Could you imagine a 7-foot, 250-pound man running towards you at full speed? Or a 6-foot-3 freak athlete with the hops to put you on a poster? Terrifying, right? The NBA is back, and along with it are some of the most physically dominant athletes on the planet. This week, we asked The Scout Sports staff which NBA player would be the scariest to face.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
By Owen Dimpfl
The “Greek Freak” is the scariest player in the NBA because of his strength on the court. The forward stands nearly seven feet tall and weighs over 240 pounds. Antetokounmpo is a player who is dangerous with a lane to the rim. Good luck trying to stop that. He has been near the top of the NBA in scoring for the past few years and is also known as one of the best defenders in the league. When healthy, Antetokounmpo is always a contender for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). Now, with another year of chemistry alongside Damian Lillard, the Bucks will try to get back to the top of the very talented Eastern Conference.
Lebron James
By Latif Love
Lebron James is a great father, philanthropist and role model, but on the court, he is frightening. Imagine a 6-foot-9 man with track speed galloping down the lane at you. You’d be terrified, just like NBA players, although they won’t admit it. Often, opponents resort to fouling him because they can’t stop him from scoring. In addition to his physical ability, Lebron is arguably the most experienced and cerebral player to step foot on the court in his 22-year career. He has broken teams and dominated a conference for 10 years, at one point going to the finals for eight consecutive years. Never forget, Lebron’s dominance forced the Golden State Warriors to acquire Kevin Durant and send the league into a dark space for three seasons.
Ja Morant
By Ethan Diamond
The Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant will always be a threat when you face him. Despite being just 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, he is one of the most physically imposing players in the league. The combination of his on-court mentality and his explosive ability makes him a dangerous player. He has elite athleticism, great speed and the ability to drive to the basket explosively. He’s already thrown down plenty of poster dunks throughout his career on other players, and as long as he can keep his off-court issues in check and stay healthy, he will be a player who no one wants to match up against in a game.
Victor Wembenyama
By Jacob Hypke
Who wouldn’t be scared to face Wemby? He is a 7-foot-4 center who can dribble better than some forwards and even a handful of guards. Wemby shot an impressive 32.9% from three and was in the top 100 in three-pointers made in the NBA.
The scariest aspect about Wemby isn’t his offense; instead, it is how agile he is on defense. This quality led to him leading the whole league in blocks with 3.6 per game, with thenext closest guy at 2.4 per game. Having the longest wingspan in the league is a key reason he leads this stat and is a candidate for DPOY because of it.
Let me remind you that Wemby did all of this during his rookie season. Not only am I scared to face Wemby right now, but NBA All-Stars will be scared to face him once he has reached his full potential in two to three years.
Jayson Tatum
By Cristina Solano
After last night’s game, Boston Celtics player Jayson Tatum would be scary to face. Tatum scored 37 points in the season opener, and added 11 rebounds and six assists against the Knicks. The most frightening thing about Tatum’s performance is that he went 8-for-11 from three. Over the last three seasons, the star forward has been an inconsistent three-point shooter. The issue came to light in the NBA Finals when he shot 26 percent from behind the arch. This summer, Tatum worked with long-time trainer Drew Hanlen to fix a hitch in his jumper. If his jump shot can be more consistent, it makes Tatum a more dangerous player and the Celtics a more dangerous team.
Stephen Curry
By Mark Wagner
When you think of the Golden State Warriors, you immediately think of Steph Curry. The best point guard of this generation has been terrorizing the league since 2009, and he has not stopped.
At 6-foot-2, you would think most players wouldn’t be frightened to face him, especially since the average NBA height is about 6-foot-6. However, basketball players and fans alike know that Curry is scary to play against, and it is all because of two words: three-pointers.
Entering the 2024-25 season, Steph is 36 years old. Most players would slow down by this age, but that doesn’t apply to the former NBA MVP. Last season, he averaged 26.4 points per game, shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Now, with Klay Thompson being traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Curry’s workload will be put in Curry’s hands more than ever.
Nikola Jokic
By Steffen White
Nicknamed after a villain, the Joker is the scariest player to face in the NBA. At 6’11”, he towers over his opposition, and the few that he doesn’t, he puts the fear into their hearts with his play on the court. He’s averaged over 20 points and at least seven assists per game in his last 6 seasons. In 6 of his previous 7 seasons, he rebounded at a double-digit per game clip. In his illustrious 9 year career, he’s never missed more than 13 games in a season, so he is as durable as they come. And his awards only add more to his reputation. 3-time MVP, 6-time all-star, 5 NBA first team, and an NBA champion and finals MVP. All in all, Nikola Jokic doesn’t just score points; he sends shivers down spines—no tricks, just a treat for fans!
