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2.9k voters

The Fastest NBA Players of All Time

Updated October 11, 2019 20.2k votes 2.9k voters 22.0k views120 items

List RulesBest players in NBA history who were known for their elite speed

This list is composed of the fastest NBA players of all time, ranked by overall speed and talent level. The NBA measures straight-line speed at the yearly NBA combine, as well as quickness, lateral agility, and many other athletic traits. However, speed in the NBA isn't as focused on the numbers, and is instead simply quantified by the jaw-dropping speed-related feats these NBA players perform on a nightly basis. Due to top-level speed, many of the fastest NBA players are also among the greatest NBA players of all time.

This list is a collection of which players displayed the most amazing, game-changing speed in NBA history. Typically, the fastest NBA players are point guards such as Russell Westbrook and John Wall, since they are often the smallest, although certain anomalies like LeBron James and Michael Jordan find themselves among the fastest NBA players despite being bigger and stronger.

Go ahead and rank the fastest NBA players of all time, and when you're done, head on over to rank the fastest NFL players of all time.

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Allen Iverson
Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets
Position: Point guard
Age: 45
Birthplace: Hampton, Virginia, United States of America
Number: 1
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#1 of 78 The Best Philadelphia 76ers of All Time#2 of 22 The Greatest Georgetown Basketball Players of All Time
2
955
426
Derrick Rose
Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks
Position: Point guard
Age: 32
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Number: 1
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#2 of 46 The Greatest Memphis Basketball Players of All Time#13 of 69 All NBA Rookie Of The Year Award Winners, Ranked
3
341
117
De'Aaron Fox
Sacramento Kings
Position: Point Guard
Birthplace: New Orleans, LA
Number: 5
Proven By The Jump He Is 0.1 Feet Faster Than Russell Westbrook 25.0-24.9

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#2 of 16 NBA Players Who Stream On Twitch#6 of 30 NBA Players Who Should Finally Do The Slam Dunk Contest
4
1,121
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John Wall
Washington Wizards
Position: Point guard
Age: 30
Birthplace: Raleigh, North Carolina
Number: 2
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#23 of 55 The Best No. 1 Overall NBA Draft Picks of All Time, Ranked#3 of 55 Who Is The Fastest Player In The NBA Right Now?
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1,153
535
Russell Westbrook
Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Point guard
Age: 32
Birthplace: Long Beach, California
Number: 0
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6
520
266
Dwyane Wade
Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls
Position: Shooting guard
Age: 38
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Number: 3
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#451 of 583 The Greatest Entertainers of All Time#35 of 102 The Most Likable Players In The NBA Today
7
642
382
Michael Jordan
Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
Position: Shooting guard
Age: 57
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
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704
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LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat
Position: Power forward
Age: 36
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, United States of America
Number: 23
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336
195
Isiah Thomas
Detroit Pistons
Position: Point guard
Age: 59
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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#1 of 65 The Greatest Indiana Hoosiers Basketball Players of All Time#43 of 66 The Most Controversial Athletes in Sports History
10
556
359
Kyrie Irving
Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
Position: Point guard
Age: 28
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Number: 2
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Muggsy Bogues
Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets
Position: Point guard
Age: 55
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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#26 of 161 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings#18 of 27 The Best '90s Point Guards
12
283
165
Nate Robinson
New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls
Position: Point guard
Age: 36
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington
Number: 2
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#26 of 73 The Greatest Chicago Bulls of All Time#79 of 150 The Greatest Point Guards in NBA History
13
152
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Clyde Drexler
Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets
Position: Shooting guard
Age: 58
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
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#18 of 135 The Best Small Forwards of All Time#6 of 175 The Greatest Shooting Guards in NBA History

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Kemba Walker
Boston Celtics
Position: Point guard
Age: 30
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Number: 15
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#2 of 41 The Greatest UConn Basketball Players of All Time#4 of 76 The Best Point Guards Currently in the NBA
15
242
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Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks
Position: Power forward
Age: 26
Birthplace: Athens, Greece
Number: 34
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199
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Tony Parker
San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets
Position: Point guard
Age: 38
Birthplace: Bruges, Belgium
Number: 9
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#1422 of 1,427 The Best Athletes Of All Time#13 of 107 The Best Foreign NBA Players of All Time
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155
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Speedy Claxton
Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers
Position: Point guard
Age: 41
Birthplace: Hempstead, New York
18
250
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Isaiah Thomas
Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns
Position: Point guard
Age: 31
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington
Number: 22
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#2 of 24 The Shortest NBA Players of All Time, Ranked#23 of 126 The Best NBA Buys for the Money
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129
81
Gary Payton
Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers
Position: Point guard
Age: 52
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States of America
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#150 of 227 The Greatest Offensive Players in NBA History#59 of 115 The Funniest Professional Athletes
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51
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Spud Webb
Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings
Position: Point guard
Age: 57
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
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Chris Paul
New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers
Position: Point guard
Age: 35
Birthplace: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
Number: 3
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Collin Sexton
Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: Point guard
Number: 2
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Rajon Rondo
Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans
Position: Point guard
Age: 34
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
Number: 9
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#88 of 256 The Top NBA Players Of All Time#22 of 133 The Best Boston Celtics of All Time

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Nate Archibald
Kansas City Kings, New York Nets
Position: Point guard
Age: 71
Birthplace: New York City, New York
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#4 of 25 The Best NBA Point Guards of the 1970s#6 of 20 The Best 80s NBA Point Guards
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Eric Bledsoe
Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns
Position: Point guard
Age: 31
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
Number: 6
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