatest". And if I'm putting a team together, it doesn't matter to me how strong or fast or smart or skilled a player is compared to others of his stature historically. That's not who the pool of players I can put in that spot consist of. What matters is how he compares to other players at his position. Do we judge Barkley's greatness compared to other 6'5 guys, or do we judge his greatness compared to other PFs? What matters more?
Mutombo and Patrick Ewing was athletic for their height. They are 7'2 but still that's tall for a Center who could move around with eez
Oh yeah, another person I forgot about who is over 7,3 and a better athlete than Yao was, besides Ralph Sampson. Arvydas Sabonis - If Russia would've let that man played in the NBA sooner, he would've been the 2nd best center in the 90s, after Olajuwon. He had everything.
