Freaks of Nature: LeBron James and the 15 Most Athletic Players in the NBA

Everyone in the NBA is at least an above-average athlete, but there are some that defy nature itself.

In a sport that plays above the rim, a player's leaping ability is paramount. Some of these players are former dunk contest participants or winners, while the others could easily compete with the best of them.

However, jumping ability is not the lone factor in determining those qualified to make this team.

Among others, they must also be able to throw down dunks powerful enough to make grown men cry.

These freaks of nature encompass everything that makes one a world-class athlete. They have a combination of speed, size, vertical and power, all in a single package that is unmatched by their peers.

Everyone on this list is truly in a class by themselves.

Without further ado, I present the 15-man roster for the All-Freaks Team.

Next-Generation Freaks

Al Bello/Getty Images

NEW YORK - JUNE 24: John Wall of Kentucky stands with NBA Commisioner David Stern after being drafted with the first pick by The Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on June 24, 2010 in New York, New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowl

PG: John Wall

SG: DeMar DeRozan

SF: Perry Jones

PF: Derrick Favors/Blake Griffin

C: JaVale McGee/Andre Drummond

Bench: Jason Richardson

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 225 lbs.

Vertical: 39.5"

3/4 court sprint: 3.12

A back-to-back NBA Dunk Contest winner, Richardson's winning dunk from the 2003 dunk contest is easily one of the most impressive dunks in NBA history. It had creativity, flair and a level of difficulty very few could pull off.

Not to mention, it impressed Michael Jordan.

Richardson may have lost a step and some explosiveness over the years, but when he's not shooting long-range bombs, he can still take it to the hole and posterize anyone who stands in his way.

Richardson moves much quicker than he looks and he is the perfect companion for Steve Nash in transition. In fact, Nash could throw a blind lob that overshoots the basket by a substantial margin and still expect Richardson to come down with it.

Bench: Gerald Wallace

Height: 6'7"

Weight: 220 lbs.

Vertical: 40" (Unconfirmed)

3/4 court sprint: N/A

Before earning the nickname "Crash," Wallace went by the name "The Bird" from the way he soared to the rim.

Coming into the league, Wallace drew comparisons to Dominique Wilkins, one of the most athletic players in NBA history.

After two unsuccessful attempts at the dunk contest, many were quick to write him off. However, Wallace is more of an in-game dunker.

Gerald completely ignores any concern for his own well being by battering his way to the basket. His incredible strength makes it easy for him to finish as he jumps over players.

Bench: Tyrus Thomas

Height: 6'9"

Weight: 225 lbs.

Vertical: 39.5"

3/4 court sprint: 3.20

While Thomas has yet to reach his full potential, there was a reason the Bulls traded LaMarcus Aldridge in order to attain this beast.

In hindsight, it was clearly a poor move, but at the time of the draft, his athletic abilities were too tempting to ignore.

Tyrus has incredible agility and uses his supreme athletic gifts and speed to attack the basket.

Thomas also has the wingspan of a pterodactyl, which combines quite nicely with his absurd leaping abilities.

Bench: Rudy Gay

Height: 6'8"

Weight: 230 lbs.

Vertical: 40.5"

3/4 court sprint: 3.32

When it comes to Gay, pick your poison.

Get him in the open court, and expect to see a flashy windmill or reverse. Put defenders in his way, and watch as he dunks right over them.

While Rudy was bested in the 2008 dunk contest and had to sit out due to injuries the following year, there's still hope we'll see him competing once again. He's an artist in the air, and Gay easily comes in as one of the best high-flying dunkers in the league today.

Bench: Russell Westbrook

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 187 lbs.

Vertical: 36.5"

3/4 court sprint: 3.08

Even though Westbrook is riding the pine, he missed out on the starting point guard position by a hair.

Already a prolific slasher, Westbrook tends to get most of his points when he's attacking the rack. He's a ferocious dunker and slashes to the hoop with the intention of knocking down anyone who gets in his way.

Russell is a strong guard, and he's easily capable of playing the shooting guard position when called upon. He can go toe-to-toe with guards that are much bigger than him and lock them down.

Bench: Anthony Randolph

Height: 6'11"

Weight: 225 lbs.

Vertical: 35"

3/4 court sprint: 3.26

Anthony is an extremely unique athlete. The closest comparison would be Lamar Odom, and even he doesn't measure up to him.

Standing at 6'11", he is incredibly agile and can move like a guard.

Even though Randolph looks rather frail, don't let his thin frame fool you. He can still throw down thunderous dunks.

Randolph's nickname is "UFO," which should be obvious if you've ever seen this freak play.

Bench: Andre Iguodala

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 207 lbs.

Vertical: 34.5"

3/4 court sprint: 3.18

Andre came into the league as a highly-touted athlete, but he first showcased his freakish athleticism in the 2006 dunk contest. Even though he would go on to be snubbed by Nate Robinson, most knew who the true winner that day was.

While Iguodala is capable—albeit in a limited fashion—of playing from the perimeter, he's at his best when he's driving the lane.

When he goes up for a dunk, he brings the ball down with force strong enough to break another player's hands

Iguodala catches lobs and throws them down in his sleep.

Bench: Dwyane Wade

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 220 lbs.

Vertical: 35"

3/4 court sprint: 3.08

Dwyane comes in at 6'4"—generally considered to be undersized for his position. However, you wouldn't be able to tell from the way in which he powers through anyone who stands between him and the net.

The dunk of the year from the 2009-10 NBA season was, hands down, Wade's absolute obliteration of Anderson Varajeo. (See: embedded video)

This was a quick reminder to the rest of the league to beware when he looks to penetrate the lane.

Wade earned the nickname "Flash" for his blinding track speed. Even though he packs on quite a lot of muscle for his frame, he's still one of the quickest players in the NBA.

He consistently assaults the basket as he strides past defenders and finishes with ease.

Bench: Amar'e Stoudemire

Height: 6'10"

Weight: 245 lbs.

Vertical: 35.5"

3/4 court sprint: 3.25

Amar'e is the reincarnation of Shawn Kemp himself.

He is easily one of the most, if not the most, vicious dunkers in the NBA. When he's coming down the lane, ball in hand, going up to challenge him is a rather imprudent thing to do.

More likely than not, you will get demolished.

It's also probably the quickest path to a career ending injury.

Stoudemire treats the rim as if it's some cheap Fischer Price hoop and the players that stand in his way like ragdolls.

Pre-microfracture surgery and Stoudemire would easily be starting at the power forward position.

Sixth Man: Nate Robinson

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 180 lbs.

Vertical: 43.5"

3/4 court sprint: 2.96

Choosing the sixth man for the All-NBA Freak Team was no easy task. Everyone on this list is justifiably qualified for the spot.

Since Nate is more of a 'tweener, he was left out of the starting five. His size dictates that he be a point guard, but he's more of a shooting guard.

With that being said, Nate is a man among giants. When he goes up for a dunk, he spits in the face of gravity.

Unlike most short players, Nate is built like a rock. Having played football in college, Nate is certainly strong enough to dunk on the towering centers in the league—something he has done on numerous occasions.

Nate is the only three-time NBA Dunk Contest champion. A rare feat that may go unchallenged for quite some time, if not ever.

Also, who could forget him rejecting 7'6" Yao Ming? Absolute classic.

Point Guard: Derrick Rose

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 190 lbs.

Vertical: 40"

3/4 court sprint: 3.05

Lost in all the hype behind Derrick Rose is his monster vertical. Most people may not know this, but Rose is capable of competing in, and winning a dunk contest.

While he only occasionally throws down vicious jams, he's able to do it at will.

Couple his explosive leaping ability with his blinding speed and you have one of the most athletic point guards the league has ever seen.

If you body him up, he'll blow right by you.

Stand between him and the rim and he'll jump over, through or around you—take your pick.

Shooting Guard: Shannon Brown

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 210 lbs.

Vertical: 44.5"

3/4 court sprint: N/A

Even though Shannon Brown was a massive disappointment in the 2010 NBA Dunk Contest, he is a true freak of nature.

With one of the highest verticals in NBA history, Brown is capable of leaping over even the tallest of players. He can easily "kiss the rim" and put his entire arm through the cylinder at will.

Brown catches lobs and throws them down in his sleep.

When he reaches the pinnacle of his jump, Shannon can actually look down through the net, grab a drink, take a nap and then flush it through.

If he can ever put together an all-around game, he will be a terrifying player to guard.

Small Forward: LeBron James

Height: 6'8"

Weight: 260 lbs.

Vertical: 44"

3/4 court sprint: N/A

If you're one-on-one, back pedaling to the hoop, and you see this freight train coming at you full speed, what do you do?

Do you run and hide? Because that would be almost as effective as trying to challenge him at the rim.

It's a shame that LeBron backed out of the dunk contest last year after foolishly proclaiming himself a participant during the previous year's competition.

While we may never see what sort of creative dunks he can come up with outside of game situations, he showcases his amazing dunking ability on a nightly basis.

LeBron is also one of the rare players that could easily translate his game to the NFL level. Not many would question if his body is capable of handling the rough nature of football.

In fact, if slotted into the tight end position, he would potentially be an unstoppable force that commands double and triple teams on nearly every play—not so different from the way he's guarded in the NBA.

James is unquestionably the MVP of this team.

Power Forward: Josh Smith

Height: 6'9"

Weight: 240 lbs.

Vertical: 39.5"

3/4 court sprint: 3.24

This former dunk contest winner habitually destroys rims and saps the morale of opposing players.

With one of the highest verticals in the NBA and the authority to make even NBA players cower in fear, Smith is a force to be reckoned with in the paint.

It's fitting that Josh is a member of the Atlanta Hawks, as he is the Dominique Wilkins of our generation and probably the closest we'll see to the Human Highlight Reel.

Center: Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard at the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend Dunk Contest

Height: 6'11"

Weight: 265 lbs.

Vertical: 35.5"

3/4 court sprint: 3.14

While he's not the original Superman, Dwight comes pretty close. He combines the strength of an ox with the leaping ability of a puma—truly a rare combination.

Besides the ferocious dunks and alley-oops he performs in-game on a regular basis, the 2008 dunk contest was where he amazed the world. Taking on the reigning dunk contest champion, Nate Robinson, Dwight put on a show the world would never forget.

The fact that Howard can dunk, rather easily might I say, on a 12' rim is ridiculous.

Dwight is a supreme athlete and is in a special tier, above even many on this list.