De'Aaron Fox is tied with Portland Trailblazers sophomore player Keon Johnson are the fastest players in NBA 2K23.
Speed on an NBA court is something that can be crucial for certain players. While we have seen players like Luka Doncic excel without having rapid feet, that doesn't mean people who are inherently quick don't have an advantage in the game of basketball. We see athletic specimens in the league all the time who are absolutely rapid on their feet, be it with the ball or without it.
Some players do struggle to maintain the same raw pace they have with the ball, but some can find a way to keep the ball in their control and use their speed to overpower slower players. We have seen point guards like Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, and John Wall dominate by using their speed on the NBA court and combining it with a good handle and athleticism.
The current NBA is full of extremely speedy players that could run the length of a basketball court in just a couple of seconds. This allows them to be a step ahead of every open court situation because they can outpace everyone, giving them a massive advantage. NBA 2K23 rates the raw speed of players, but who is the fastest in the game?
De'Aaron Fox has long been regarded as the fastest player in the NBA, but there is a youngster challenging Fox on pure pace. That person is sophomore guard Keon Johnson, who is a member of the Portland Trailblazers. Johnson also has one of the highest verticals recorded at the NBA Draft Combine, so he is an athletic beast. However, Fox is a borderline All-Star and is a star on an NBA team.
T1. De'Aaron Fox- 97
T1. Keon Johnson - 97
T3. Donovan Mitchell - 96
T3. Russell Westbrook - 96
T3. Scottie Lewis - 96
6. Ja Morant - 94
T7. Melvin Fraizer Jr. - 93
T7. Jared Harper - 93
T9. Ben Simmons - 92
T9. Jaden Ivey - 92
T9. Kira Lewis Jr. - 92
Credit: 2KRatings.com
Fox being the fastest isn't a surprise, and Johnson being there with him won't be a surprise to people who have known about Johnson's raw athletic ability. Donovan Mitchell has been regarded for his blistering pace on the court before, but him being tied with a 34-year-old Russell Westbrook is a testament to the speed that NBA 2K23 believes Westbrook still has on the court.
Many surprises on the list come from players without NBA teams right now, like Scottie Lewis, Jared Harper, and Melvin Frazier Jr. That proves that speed isn't all someone can rely on to get into the NBA. Ben Simmons is the tallest player on this list, as his athletic ability has always been marvelous at his size. Jaden Ivey is the only rookie on the list, and this could be a source of excitement for Pistons fans coming into next season.
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