NBA, Player News / Analysis
The prototypical NBA player looks strong, athletic, and intimidating. However, throughout NBA history there have been players who didn't seem to fit the mold and stood out from the rest of the players.
While some of these players weren't successful in the NBA, many of them despite not fitting the mold turned out to be great players.
Here are the top 10 most unathletic looking NBA players of all time.
10. Steve Kerr
This 6' 180 lb point guard may not look intimidating, but it wouldn't be wise to have left him open from three.
Kerr ended his career with five championship rings and the highest three-point percentage in history at 45.4 percent. He's currently working on trying to top Isiah Thomas as the worst GM in NBA history.
9. Danny Schayes
Being the son of Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes, he never quite lived up to his dad.
Schayes did have a long and productive career though. He played 18 seasons in the NBA—his best season performance coming in 1987-88 with the Nuggets, when he averaged 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
8. Oliver Miller
In the 1995-96, he had his best year as a pro averaging 12.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.
However, Miller was notorious for his weight problems. In the beginning of his career, he weighed around 280 lbs, but in his later years he ballooned out to well over 300 lbs.
7. Robert Traylor
Like Miller he was also known for his weight problems—he weighed more than 300 pounds.As the sixth overall pick, he will always be known for being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Pat Garrity and future MVP Dirk Nowitzki.
Traylor now plays in Turkey for Antalya Kepez Belediyesi.
6. Arvydas Sabonis
Sabonis is known for being a great Olympian and European basketball player. He entered the NBA late in his career in 1995 as a member of the Portland Trailblazers.
During his years in Europe, he suffered multiple injuries to his knees and Achilles' tendons that robbed him of most of his mobility.
He had a solid NBA career, but we always wonder just how great he could have been if he had played during his prime in the NBA.
5. Bryant Reeves
After averaging 16.2 points per game in 1997, he was rewarded with a six-year, $61.8 million contract extension.
However, after 1998, weight-control problems and injuries began to take a toll on Reeves. He even once showed up for training camp 40 pounds overweight.
In 2001, Reeves started the season on the injured list due to chronic back pain and was eventually forced to retire.
4. Greg Ostertag
Although Ostertag only averaged 4.6 points per game, he was the starting center for the Utah Jazz during their NBA finals trips in 1997 and 1998.
Even though Ostertag was often the butt of jokes, he played his entire 11-year career on teams that finished the season with winning records.
3. Larry Bird
Larry Bird, although very gawky looking, is easily the best player on this list. Players who took him lightly always paid for it.
Although he may not have looked like your typical basketball player, that didn't stop him for winning three NBA titles and three MVP awards.
2. Shawn Bradley
At 7'6", this former No. 2 pick is one of the tallest players in NBA history.
He never fulfilled his potential but did average over 10 points seven times in his career.
Bradley is notorious for being dunked on and having a tough time against the physical centers and forwards of his generation. And for sucking.
1. Kurt Rambis
During his playing days, Rambis was a fan favorite because of his status as an over-achiever and ultimate hustle player.
Rambis was known for his thick mustache and thick-rimmed black glasses which caused Lakers announcer Chick Hearn to nickname him "Superman" in reference to him being Clark Kent. He's easily the most unathletic looking NBA player ever.
Well, except for Gheorghe Muresan, of course.
3/12/10 | phd_robotnik
Nathan Jawai of the Timberwolves and the late Kevin Duckworth of the Trailblazers.
2/20/09 | WhoDey | 6 respect
Oh Kurt Rambis..
2/20/09 | Derrich
He and Stockton. They should start a CPA firm.
2/17/09 | jefferson29
2/17/09 | anonyname
You guys are confusing "ugly" with "unathletic."
2/17/09 | primo | 1 respect
why is the guitar bigger than manute?
2/17/09 |
WhoDat12
|
2231 respect
True Manute Bol was highly athletic but he could sure knock down the 3
2/17/09 |
WhoDat12
|
2231 respect
Oliver Miller should have been a Right Tackle. Then he would have been the picture of athleticism
2/17/09 | WBKsports | 366 respect
I don't know why, but I feel like this photo should be linked in here as well...
2/17/09 | shifty37
Dalibor Bagaric who used to play for the Bulls. George Mursean? Will Purdue? Detlief Schremp?
2/16/09 | beerstudk | 1538 respect
Please don't tell me you forgot Chris Dudley:
I remember when this dude beaned Shaq in the back of his head while he was running downcourt..... the guy would blow a wide open lay-up/dunk but could nail a moving target right in the dome.
2/16/09 | Chachi_Azzhola | 2 respect
Dunno that this list is fair to the guys who played before weight training and steroid era dawned in the 1990's. To those old pre-'roids 1970's and 80's NBA guys, the term "ripped" had nothing to do with your body; it meant they got hold of some pretty decent coke before the opening tip off.
2/16/09 | arihoring1 | 41 respect
Agreed, he was very akward. I probably should have put him in and took out Kerr, but I didn't want only big guys.
2/16/09 | pobodys_nerfect
Well all i'm sayin is the only more ugly/unathletic looking human on earth is Billy Crystal and they starred together in a movie. Can Billy get on the list?
2/16/09 | mikeyintheoc | 55 respect
Manute Bol and Big Baby Davis comes to mind.
2/16/09 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
Oh man, a Khalid El-Amin reference. I remember reading about him in SLAM Magazine when he was in high school and had like 4 kids. Good times.
2/16/09 | guylake | 317 respect
Please don't tell me you forgot Chris Dudley:
Thanks a lot. You know, until you wrote this, I actually had. Do you have any idea how long I worked to forget him?
2/16/09 | Shankopotamus | 11 respect
Please don't tell me you forgot Chris Dudley:
2/16/09 |
snbslugger
I think Oliver Miller covers it. Although post 1996 Derrick Coleman would work too.
2/16/09 | guylake | 317 respect
You want an unathletic looking black NBA player? Paging Sherman Douglas! Paging Sherman Douglas! Oh, he's unavailable? Paging Khalid El-Amin!
2/16/09 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
Although Gheorge was pretty unathletic. So was Manute Bol. We need a top 20 list.
2/16/09 | arihoring1 | 41 respect
So every white and fat player in the league ever is kinda stupid looking. How couldn't Gheorghe Muresan make the top 3!!!!
This isn't the all ugly team!
2/16/09 | pobodys_nerfect
So every white and fat player in the league ever is kinda stupid looking. How couldn't Gheorghe Muresan make the top 3!!!!
2/16/09 | radiowave000 | 145 respect
2/16/09 | mel9133694
All the sudden i feel like a supermodel...
2/16/09 |
snbslugger
What about Mark Price? He looked more like a tax preparer than a three-point shooting monster.
2/16/09 | primo | 1 respect
rambis was rocking the porno mustache