HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

The NBA lockout is in its third week with little chance of a deal being reached this summer.  In fact, Commissioner David Stern and the head of the NBA Players Association, Billy Hunter, aren’t meeting until sometime in August.

With that in mind, what if there is no NBA season next year?  Some players have talked openly about signing contracts with team’s overseas; Deron Williams has already signed with a Turkish team and players from Kobe Bryant to Dwight Howard are considering the move as well.

Derrick Rose and LeBron James have said now isn’t a good time for either of them to head overseas.  So what if some NBA players wanted to stay stateside, but still wanted to a play a sport?  These are the best athletes in the world and many of their basketball skills would translate to other sports.

Here is a hypothetical look at which players could succeed in different sports.

Football

LeBron James: James is considered one of the best athletes in the world and is arguably the best player in the NBA.  What is often overlooked is James was a standout high school football player before giving it up to focus on basketball.

As a sophomore at St.Vincent-St. Mary’s in Ohio, James was named first-team all state as a wide receiver and as a junior helped his team reach the state semi-finals.  James has the size (6’8” and a listed 250 pounds), strength and leaping ability to be an all-pro wide receiver in the NFL.

James may be better suited as a linebacker or defensive end though.  With his size and speed the thought of him roaming a football field ready to pounce on a running back or quarterback has to be scary for those in the NFL.  James’ abilities could have made him a star in the NFL, but thankfully for the NBA and basketball world he chose hoops instead.

Nate Robinson: Like James, Robinson was a high school football star and in 2002 he was named AAA player of the year.  As a running back in his senior season he totaled 1,200 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and scored 21 touchdowns.

Unlike James, Robinson played college football for the University of Washington.  He is listed at 5’9” and 180 pounds and his quickness and leaping ability (43.5 inch vertical) helped Robinson make a career defining play.  During his freshmen year he intercepted a pass in the final minutes of the Apple Cup against then #3 ranked Washington State Cougars.  His interception led to Washington tying the game in regulation and eventually winning in triple overtime.

Robinson is the perfect size to be a running back or corner back in the NFL.  Recently, he stated he would like to have a tryout with an NFL team if the NBA lockout lingers.  Robinson in the NFL isn’t out of the question; he is the son of a college football player and he believes even if he doesn’t make the team, the publicity would be a boon for anyone willing to take a chance on him.

Soccer

Steve Nash:  Canadian Steve Nash grew up playing soccer and ice hockey; he didn’t even pick up basketball until he was 12 or 13.  In high school, Nash continued his soccer playing at a private boarding school.

Over the last three years Nash has hosted a charity soccer game during the NBA offseason.  Nash would be a perfect mid-fielder in soccer; his vision is unparalleled in the NBA and would translate well on the pitch.  Nash would be able to set players up as they sprint towards the goal and his ability to thread the needle on passes between defenders would give plenty of open shots to the striking forwards.

Since joining the Phoenix Suns in the 2004 offseason, Nash has averaged at least 9.7 assists in each of his seven seasons.  Is it so hard to believe he could average at least one assist on a soccer field?

Derrick Rose: Rose is arguably the fastest player in the NBA from basket to basket.  Where better for him to exploit his speed advantage than in soccer?  Rose would make an excellent forward racing down the sideline in an attempt to get behind his defender.

Rose is also 6’3”, which is considered tall by most soccer standards.  The last two FIFA World Player’s of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo (6’1”) and Lionel Messi (5’6.5”), were both shorter than Rose.  Rose also owns a vertical leap nearing 40 inches, which would give him an advantage on crosses towards the goal that involve players attempting to the head the ball in.

Kevin Durant:  Listed at 6’9” with a wingspan of 7’5”, there are few people in the world who would be able to protect a soccer goal better than Durant.  His athleticism and long arms would make it extremely difficult for even the best players in the world to sneak one past him.

Durant is quick off the line, as he demonstrates with his first step in basketball, and has a 33-inch vertical leap, meaning there wouldn’t be a single part of the goal that he couldn’t cover.  Lastly, his height would be a rarity in soccer, making him an intimidating presence during end of the game shootouts.

Baseball

Kevin Love:  Who throws the best outlet pass in the NBA?  Kevin Love.  Love may not be able to throw a baseball in the high nineties, although maybe he could, who knows, but his accuracy on a basketball court could translate to baseball.

If Love can hit a streaking guard from 60 feet away, it’s possible he could paint the corners of home plate with a variety of off-speed pitches and the occasional fastball.  It’s unlikely Love could be a so-called power pitcher blowing hitters away with his fastball, but he could be a control pitcher that limits his walks and forces batters to put the ball in play.

There have been hall of famers who rarely threw their fastball in the nineties, guys like Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine to name two.  Love also has a height advantage, which future hall of famer Randy Johnson used to perfection.  Love is listed at 6’10”, and with a 15 inch raised pitchers mound, he would create a very intimidating presence that would give him an advantage over most hitters.

Derek Fisher:  Fisher is one of the great NBA charge takers in league history.  Watch any Los Angeles Lakers game over the last four years and Fisher is bound to take at least one charge during the game.

The ability to always be in the right place at the right time would translate very well to Fisher being a catcher in the big leagues.  Any time a pitcher bounced a ball around home plate, Fisher would have the knack for knocking it down; nothing would get by him.

Fisher’s charge drawing skills would also allow him to block the plate when there is a play at home.  If Fisher can take a charge when LeBron James comes barreling towards the basket, he would certainly be able to block home plate against the average baseball player.

Hockey

J.J. Berea:  Whether Berea has ever ice skated before is not the issue, it’s his ability to get into the paint against NBA players that are often faster and taller than he that is impressive.  This ability would translate very well to ice hockey.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Berea’s quickness and craftiness would allow him to avoid hits from defenders while keeping control of the hockey puck.  Berea has a knack for finishing in traffic in the NBA, which seems like how most goals are scored in hockey, so getting hit while shooting wouldn’t be a problem for him.

Marathon Runner

Monta Ellis:  Ellis has led the NBA in minutes per game the last two seasons.  That screams marathon runner.  Anyone who can average more than forty minutes a night, playing in an up-tempo offense like the Golden State Warriors, would make an excellent distance runner.

If Ellis was able to pace himself over 26.2 miles instead of going on an all out sprint like he does for his NBA games, he could be a world class runner.  During games, Ellis is tasked with ball handling duties, defending the other team’s shooting guard and being the Warriors leading scorer.

If he were a marathon runner he’d only have to worry about running.  Having so few other responsibilities would free up Ellis to do what he does as well as anyone in the NBA, run.

Track and Field

Brandon Jennings, Ty Lawson, Russell Westbrook, John Wall:  This foursome would make one of the fastest 4X100 or 4X200 meter relay teams in the world.  Jennings, Lawson, Westbrook and Wall are four of the fastest players in the NBA and with some training could be one of the fastest relay teams in the world.

They each routinely beat the opposition up court while dribbling a basketball; imagine if all they had to worry about was a baton.  There are a lot of fast players in the NBA, but these four are on a different level from just about everyone else.

Dwight Howard: Howard is a physical specimen unlike anyone else in the NBA.  He takes pride in his body and work’s out accordingly.  He’s tall, muscular and doesn’t have any fat on his body; Howard’s physique is statuesque.  Even though he may not have any experience with javelin throwing, he looks like what a world-class javelin thrower should look like.

Shaquille O’Neal:  O’Neal may have retired recently and taken a job with TNT Sports, but he’s still one of the strongest and most athletic players out there.  So what sport would arguably the strongest player to ever play in the NBA excel in?  Shot put.

Shot put has often been considered a true test of strength and who better to prove how strong NBA players can be, than Shaq?

Horse Jockey

Earl Boykins:  Boykins is the shortest player in the NBA listed at only 5’5”, well within the average height requirements of jockey, which generally range from 4’10” to 5’6”.  His weight however could be an issue.  133 pounds is too heavy to be a jockey in the Kentucky Derby; they cap a jockey’s weight at 126 pounds.

If Boykins could lose the weight without losing his strength, he could have an advantage over other jockeys.  His power could help him maneuver his horse in ways other jockeys may not be able to, giving him the slightest edge, which is often the difference between winning and placing.

Unfortunately, NBA players may have a lot of time this offseason to consider other careers.  This list is certainly not absolute, so please leave a comment below about whom you believe could be a star in another sport.
Have questions for Mark Nugent? Be sure and drop by HOOPSWORLD on Wednesdays at 5PM Eastern for his weekly basketball chat.