Least Athletic Players in the NBA Right Now

Many of the world's most outstanding athletes play in the NBA, but that doesn't mean every player in the league is athletically gifted. 

Basketball is a team sport that awards its participants for a wide variety of skills. The most successful teams have rosters diverse in talent, as it takes the right mix of players to win. 

While being an athletic freak makes playing in the NBA more manageable, less athletic players can sustain long careers if they are skilled enough. 

Another way in which players make up for physical limitations is with a high basketball IQ, as the mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical aspect at times. 

Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first season on the ballot, as he is a perfect example of how players can tinker with their game to increase the length of their career.

Now in his 18th season, Kidd is still playing at a high level despite his lack of athleticism. 

Kidd has overcome his physical limitations by refining his shot from behind the arc and through his knowledge of the game. 

On the defensive end, Kidd is adept at anticipating what is about to happen, which allows him to get into the right position. This is supported by the 1.9 steals Kidd is averaging as a member of the New York Knicks this season.

The 39-year-old point guard is averaging less than 30-minutes per game and has no business being so disruptive at this stage in his career. 

Kidd's lack of athleticism is apparent when he is asked to defend quick guards, as he doesn't have the lateral quickness to stay in front of them. 

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol is a two-time NBA Champion and may be the most talented offensive big man in the league. Both of those distinctions were earned despite a lack of athleticism, as Pau's superior skills have separated him from his peers. 

Pau is the perfect example of a European big man, as he is a well-rounded player who can hurt the opposition with his jump shot. 

Gasol is equally comfortable in the low-post as he is shooting the mid-range jumper, which is one of the key reasons for his long-term success. 

His physical limitations are most obvious when he is forced to guard power forwards who can put the floor on the deck. In fact, guarding quicker big men may be Gasol's biggest flaw. 

Gasol has thrived despite his physical limitations and proved that skill can trump athleticism in the NBA. 

Jared Dudley

Jared Dudley has had a solid NBA career thus far, which is impressive considering his limitations as an athlete. 

The Phoenix Suns shooting guard thrives shooting the most inefficient shot in basketball—the long-range two. Dudley largely relies on his teammates to create looks for him, which is something that happened often when Steve Nash was at the controls.

After Nash was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the remaining players on the Suns roster were all asked to take a step forward offensively. 

Dudley's numbers have not fallen off a cliff without Nash, as his scoring numbers are consistent with his previous two seasons when adjusted for playing time.  

Now in his sixth season, Dudley's PER has increased slightly each year, which is indicative of his high basketball IQ, as his understanding of the game is continuously improving. 

Dudley does not move well, but he utilizes his defensive instincts to make up for it. 

Matt Bonner

Matt Bonner has carved out a nice career, as he is in the midst of his ninth season in the NBA.

It's remarkable that Bonner has had such a long career considering that the only thing he brings to the table is perimeter shooting. Over the course of his career, Bonner has averaged 6.7 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 41.7 percent from behind the arc. 

Bonner's lack of athleticism is apparent all the time, especially when called upon to defend on pick-and-rolls. 

Part of Bonner's longevity can be attributed to the San Antonio Spurs' system. Gregg Popovich is comfortable sending Bonner onto the court, because he knows that the savvy veteran won't make any crucial mistakes. 

The Florida Gator alumnus has made up for his lack of athleticism by outsmarting the opposition. 

Andris Biedrins

Andris Biedrins used to be a quality player, but that was before his poor free-throw shooting stole his confidence. 

Now in his ninth season, Biedrins is nothing but dead-weight and a major cap liability for the Golden State Warriors. For a player who had so much promise, it's disappointing to see how Biedrins' career has unfolded. 

Biedrins used to get by on the defensive end by outworking his opponent, but that fire has been extinguished. Without his past intensity, Biedrins has nothing to fall back on. 

Unlike his competition, Biedrins doesn't have the quickness or leaping ability to compensate for his mistakes. 

The decline of Biedrins was caused by his mental block on the charity stripe, but his physical limitations are the reason that he fell off so quickly.  

Luis Scola

At 6'9", Luis Scola is slightly undersized in comparison to other power forwards around the league.

The Argentine has made up for his lack of athleticism with an array of nifty skills.

Scola is solid on the glass and is versatile on the offensive end of the court. 

Throughout his career, Scola has proven that he has an expansive repertoire of low-post moves, and he can also knock down open jumpers when presented with the opportunity. 

His athletic limitations are more of an issue on the defensive end of the court. Scola struggles against stretch-fours, as he doesn't have the lateral quickness to defend on the perimeter. 

As Scola ages, it will continue to get more difficult for him to compensate for his lack of athleticism. His quickness will continue to deteriorate, which could make him a liability by the time he reaches the end of his contract in 2015.