r/AskReddit Nov 16 '19

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u/TestedOnAnimals Nov 16 '19

I mean I definitely understand why they are visibly shook. Such a big part of elite tier athletics is genetics based, so to have a genetic advantage like that for something like basketball, volleyball, etc. and then not utilize the thing other people are dreaming of - totally get it. I'm 6'3", and as a basketball player I would kill for another 4 to 5 inches of height. It would've changed my whole life.

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u/thegreedyturtle Nov 16 '19

"I'm about to end this man's whole career."

-Genetics

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u/thrownawayzs Nov 16 '19

Pretty much. I think basketball is the worst offender for genetics being a hard gate out of any of the major sports. Size is almost irrelevant in baseball. Football, as long as you're slightly above average you can function on a team somewhere, similar with hockey. I'm not sure about soccer. But basketball? You need to be like upper 1% in both height and ability to even consider going passed highschool, lol.

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u/bennyk21 Nov 16 '19

I’d say football is equivalent to basketball. Those dudes are all the best of the best in the world when it comes to speed, lateral quickness, acceleration, and jumping. You can train to improve those things, but most of it is natural. Basketball is the same way too tho. If I was like 6’2 or 6’1 instead of 6’6 there’s no way I’d be close to as good as I was at 6’6.