The 20 Best Skinny Athletes of All Time

The popular stereotype associated with the build of any professional athlete is strength. When we think of stars in leagues like the NBA, NFL, MLB, or NHL, we think of guys like LeBron James, Ndamukong Suh, J.J. Watt, or Miguel Cabrera. They're muscular, physically impressive human beings who easily remind us why we'll never have a chance of playing a professional sport.

But, as we've seen time and time again, there are plenty of pro athletes throughout sports history who have defied this stereotype. Not everyone needs to be a beast to succeed. Even guys in smaller frames can still pack a considerable punch.

Consider Kevin Durant, the reigning NBA MVP who couldn't even lift 185 pounds when he was entering the NBA. There were cries and concerns about Durant's strength and build when he was entering the league but, as we've seen, Durant has handily buried those criticisms. Shiny hardware and a handful of scoring titles will make a believer out of any skeptic.

As we've learned, individual talent doesn't hinge solely on physicality. The best athletes will find a way to win despite whatever physical disadvantages they have versus an opponent. To remember those who have refused to be overpowered, we've put together a list of the 20 Best Skinny Athletes of All Time. Featuring players such as Allen Iverson, DeSean Jackson, Reggie Miller and more, these are the guys who have gotten the most out of their bodies, game-in and game-out.

Height: 6'9”
Weight (lbs): 216
Career highlights: 1x NBA champion, 4x NBA All-Defensive Second Team

If you need proof of the effectiveness of Tayshaun Prince's spindly frame, consider Game 2 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals when Prince, then a member of the Detroit Pistons, came out of nowhere to block Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller in the closing seconds of the game, sealing a crucial victory for Detroit. It was something only a man of Prince's stature could've pulled off, his unique combination of wingspan and size serving as the crucial factors in the swat. It's a moment which stands as Prince's greatest moment, and highlights his one-of-a-kind defensive tenacity.

Height: 6'5”

Weight (lbs): 201

Career highlights: 2x NBA 6th Man of the Year, NBA leader in 4-point plays

Twice named the NBA's best player off the bench, journeyman Jamal Crawford has proved himself as one of the most valuable weapons in the league for any team looking to add an extra dimension to their offense. A reliable shooter who is deadly with the ball in his hands, Crawford has been all over the league from Chicago to New York to Los Angeles.

Height: 6'2”

Weight (lbs): 185

Career highlights: 1x NHL All-Star, 1x Vezina Trophy winner, 1x NHL champion

As the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, and fresh off his first appearance in the NHL All-Star Game, Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask is clearly on the rise as one of hockey's best, young talents on the ice. Rask is only 27-years-old, and if there's anything other backstop greats like Martin Brodeur or Patrick Roy have taught us, it's that Rask's career may not have even reached its halfway point yet. The future is bright for this slight but dependable goaltender.

Height: 6'8”
Weight (lbs): 165
Career highlights: 199 goals, 42 international caps

Peter Crouch was always a solid, nationally-recognized player for the English team, and has bounced around from one club to another in the EPL since the beginning of his career. But, man, the dude needs to eat something. Crouch's 165 pound, 6'8” frame is easily one of the most ill-proportioned players on this list. You can't really argue with the guy's results, though.

Height: 6'0”
Weight (lbs): 180
Career highlights: 6x MLB All-Star, 4x Golden Glove award winner, 5x AL stolen base champion

His career extended far beyond the city limits of Cleveland, but Lofton will always be remembered as an Indian. During his time with the Wahoos, the little guy used his size to his advantage, speeding and slipping through defenses for seasons of 66, 70, 60, 54, and 76 stolen bases while batting higher than .300 every year. On the other side of the ball, Lofton was a human ball collector in the outfield, earning four Golden Gloves from '92-'96.

Height: 5'10”
Weight (lbs): 175
Career highlights: 3x Pro Bowl selection, 1x First Team All-Pro selection

Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson has never been the biggest guy on the field, but he's always been one of the fastest. If D-Jax was carrying a few extra pounds, do you think he'd be able to make plays like this on a semi-regular basis? Not a chance. His deadly blend of speed and quickness has made him a nightmare for opposing secondaries ever since he entered the league with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Height: 6'6”
Weight (lbs): 180
Career highlights: 3x MLB All-Star

Spreading 180 pounds over a 6'6” body is a stretch, but Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale has no problems pushing his frame to its limits season-in and season-out. At just 25 years old, the young ace has already proven himself as a regular All-Star and Cy Young candidate in baseball's hardest-hitting league. Unfortunately, the White Sox haven't been able to provide Sale with much support in recent seasons, but if he continues to dominate the MLB, then Sale should find himself on a winning club before too long.

Height: 5'10”

Weight (lbs): 175

Career highlights: 2x World Series champion, 2x NL Cy Young award winner, 4x MLB All-Star

Tim Lincecum has seen a significant decline in his playing ability over the past few seasons, but even if the Freak's greatest days are past him, it will be hard for us to forget the peak he enjoyed from 2007-2011, when his pitching prowess could only be described as filthy. A human corkscrew of motion, Lincecum became known for his highly unorthodox but highly effective pitching style, earning every bit of velocity he can from his body.

Height: 5'9”
Weight (lbs): 142
Career highlights: 193 career goals, 56 international caps

Yung Mighty Mite Neymar was easily the highlight for Brazil during this past World Cup before its tournament came to an, errrr … abrupt end. At 22 years old, he's still just beginning. The same night Lionel Messi recently reached 400 career goals, Neymar put in a hat trick and is quickly approaching 200 of his own scores. It's really not even fair that those two are on the same team.

Height: 6'7”
Weight (lbs): 185
Career highlights: 5x NBA All-Star, 3x All-NBA Third Team

Reggie Miller was as skinny as straw during his days in the league, but the motor-mouthed All-Star still scored in droves as the leader of the Indiana Pacers. As one of the NBA's greatest-ever three-point shooters, Miller will forever be a legend in Indianapolis, and solidied his status as an all-time great when he entered the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Height: 6'4”
Weight (lbs): 215
Career highlights: 7x Pro Bowl selection, 4x First Team All-Pro selection, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team

Being a wide receiver in the NFL isn't typically reserved for bigger, bulkier guys, but even Randy Moss was lankier than your average WR, checking in at just over 215 pounds despite his 6'4” frame. For comparison's sake, Calvin Johnson is just an inch taller but more than 15 pounds heavier. Regardless, Moss was a dominant player in the NFL, and his legacy is nothing to sneeze at. As a member of the famously prolific 2007 New England Patriots, Moss set the record for most TD receptions in a single season.

Height: 6'10”
Weight (lbs): 225
Career highlights: 10x MLB All-Star, 5x Cy Young award winner, 1x World Series champion

Although his lanky near-seven-foot frame certainly did his “BIg Unit” nickname justice, Randy Johnson's never had to worry about being “out of shape” like so many other major-leaguers. During the course of Johnson's career, the beanpole became known for having one of the most dominant fastballs of all time, a pitch a certain bird would tell you is quite effective. He accrued a 3.29 ERA in 22 seasons (take that Jeter!), highlighted by a four-year stretch in Arizona when he won four consecutive Cy Young Awards, struck out more then 300 batters each season, and nailed down sub-3.00 ERAs each year. He'll always be remembered as one of the GOATs.

Height: 6'11”
Weight (lbs): 254
Career highlights: 15x NBA All-Star, 1x NBA MVP, 1x NBA champion

Though he stands tall at 6'11”, Kevin Garnett has always played the power forward position, likely due to his less-than-average build. However, anyone who has ever played against Garnett can tell you that the man punches above his weight. A borderline psycho on the court, Garnett's tenacity and presence have helped him earn an NBA MVP award, a championship, and a boatload of All-Star selections during his long and prolific career.

Height: 5'7”
Weight (lbs): 144
Career highlights: 56-5-2 record, 38 TKOs

You don't have to be tall to be skinny. Even though he's easily the shortest on the list, he's no doubt the most ferocious, proving throughout the past 20 years that he's one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time. He climbed through the weight classes, excelling in each, proving that he's more than capable of handling a variety of fighting styles.

Height: 6'5”

Weight (lbs): 207

Career highlights: 6 Olympic gold medals, World Record holder in 100m and 200m races

Compared to bulkier, more compact runners like Justin Gatlin or Tyson Gay, Usain Bolt may as well be called Iceberg Slim. The Jamaican superstar has earned his place in Olympic history as one of the most decorated track athletes ever, overtaking his competitors in both Beijing and London. With the 2016 Rio Olympics coming up, we'll see just how long Bolt's reign can last.

Height: 6'9”

Weight (lbs): 240

Career highlights: 1x NBA MVP, 4x NBA scoring champion, 5x NBA All-Star

Ever since he entered the NBA, Kevin Durant has been known as a skinny guy. He's been called “Durantula” and “Slim Reaper” for a reason. However, as we all know, Durant has also shunned every negative association with the label. He isn't weak. He isn't a pushover. As the reigning NBA and a four-time NBA champion, Durant is well on his way to making a Hall of Fame career for himself.

Height: 6'10
Weight (lbs): 245
Career highlights: 4x NBA All-Star, 5x NBA champion, 6x All-NBA First Team

As the namesake of the “Mikan Rule”, former Minneapolis Lakers star George Mikan became known for his height during a time when the NBA was still inhabited by players closer to half of Mikan's 6'10” size. Standing tall over the rest of the league, Mikan was able to dominate the early iterations of professional basketball, even though his playing weight was just 245 pounds. In today's NBA, Mikan might have been closer to Shawn Bradley than Shaquille O'Neal, but back then, he was a one-of-a-kind specimen.

Height: 6'0”
Weight (lbs): 165
Career highlights: 1x NBA MVP, 11x NBA All-Star

AI might have looked small on the court, but that was only because he was standing next to the relative giants of our enlarged sports society. As one of the quickest guards ever, Iverson was a six-foot, 165-pound lightning bolt who could cross you up at any time. His style of play equated to 26.7 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 2.2 SPG during a 914-game career.

Height: 6'1”
Weight (lbs): 187
Career highlights: 17x Grand Slam champion, 80 ATP titles, 979-225 W-L record

Widely considered the GOAT in men's tennis, Roger Federer's slight frame has never held him back from dominating the competition in Wimbledon or any major Open. Fed's lithe movements on the court have often been a sight of awe for tennis fans, analysts, and players, as well as his deceptively powerful and impossibly fluid style of play. Compared to his chief rival Rafael Nadal, the Swiss legend appears positively featherweight, but 17 Grand Slam titles can tell you how deceiving looks truly are.

Height: 6'10”

Weight (lbs): 215

Career highlights: 11x NBA champion, 5x NBA MVP, 12x NBA All-Star

Bill Russell is one of the greatest centers to ever play the game of basketball, earning himself multiple team and individual accolades throughout his storied career in the early NBA. A gifted passer and rebounder, Russell was able to overpower the competition despite his listed playing weight of a mere 215 pounds. Granted, the league was different in these days, but consider Russell's biggest rival Wilt Chamberlain, who was listed at 275 pounds during his career. Despite having more weight and two extra inches on Russell, Chamberlain was often overshadowed by the Celtics great due to his instinctive teamwork and canny style of play. Russell is the perfect example of a player who managed to get every inch and every pound out of their body.