Playing Frankenstein: Creating the Most Freakishly Athletic "NBA 2K" Team of All Time

NBA Playoffs and Creating the Most Freakishly Athletic "NBA 2K" Team of All Time

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When it comes to sports, the most athletic group of NBA players are rivaled by few others.

Their combination of speed, strength, size and agility are uniquely tied to a vertical game that is often played above the rim.

Like most sports video games, speed and power often reign supreme. And if you look at a list of the greatest players in NBA history, it’s no coincidence that they’re also some of the most athletic players to ever step foot on the hardwood. Combine them all onto a single NBA 2K team, and you have one of the most dominant squads ever assembled.

It wasn’t easy rattling the list down to 13 players. There are so many worthy candidates, but NBA rosters are limited to 13 players these days, so we’ll be doing the same here. So who made the cut for the most freakishly athletic NBA 2K team ever assembled?

* Not all verticals are official numbers. Some of the reported verticals are only rumored and estimated.

Russell Westbrook

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Starting Point Guard: Russell Westbrook

Height: 6-3
Weight: 192 lbs.
Vertical: 36.5 inches

Oddly enough, two of the most athletic point guards in NBA history are current players. It wasn’t an easy decision picking between the two, but Russell Westbrook gets the nod as the starter here.

Westbrook may be the single most vicious and powerful dunker to ever play the position. He explodes off the floor like few others in the league, and he throws it down with such ferocity you’re almost surprised that he hasn’t broken a backboard or two since coming into the league.

In the open court, it’s hard to pick a faster player in the league. He somehow manages to maintain absolute control while bolting down the court with the ball in his hands, and he’s an absolute blast to play with in NBA 2K. He can run circles around defenders, and he can stop on a dime and pull up for a jumper to keep your opponent on their toes.

michael jordon

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Starting Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan

Height: 6-6
Weight: 216 lbs.
Vertical: 44-plus inches

You don’t earn the nickname Air Jordan unless you’ve got some serious hops, and Michael Jordan’s vertical has been rumored to be as high as 48 inches. While there’s no official measurement, I think it’s safe to say that he could clear at least 44 inches, which puts him in elite company.

We all knew about his superhuman leaping ability, and he certainly had the speed to match his ability to soar through the air. But his strength was often overlooked, and he punished players in the post for forgetting.

When Jordan made his triumphant return to the virtual realm in NBA 2K11, he quickly reclaimed the throne as the most dominant player in the game. Even on a super-team like this, it would be hard to give up the rock when he has the ball in his hands.

LeBron James

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Starting Small Forward: LeBron James

Height: 6-8
Weight: 260 lbs.
Vertical: 43 inches

When LeBron James is barreling down the lane at full speed, standing between the basket and him may be one of the worst decisions anyone can make.

James has the size and strength to battle down low with some of the biggest players in the league, and he has the speed to match smaller players step-for-step. He is only one of a handful of players in league history capable of playing and guarding all five positions on the court, and it speaks to his otherworldly abilities as an athlete.

James is an absolute matchup nightmare in NBA 2K just like he is in real life, and you can make a case for him being one of the all-time most athletic players in any sport.

Shawn Kemp

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Starting Power Forward: Shawn Kemp

Height: 6-10
Weight: 230 lbs.
Vertical: 40 inches

These days Shawn Kemp is known more for his baby mommas than his time as the “Reign Man,” but before he left the Seattle Sonics and ate his way out of the league, Kemp made his mark as one of the most athletic big men ever.

Together with Gary Payton, Kemp formed one of the most exciting duos in league history. They were “Lob City” well before Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were even old enough to dunk, and they made an art form out of the alley-oop.

On a team full of athletic freaks, Kemp would be my go-to guy for lobbing up passes to for an alley-oop.

Shaquille O'Neal

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Starting Center: Shaquille O’Neal

Height: 7-1
Weight: 325 lbs.
Vertical: 35 inches

The term freak athlete doesn’t even begin to describe Shaquille O’Neal. When O’Neal first entered the L, he ran the court like a guard, maneuvered around in the post like a forward, and was able to tear through defenders like tissue paper. He was so strong that he broke the supports that held up two backboards early in his career, and he may go down as the most powerful dunker ever. I will even go as far as to say that young O’Neal, paired alongside Penny Hardaway, was one of the most exciting players to ever watch.

At first glance, his vertical wouldn’t blow many people away considering the number of players on this team capable of clearing 40 inches with relative ease. But when you consider his size, it makes his 35-inch vertical all the more impressive. He had the highest standing vertical reach ever recorded by a big man in pre-draft workouts, and it would explain why he made it look so easy when he went up to throw down a jam or swat a shot away.

As he grew older and bulked up, he lost some of that speed. But his agility and footwork were still off the charts for someone that big, and his strength was unmatched.

Derrick Rose

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Backup Point Guard: Derrick Rose

Height: 6-3
Weight: 190 lbs.
Vertical: 42 inches

It’s hard to imagine what Derrick Rose will be like once he gets back on the floor following his second season-ending injury. He tore his left ACL back in the 2012 playoffs, and he tore the meniscus in his right knee back in November. It would be a near-miracle if he somehow retains his pre-injury athleticism, but he looked great in his return last year after a long layoff.

Interestingly enough, Rose claims that his vertical increased by five inches following his return from his torn ACL. It just goes to show you the type of rare physical specimen that he is, and it would be a damn shame if he’s never the same. But if he’s able to come back strong, the Bulls would get back one of the most athletic guards to ever play ball.

Rose’s body control is practically unrivaled in the NBA, and he has a clear edge in agility over Russell Westbrook. As for speed, he’s neck-and-neck with Westbrook, and many feel that he’s the faster player. He can weave in and out of traffic with his superb ball-handling skills, and he’s one of the best finishers to ever play point guard. While many associate his acrobatic forays to the hoop to be more finesse than power, they would be mistaken — just ask the New York Knicks.

Vince Carter

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Backup Shooting Guard: Vince Carter

Height: 6-6
Weight: 220 lbs.
Vertical: 43 inches

You can make a strong case for Vince Carter being the greatest dunker to ever grace the court, and that title alone more than qualifies him to be Michael Jordan’s backup. If you need evidence, I present example A: Carter vaulting over Frederic Weiss — who is 7-0 — during the 2000 Olympic games to dunk the ball. This wasn’t some sort of NBA dunk contest setup where he had time to position and prepare — it was an unscripted dunk in the middle of a game, which makes it all the more unbelievable. If that somehow isn’t enough to convince you, I present example B: watch highlights from the 2001 NBA dunk contest. Have you ever seen someone so effortlessly throw down a 360 windmill?

While he has the range to shoot deep jumpers, why would you even bother when you can dunk like this all game?

Dominique Wilkins

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Backup Small Forward: Dominique Wilkins

Height: 6-8
Weight: 224 lbs.
Vertical: 42-plus inches

You don’t earn the nickname “The Human Highlight Film” for doing layups. Dominique Wilkins was known for throwing down thunderous dunks, and he was one of the league’s most powerful finishers. The putback dunk was one of his signature plays, and he made a habit of leaping over players and using his long arms to slam the ball back down over their heads.

While Wilkins is known for his power, people often forget how fast and agile he was with the ball in his hands. With his long legs, he was able to stride down the court with surprising speed. And when he wasn’t dunking over people, he had a knack for splitting defenses to get to the rim.

Blake Griffin

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Backup Power Forward: Blake Griffin

Height: 6-10
Weight: 248 lbs.
Vertical: 35.5 inches

Blake Griffin has quickly placed himself into the conversation as one of the greatest dunkers the league has ever seen, and that’s saying a lot considering that he has only played in the league for four seasons. If you compile a list of his 50 best highlight plays, it can compete with the best the league has to offer. What’s scary is that he hasn’t even reached his prime, and he’ll be turning heads for years to come.

When Griffin isn’t leaping over cars to dunk, he’s catching lobs and slamming the ball on the heads of anyone foolish enough to get in his path. He’s such a freak athlete that he doesn’t even need to touch the rim when he wants to throw it down, and he’ll be competing with Shawn Kemp to catch every lob thrown at the rim.

Wilt Chamberlain

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Backup Center: Wilt Chamberlain

Height: 7-1
Weight: 275 lbs.
Vertical: N/A

Wilt Chamberlain played in an era where measurements like a player’s vertical leap were never officially tested, which is a shame considering all the boasting of his exploits. It’s not always easy to separate truth from fiction when it comes to “The Big Dipper,” but one thing is for sure: he’s one of the most unique athletes the world has ever seen.

Chamberlain burned people on the track, leapt over the competition in the high jump, and was simply stronger than everyone else — and that’s not even factoring in everything he was able to do with a basketball in his hands.

He wasn’t the type of big man that lumbered down the court — he had the speed to keep up with some of the fastest players during his time, and he moved around the court with grace and ease. Also, you can’t forget his near-legendary endurance: he averaged 45.8 minutes per game over the course of his illustrious career.

Does he deserve to start over Shaquille O’Neal? It’s certainly possible, and like many of the selections here, it’s up for debate. However, for now, he’ll have to settle as a backup to O’Neal.

Julius Erving

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Height: 6-8
Weight: 192 lbs.
Vertical: 41-plus inches

It almost feels wrong putting Julius Erving deep on the bench, but that just goes to show you the type of athletes that he’s competing against. It was a tough call, and he could have just as easily beat out Dominique Wilkins for the backup spot behind LeBron James.

Dr. J may very well be the most graceful player to ever suit up for the NBA. He was so smooth on the floor that he even puts Michael Jackson to shame. He did his best work on the fastbreak in the open court, where he deftly weaved through defenders to get to the rim.

The only downside is that you wouldn’t be able to pull off some of the crazy circus shots he had a habit of making throughout his career in NBA 2K. Nonetheless, he’s a worthy addition to this roster.

Hakeem Olajuwon

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Reserve: Hakeem Olajuwon

Height: 7-0
Weight: 255 lbs.
Vertical: N/A

Hakeem Olajuwon is without a doubt the most agile center to ever play. His impeccable footwork is rivaled by none, and he played with a level of finesse rarely seen by players his size.

There was never any true sense for what Olajuwon’s vertical was, but it was obvious to anyone that watched him play that he could jump right out of the building. He was able to leap up and throw it down with authority despite his lean frame, and while his immaculate defensive instincts played a role, his leaping ability certainly helped him become the all-time leader in blocked shots by a wide margin. You also can’t forget that he ranks eighth all-time in steals, and the fact that he’s capable of guarding all five positions is a testament to his versatility as an athlete.

If you like to play in the post, you really don’t get any better than Olajuwon. With his dizzying array of post moves, he’s nearly impossible to stop one-on-one on the block. Of course, while he’s at his best near the bucket, he could just as easily get by a defender from the three-point line and straight to the bucket with his speed.

David Robinson

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Reserve: David Robinson

Height: 7-1
Weight: 250 lbs.
Vertical: 39 inches

The final spot on this list could’ve went to any number of players, but it ultimately came down to two: David Robinson and Dwight Howard.

Both Robinson and Howard have advantages over one another. Robinson’s vertical was slightly lower, and he wasn’t as strong as Howard. But he had a notable advantage when it came to speed, agility and coordination, which ultimately gave him the lead in this debate.

In fact, Robinson is not too far behind all the other big men on this list in terms of athleticism, and you can certainly make an argument for any one of them to be the starter for this squad.

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