The NBA has the smallest playing surface among the major team sports, but speed is still critical for the fastest players in the NBA.
The pace of the game has increased over the years, so more emphasis has been placed on quick acceleration and speed on the court.
To measure player speed, we are using times from the three quarter sprint (about 75-feet) at the NBA Combine, which has been an annual event since 1987.
For example, the fastest player in NBA history is Devin Carter. He ran a 2.87 three quarter sprint at the 2024 NBA Combine.
Not only is Devin Carter the fastest player in NBA history, he is also the fastest player in the NBA today…
We’ll take a look at the top 10 fastest players in NBA history, according to three quarter sprint times at the NBA Combine, as well as the top 10 fastest players that are in the league currently according to that same metric.
Devin Carter is the fastest player in NBA history. He ran the three quarter sprint at the 2024 NBA Combine in 2.87 seconds.
Carter is a guard for the Sacramento Kings after being selected in the first round by them. In college, he played for South Carolina for one season and Providence for two seasons before declaring for the NBA Draft.
2. Reece Beekman | 2.94 seconds | 2024-Present
Reece Beekman of the Brooklyn Nets ran a 2.94-second three quarter sprint, which makes him the second fastest player in NBA history.
Beekman made his NBA debut in 2024 after going undrafted following his college basketball career at Virginia. He originally signed with the Golden State Warriors, but he was traded to the Nets in December 2024.
3. Jamal Shead | 2.94 seconds | 2024-Present
Jamal Shead also ran a 2.94-second three quarter sprint, which makes him one of the fastest players in NBA history.
Shead currently plays for the Toronto Raptors. He was drafted by the Kings, but he was traded to the Raptors on draft night. In college with the Houston Cougars, Shead won the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.
4. Nate Robinson | 2.96 seconds | 2005-2015
The legendary Nate Robinson is one of the fastest players in NBA history because of his 2.96-second three quarter sprint time.
He was most well known for his three NBA Slam Dunk Contest titles as he was the only player to win it three times. Robinson has faced health struggles recently, but he received a life-saving kidney transplant in early 2025.
5. Sonny Weems | 2.96 seconds | 2008-2011
With his three quarter sprint time of 2.96 seconds, Sonny Weems is right in the mix for being the fastest player in NBA history.
A former second round pick, Weems played for the Denver Nuggets, Raptors, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. He had success playing overseas following his NBA career.
6. Scottie Lewis | 2.98 seconds | 2021-2022
While he hasn’t had a long NBA career, Scottie Lewis is one of the fastest players in NBA history. He recorded a 2.98-second three quarter sprint time at the 2021 NBA Combine.
He was a late second round pick by the Charlotte Hornets. Lewis has bounced around the G League and he hasn’t played in an NBA game since his rookie season.
7. AJ Lawson | 2.98 seconds | 2021-Present
AJ Lawson went undrafted in 2021, despite his blistering 2.98-second three quarter sprint, which makes him one of the fastest players in NBA history.
Lawson has spent time with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks and now the Raptors. Lawson is starting to hit his stride in the NBA. He scored a career high 32 points on March 10, 2025.
8. Daishen Nix | 3.00 seconds | 2021-Present
Another undrafted player, Daishen Nix, is one of the fastest players in NBA history with his three second three quarter sprint time.
Nix played for the Houston Rockets for two seasons. Then, he signed with the Timberwolves. Most recently, he signed a short-term contract with the Kings, but he became a free agent shortly after.
9. Will Bynum | 3.00 seconds | 2005-2014
While Will Bynum was a role player, he was one of the fastest players in NBA history. He recorded a three second three quarter sprint time.
Bynum mainly served as a backup point guard for the Warriors, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards in his career. He also played overseas in Israel in between his stints with the Warriors and Pistons.
10. Keon Johnson | 3.00 seconds | 2021-Present
Keon Johnson rounds out our list of fastest players in NBA history. He ran a three second three quarter sprint at the 2021 NBA Combine.
Johnson, a former first round draft pick by the New York Knicks, has bounced around the league as he’s played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Suns and Nets in his short career.
The Fastest players in the NBA today
Rank
Player
Three Quarter Sprint time
Years in league
1
Devin Carter
2.87 seconds
2024-Present
2
Reece Beekman
2.94 seconds
2024-Present
3
Jamal Shead
2.94 seconds
2024-Present
4
AJ Lawson
2.98 seconds
2021-Present
5
Daishen Nix
3.00 seconds
2021-Present
6
Keon Johnson
3.00 seconds
2021-Present
7
Josh Okogie
3.04 seconds
2018-Present
8
Isaiah Collier
3.04 seconds
2024-Present
9
Ja’Kobe Walter
3.04 seconds
2024-Present
10
Jericho Sims
3.05 seconds
2021-Present
1. Devin Carter | 2.87 seconds | 2024-Present
Not only is Devin Carter the fastest player in NBA history, he is also the fastest player in the NBA today.
Carter currently plays for the Kings after being a former first round pick by them. He played in 36 games in his rookie season for the Kings while averaging 11 minutes per game.
2. Reece Beekman | 2.94 seconds | 2024-Present
Reece Beekman is the second fastest player in NBA history and second fastest player in the NBA today.
He made his NBA debut in 2024 and played in 36 games in the 2024-25 season. Beekman averaged 2.6 points per game in 13 minutes per game for the Nets and Warriors in his rookie campaign.
3. Jamal Shead | 2.94 seconds | 2024-Present
Raptors guard Jamal Shead is one of the fastest players in the NBA today because of his 2.94-second three quarter sprint time.
As a rookie in the 2024-25 season, Shead played 75 games and averaged 7.1 points per game for the Raptors. However, he was known for his tenacious defense during his college career.
AJ Lawson is one of the fastest players in the NBA today, in addition to being in the top 10 fastest players in NBA history as well.
Despite going undrafted, Lawson has been relatively successful in the NBA. He’s played for three different teams and he even recorded a career-best 9.1 points per game in the 2024-25 season for the Raptors.
5. Daishen Nix | 3.00 seconds | 2021-Present
Rounding out the top five of fastest players in the NBA today is Daishen Nix, who went undrafted in 2021.
Nix has played for the Rockets and Timberwolves in his career. He played in just three NBA games in the 2024-25 NBA season. Nix is currently a free agent.
6. Keon Johnson | 3.00 seconds | 2021-Present
Keon Johnson is just inside the top 10 of fastest players in NBA history, which also makes him one of the fastest players in the NBA today.
Johnson has been a journeyman in his short NBA career so far. His best season was in 2024-25 when he averaged 10.6 points per game for the Nets.
7. Josh Okogie | 3.04 seconds | 2018-Present
Josh Okogie has had one of the more successful careers among the fastest players in the NBA today. His 3.04-second three quarter sprint was a big reason why he was drafted in the first round by the Timberwolves.
Okogie has also spent time with the Suns and now the Hornets. He has played over 400 games in his NBA career.
Up next on the list of fastest players in the NBA today is Isaiah Collier of the Utah Jazz. He ran a 3.04-second three quarter sprint at the 2024 NBA Combine.
Collier started 46 games in his rookie season for the Jazz. He averaged 8.7 points per game.
9. Ja’Kobe Walter | 3.04 seconds | 2024-Present
A first round pick by the Raptors, Ja’Kobe Walker is one of the fastest players in the NBA today as he ran a 3.04-second three quarter sprint.
In 52 games played as a rookie, Walker averaged 8.6 points per game for the Raptors. He played his college basketball with the Baylor Bears.
10. Jericho Sims | 3.05 seconds | 2021-Present
Rounding out the fastest players in the NBA today is Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims. While he is 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, Sims has impressive speed despite his size.
Sims began his NBA career with the Knicks as a second round draft pick. He was later traded to the Bucks.
The fastest player in the NBA right now is Devin Carter. Not only is he the fastest player in the NBA today, but he is also the fastest player in NBA history with his 2.87-second three quarter sprint time recorded at the 2024 NBA Combine. Carter was a first round draft pick by the Sacramento Kings.
What is the average speed of NBA players?
The average time for the three quarter sprint at the NBA Combine is about 3.27 seconds, based on data from 2010-2020. The fastest player to run the three quarter sprint at the NBA Combine was Devin Carter. He ran it in 2.87 seconds at the 2024 NBA Combine.
How fast is Nate Robinson?
Nate Robinson ran a 2.96-second three quarter sprint, which makes him one of the fastest players in NBA history. However, he was more well known for his three NBA Slam Dunk Contest titles as he was the only player to win it three times. Robinson has faced health struggles recently, but he received a life-saving kidney transplant in early 2025.
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Devin Carter
Reece Beekman
Jamal Shead
Nate Robinson
Scottie Lewis
Daishen Nix
Will Bynum
Isaiah Collier
