James Harden: deceptively athletic... or potbelly sloth with mad foot skills?

Would love to see those same players all attempt the same drills/tests today and see how much they have improved or decreased in specific areas

 

That bench press # is for only 185??? I have a very hard time believing Iggy can only put up 185 FOUR TIMES. I'd think he could get it easily 15, maybe 20 times. No way I'm stronger than all these guys.

 

I like how suddenly some people are experts on which percentage body fat is considered high in the NBA.

Harrison Barnes has a 9.6% body fat. Did that make much of a difference on his athletic abilities on court?

 

having long arms makes benchpressing alot tougher

 

It really makes you wonder, if James lost a little weight (or turned it into muscle), would he be even better and more athletic/stronger?

 

Harden is one of those pudgy kids at school that can run and jump

He looks pudgy but still has some skills

 

Losing some weight would put less stress on his knees. Should cut some of it.

 

Kinda reminds me of Frank Gore. He always looks fat, but still really athletic and one of the best at what he does.

 

yep, alot of elite body builders are midgets cause its easier to lift heavier weights. Watching Dwight Howard do BP is rediculous, the bar seems to go up forever.

 

I'm also surprised about that.

Iggy has a longer wingspan though.

It makes his dunks so effortless

 

10.1 % body fat is still very much athletic. I'm also guessing he's got much more muscles and I think that's more important. That good bench press rating means he doesn't mind too much contact thus he's fouled almost all the time he drives.

 

Those are numbers taken when they did the measurements couple months before the draft. I believe Iggy is only 19-20 then.

 

Are there a lot of people that think Harden isn't fast or athletic? This is just a guess but maybe those people's perspectives are skewed because of how run-down Harden was by the end of last year. Cap his minutes all season and I imagine people will stop saying that kind of stuff.

 

I always wonder why NBA players never really make drastic transformations physically. They stay mostly the same size. Kevin Love is one that comes to mind.

Harden needs to get in contact with the dude who trained Leonidas/300 Spartans and Superman. He can get extremely shredded in just 3 months judging by his current build.

 

lol... thanks for looking it up.

Cousins does at times look like he ate his cousins :grin:.

 

Damn, that's impressive. Harden is long and strong. That's how he drives to the basket so well.

 

Why is this an either/or thread? Can't Harden be fairly labeled as a deceptively athletic potbelly sloth with mad foot skills?

 

Harden is very athletic and there's nothing wrong with a 10.1% bodyfat. Sure he isn't Corey Maguette, but he isn't Corey Maguette, and for that we should be thankful.