Who are the 20 most athletic NBA players in the league right now?

Who are the 20 most athletic NBA players in the league right now?

Lenah Ann
updated at October 14, 2023 at 12:56 PM

Since its inception, the NBA franchise has seen great talents come and go, and in doing so, the league has become home to the most talented and finest basketball players on the planet. Since most athletic NBA players are high-level basketballers with incomparable talents, it does not come as a surprise that most of them also happen to be some of the best in the arena.

Most athletic NBA players at each position
Who are the most athletic players in the history of the NBA? Photo: D Miralle
Source: Getty Images

Several players have gone down in history in every era with their freakishly athletic abilities and skills on the court. These athletes did so by either scoring non-stop, being faster, stronger sharpshooters, or jumping higher than the others.

Top 20 most athletic NBA players in the league right now

With so many exemplary athletes in the famous basketball league, it is not a walk in the park narrowing down to the most athletic ones. According to various online sources, here are the 20 most athletic NBA players as of 2023.

20. De'Aaron Fox

Most athletic NBA players at each position
De'Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Round 1 Game 7 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on 30 April 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Photo: Rocky Widner
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 25 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Sacramento Kings
  • Position: Point guard

Fox is among the most athletic NBA players who have currently posted incredible numbers for their clubs. He is known for his speed, which was put to use in a match against the Golden State Warriors.

19. Donovan Mitchell

  • Age: 26 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Position: Shooting guard

The Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell was the talk of the town when he scored 71 points in a single game and made four consecutive All-Star Teams. The shooting guard has excellent and explosive athletic skills with incredible leadership.

18. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Current most athletic NBA players
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter of the NBA Play-In game at Target Center on 14 April 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo: David Berding
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 25 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Position: Point/shooting guard

Being one of the most athletic NBA players in the world, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has posted some of the best numbers in a short period in the famous league. The superstar is unstoppable at the offense due to his explosive athleticism.

17. Damian Lillard

Top 10 most athletic NBA players
Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Moda Center on 9 April 2023 in Portland, Oregon. Photo: Steph Chambers
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 33 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Portland Trail Blazers
  • Position: Point guard

Even though Damian did not make the playoffs, he is one of the best basketballers the league has ever seen. Due to his athleticism, he posted incredible numbers; that is, he averaged 30 points per game and was ranked as one of the best point guards on the planet.

16. Devin Booker

  • Age: 26 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Phoenix Suns
  • Position: Shooting guard

Since his debut in the NBA, Devin has consistently been a threat to most defensive players in the franchise. He is unstoppable with the ball in his hands since he can score using the most efficient and effortless skill that only other basketballers can dream of.

15. Anthony Davis

Current most athletic NBA players
Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets on 20 May 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Andrew D Bernstein
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 30 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Los Angeles Lakers
  • Position: Centre/power forward

Anthony has been at the top of his game, and since he is a big man, he has been dominating the court from all ends. He is athletic as they come, and due to his skills, he has brought the performance of the Lakers to another level.

14. Jayson Tatum

Who is the most athletic player in the history of the NBA?
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics attends a game between the Chicago Sky and the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena on 11 June 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Ethan Miller
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 25 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Boston Celtics
  • Position: Small/power forward

With his skill sets, Jayson has become a significant threat to the defensive players, thanks to his explosive offensive abilities. He is a hard athlete to mark and, thus, can make quick runs and shoot at will.

13. Ja Morant

  • Age: 23 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Memphis Grizzlies
  • Position: Point guard

Although the youngster started his NBA career barely three years ago, he has risen through the ranks due to his breathtaking performance to become a new record holder for the Memphis Grizzles.

Since he is among the most athletic NBA players, he has continued to be a fan favourite with his creativity, dribbling abilities, and superior playing style. Additionally, he led his club to its first-ever Southwest Division title.

12. James Harden

Who is the most athletic player in the history of the NBA?
James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on 11 May 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 33 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Philadelphia 76ers
  • Position: Shooting/point guard

James is one of the current most athletic NBA players who have made it in the basketball franchise. Although he has faced some tough days, he can be easily considered one of the most outstanding legends who have shown impressive performance in two years.

11. Anthony Edwards

  • Age: 21 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Position: Shooting guard

Anthony Edwards has made headlines during his short time in the NBA and has become a fan favourite. He has already proven to be one of the best dunkers in the franchise with his insane jumps over and over.

10. Aaron Gordon

Most athletic NBA players at each position
Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets speaks with media after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on 12 June 2023 in Denver, Colorado. Photo: Justin Edmonds
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 27 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Denver Nuggets
  • Position: Power/small forward

Aaron is among the current most athletic NBA players in the league. With his craziest hops, he is a two-time NBA Dunk contest runner-up and thus one of the best in the slam's contest history.

Beyond his freakish athleticism, Gordon has proven to be one of the best playmakers and three-point shooters who can showcase his abilities on both ends of the court.

9. Zach LaVine

  • Age: 28 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Chicago Bulls
  • Position: Shooting guard

LaVine has won most dunk contests that he has participated in thanks to his athleticism which was also why he was drafted. The legendary superstar can dunk at will despite being marked accordingly.

8. Jimmy Butler

Most athletic NBA players at each position
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat looks on during game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets on 12 June 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Photo: Jamie Schwaberow
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 33 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Miami Heats
  • Position: Small forward

Jimmy is among the top 10 most athletic NBA players as of 2023 who have had remarkable seasons in the NBA. He has recorded under his name and has led the Heats into the finals, where he met his match, the great LeBron James.

In 2022, he signed a contract extension, surpassing LeBron's record as the club's all-time triple-doubles leader. With his incredible physic, fans hope he will lead the Heats to another final and bring it home this time.

7. Joel Embiid

Most athletic NBA players of all time
Joel Embiid attends Variety and Sportico's Sports and Entertainment Summit, presented by City National Bank at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on 13 July 2023 in West Hollywood, California. Photo: Alberto Rodriguez
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 29 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Philadelphia 76ers
  • Position: Centre/power forward

Like most stars, Joel's athleticism has contributed immensely to his success on the court. He has numerous achievements, including being the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player and 6-time NBA All-Star.

With most athletic NBA players at each position being legends, the famous 76ers centre has proven to be up for the challenge. During his years with the club, he became the first player to earn a 40-point triple-double since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.

6. Luka Doncic

  • Age: 24 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Dallas Mavericks
  • Position: Point/shooting guard

Luka is one of the most athletic NBA players who have gone down in history with one of the most lucrative deals. He signed a rookie extension contract worth $207 million and has been at the top of his game since he started playing for the Mavericks.

5. LeBron James

Top 10 most athletic NBA players
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of the Leagues Cup 2023 match between Cruz Azul and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on 21 July 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo: Hector Vivas
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 38 years of age as of July 2023
  • Current team: Los Angeles Lakers
  • Position: Small forward

The four-time NBA champion is not only one of the most athletic NBA players ever but also one of the greatest basketballers of all time. As of 2023, the renowned legend has numerous records to his name, and from the look of things, he is not yet done.

In December 2021, with a record of 36,000 career points, James became the 3rd player in the sport's history to earn 100 triple-doubles. His outstanding record came when he recorded 30,000 career points, 10,000 rebounds, and 9,000 assists.

4. Nikola Jokic

Most athletic NBA
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in 2022. Photo: Srdjan Stevanonic
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 28 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Denver Nuggets
  • Position: Centre

The Serbian national is among the current most athletic NBA players ever to walk the basketball arena. And just like most athletes on the list, Nikola Jokic has numerous records since he began his debut season on an inspiring note.

3. Stephen Curry

Most athletic NBA players at each position
Steph Curry is seen on 18 July 2023. Photo: Nathan Congleton
Source: Getty Images
  • Age: 35 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Golden State Warriors
  • Position: Point guard

The legendary Stephen Curry has been categorised as one of the most athletic NBA players of all time by various online sources. He is a three-time NBA champion with incredible skills and talent that has seen him take home several trophies.

With shooting skills, Curry has gone down in history as one of the most excellent three-point shooters in the franchise. With fans salivating for his return to the playoffs, most hope he will lead the Warriors to victory.

2. Kevin Durant

  • Age: 34 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Brooklyn Nets
  • Position: Small/power forward
Who is the most athletic player in the history of the NBA?
Kevin Durant looks on during Game 6 of the 2023 Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets on 11 May 2023 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Jim Poorten
Source: Getty Images

The legendary basketball star Kevin Durant is among the top 5 most athletic NBA players in 2023. Although he has battled injuries, the renowned athlete has led his club, the Nets, to several victories.

He has numerous titles to his name thanks to his athletic abilities that have seen him rise to another level. He has earned multiple triple-doubles due to his incredible form and, in so doing, kept his club in its top form.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

  • Age: 28 years of age (as of July 2023)
  • Current team: Milwaukee Bucks
  • Position: Power/small forward

With a height of 7 feet or 213 centimetres, the Greek national Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most athletic NBA player in the league right now. He won the 2020/21 season championship title, and since then, he has been a threat to other teams.

The legend has a formidable form, enabling him to block some score-changing shots and make last-minute rush wins. He is known for surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabber, one of the all-time greats, to become the club's top scorer.

Who is the most athletic player in the history of the NBA?
Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrates with players during a game as part of a promotional event during his visit to China at Beijing Sport University on 9 July 2023 in Beijing, China. Photo: Di Yin
Source: Getty Images

Who is the most athletic player in the history of the NBA?

Without a doubt, LeBron James takes the mantle as the most athletic player in the sport's history. And aside from being the greatest player of all time, he has also been ranked by sources as one of the most complete players in history.

Who is the most dominant athlete in the history of the NBA?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with a record for the most points scored in a career, is considered the most dominant player in the National Basketball Association's history. Other legends on the list include Bill Russell and Shaquille O'Neal.

Are NBA players more athletic now?

Since most upcoming youngsters learn from a broader range of legendary basketballers and thus become better three-point shooters who can play in various positions, it does not mean they are better than those who came before them.

Throughout history, the most athletic NBA players have blessed the basketball franchise with their unique brand of talents and physical attributes that far surpasses the rest. With their insane wingspans, breathtaking ducks, amazing speeds, and freakish hops, these stars have taken the National Basketball Association to another level.

Most athletic NBA players
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

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Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.
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Lebron JamesGiannis Antetokounmpo