It's pretty clear to even unskilled watchers that, for instance, Lebron James and Shaquille O'Neil are/were talented in a way that no players before or since we

It's pretty clear to even unskilled watchers that, for instance, Lebron James and Shaquille O'Neil are/were talented in a way that no players before or since were. Both players can move with the speed and agility of payers that weigh 50 lbs less. And if it's true that innate talent is the major differentiator at literally the pinnacle of the sport, why would one assume that it somehow ceases to be the case at the levels just below that? Especially when every single professional player has access to the same resources and hours in the day for the practice and training aspect of sports performance? And, FWIW, Shaq was notorious for his poor work ethic. He never practiced basic skills (free throw shooting) and always started a new season overweight and out of shape. Then there's the fastest person who ever lived, Usain Bolt, who trains less than a motivated amateur cross fitter.