The NBA’s 25 biggest athletic freaks right now
Athleticism is not a blanket term when it comes to its application in NBA games. There are a thousand different ways athleticism can manifest itself on a basketball court beyond slamming home an alley-oop. These days, it feels like NBA teams are looking less at how a player tests on their max vertical leap, and […]
The NBA's 25 biggest athletic freaks are showcased in a list released ahead of the 2026-27 season. Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets and his identical twin brother Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons are two players who should be on every All-Defensive team. Thompson is known for his incredible jumping ability, while Ausar is an overwhelming wing defender.
VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers is another freak athlete, having made game-changing plays in his first year in the league. Shaedon Sharpe of the Portland Trail Blazers has the most explosive leaping ability in the NBA, though he is currently sidelined with a meniscus tear. Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves was a high school teacher's story about becoming the NBA's next big thing.
Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls made 67 dunks in just 24 games as a freshman at North Carolina and also makes a huge impact on the defensive end. Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks is one of the more explosive young players in the league, and Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks is the NBA's best defensive thief. Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat is a wrecking ball in the middle of the Miami defense, while Joan Beringer of the Minnesota Timberwolves has some of the most fluid highlights for an NBA center.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat is the oldest player on the list at 31, but still possesses incredible movement ability for his size. Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors is one of the best forwards in the league and could have an All-NBA season next to Kawhi Leonard. Kel'el Ware of the Milwaukee Bucks has a huge catch radius and bounce for a 7-footer, and could help put the finishing touches on the team's offense.
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