Comparing Each NBA's Team's Top Star to an NFL Player

Each and every NBA team has a star player, although some teams happen to have multiple stars.

Furthermore, that star player has a counterpart in the NFL, one who makes comparing the two players fairly easy. 

We get to learn much more about the personalities of basketball players than those of football players because of, if nothing else, the uniforms. Basketball players don't have the luxury of wearing a helmet to mask their emotions from the audience; everything is out in the open. 

But whether by playing style, contract status, consistency or something else entirely, each NBA player can definitely be compared to someone from the NFL. 

Read on to discover not only who each NBA team's top star is, but also his NFL comparison. 

Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson

NFL Comparison: Matt Cassel

After his breakout season in New England, Matt Cassel received a ridiculously huge contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. If you ask Chiefs fans, they will probably tell you they would go back and change that. 

Joe Johnson parlayed his terrific play into a max contract, thereby crippling the Atlanta Hawks franchise. I like to say that the Hawks are doomed to be stuck in the upper level of the not-quite-contenders as long as Johnson is on the team. 

Because both players are ridiculously overpaid, they're compared to each other here. 

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo

NFL Comparison: Aaron Rodgers

If you asked me to pick one player to distribute the ball to a bunch of guys during a pickup basketball game, I'd choose Rajon Rondo without even hesitating.

His court vision and passing skills are simply unmatched in the NBA (even if Ricky Rubio may soon be challenging him for that title). 

Similarly, no player in the NFL can find open receivers quite like Aaron Rodgers. 

Unlike Rodgers, Rondo isn't the best player in his respective league, but the comparison still works. 

Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker

NFL Comparison: Patrick Peterson

Kemba Walker puts up some terrific highlights on the basketball court. His crossover is absolutely tremendous and constantly leaves defenders clutching at their ankles as he blazes past them to the basket. 

Another rookie on a losing team is Patrick Peterson, the cornerback and stud returner from LSU currently on the Arizona Cardinals.

Just like Walker, he has some plays that will leave you speechless, but he isn't enough to win games by himself. 

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose

NFL Comparison: Maurice Jones-Drew

Even though opponents know that Derrick Rose is the biggest threat on the Chicago Bulls, they still can't stop him.

The reigning MVP can beat the opposition in a variety of ways: knocking down jump shots, driving recklessly to the basket or finding an open teammate for an easy bucket.

Plus, he plays through injuries without a second thought. 

Maurice Jones-Drew overcame knee problems to remain near the top of the running back rankings, but it wasn't the biggest problem he had to overcome.

Opponents could almost put 11 men in the box to stop MJD because he was the only viable threat on the Jacksonville Jaguars' offense. 

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving

NFL Comparison: Cam Newton

Kyrie Irving, the best rookie in the NBA, gets compared to the best rookie in the NFL. 

This one was a little too easy. 

Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki

NFL Comparison: Reggie Wayne

I struggled for a long time to come up with a viable comparison for Dirk Nowitzki, as the Dallas Mavericks power forward is one of the most unique players in NBA history. 

In the end, I settled for comparing the consistency of his game to one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL today: Reggie Wayne.

Up through this season, Wayne had seven straight seasons of 1,000 or more receiving yards. 

Denver Nuggets: Ty Lawson

NFL Comparison: Mike Wallace

Ty Lawson is incredibly fast. His wheels would put him near the head of the competition if there was a race between all NBA players.

But despite his tendency to leave defenders in the dust, he flies a little bit beneath the radar. 

For that reason, I've got Lawson compared to Mike Wallace, the speedy receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wallace may be able to challenge guys like Devin Hester and Chris Johnson for the title of "NFL's Fastest Man," but the average fan wouldn't think that right away. 

Detroit Pistons: Greg Monroe

NFL Comparison: Cedric Benson

Both Greg Monroe and Cedric Benson are elite players at their position, Monroe at center for the Detroit Pistons and Benson at running back for the Cincinnati Bengals. 

But as good as they are at the glamorous parts of their jobs, both excel in more unrecognized areas.

The former Georgetown Hoya is one of the best passing centers in the NBA, racking up quite a few assists for his position, while Benson is one of the best blocking running backs in the NFL. 

Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis

NFL Comparison: Eli Manning

When they're on their games, Eli Manning and Monta Ellis are two of the best offensive players in their respective sports. 

The problem is, they're not always as good as they could be. 

Manning gets overshadowed at times by his older brother Peyton Manning, and Ellis has the same thing happen because he plays on the Golden State Warriors. 

Houston Rockets: Kevin Martin

NFL Comparison: Larry Fitzgerald

When it comes to pure scorers, good luck finding many better ones than Kevin Martin, a player who often finds himself out of the spotlight. 

The same could be said about Larry Fitzgerald, who despite his nearly unmatched ability at wide receiver rarely finds himself in the news. 

Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger

NFL Comparison: Navorro Bowman

Danny Granger is one of the most unknown superstars in the NBA. If all of the best players in the league walked down the street, Granger is the one that no one would recognize. 

The same can be said about Navorro Bowman, one of this year's biggest Pro Bowl snubs.

Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin

NFL Comparison: Drew Brees

No player in the NBA is more fun to watch than Blake Griffin.

The high-flying big man for the Los Angeles Clippers produces at least one Top 10 play in each and every game he plays in thanks to his penchant for gravity-defying, rim-rattling slam dunks. 

Drew Brees is Griffin's counterpart because he's the most entertaining player to watch in the NFL. He may not be quite as good as Aaron Rodgers, but he goes for the big plays and always puts up huge numbers.

If I could only watch one quarterback play, it would have to be Brees. 

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant

NFL Comparison: Tom Brady

At one point, Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady were the best players in the NBA and NFL, respectively. While that is no longer true, they're both very near to the top. 

Bryant and Brady have won quite a few championships during their primes and might not be done yet.

Their confidence in their own games is staggering and well-deserved. 

Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay

NFL Comparison: Matthew Stafford

Of all the comparisons made in this slide show, this may be the one that fits best. 

Both Rudy Gay and Matthew Stafford are almost always injured. They're good players on good, but not great teams. 

Both got a ton of hype coming into college but underperformed at the beginning of their careers. 

They're recovering from recent injuries and playing at a level just below elite. Both have become better professionals than they were at the collegiate level. 

Now if only Gay wore his hat backwards. 

Miami Heat: LeBron James

NFL Comparison: Tim Tebow

If you've read a single sports article in the past year, you probably get how this one makes sense. 

No players in all of sports seem to spark quite as much debate as LeBron James and Tim Tebow.

Plus, it's fun to compare a player know for his fourth-quarter comebacks to a guy who most see as collapsing at the end of games. 

Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings

NFL Comparison: Mark Sanchez

I can sum this one up in one phrase: All sizzle and no steak.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love

NFL Comparison: Jason Pierre-Paul

If I said that Kevin Love was the best power forward in the NBA, you might scratch your head and question my sanity. But if you really broke down the stats and watched him play, you'd end up agreeing with me. 

The same scenario would unfold if I said that Jason Pierre-Paul was the best defensive end in the NFL. 

New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams

NFL Comparison: Adrian Peterson

Both Deron Williams and Adrian Peterson know exactly what it's like to be the best player on a team floundering away near the bottom of the standings. 

Fortunately for the point guard of the New Jersey Nets, he hasn't had to deal with that for his whole career like Peterson has. 

New Orleans Hornets: Eric Gordon

NFL Comparison: Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree, an up-and-coming receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, and Eric Gordon, an up-and-coming shooting guard for the New Orleans Hornets, are both future stars at their positions even if they're not quite there yet. 

But both players are also hampered by injuries quite often when they should be on the court/field.

Gordon always seems to be injured and is currently sitting out with a knee injury. Crabtree, on the other hand, has suffered through quite a few foot injuries. 

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony

NFL Comparison: LeSean McCoy

LeSean McCoy and Carmelo Anthony are both tremendous offensive players in their sports—guys who are completely capable of taking over a game on any given night and single-handedly putting up enough points to get a victory. 

Both Melo and McCoy also play in major media markets, where each and every action is heavily scrutinized. Philadelphia fans are notoriously fickle, and New York is, well, New York. 

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant

NFL Comparison: Calvin Johnson

Kevin Durant was simply born to put the basketball in the hoop in ways that no one else can even imagine. 

Calvin Johnson was simply born to catch footballs in a way that no one else can even imagine. 

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard

NFL Comparison: Rob Gronkowski

Here's what I wrote about Dwight Howard in an article concerning the five most deceptively athletic players in the NBA: 

"

Dwight Howard isn't fair. He just isn't. 

If you look at him, you see the prototype for a powerful NBA center. He's humongous and those shoulders tell you all that you need to know. So why does he find himself on a deceptively athletic NBA players list?

Well, Howard looks like a powerful player, but athletically, he's so much more than that. D-12 is fast, and he can jump incredibly high for a man his size. 

He's the closest thing to Superman since, well, Shaquille O'Neal.

"

When you think about it, Rob Gronkowski isn't really fair either. 

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala

NFL Comparison: Julian Edelman

When I think of Andre Iguodala, the first word that comes to mind is versatility. One of the premier swingmen in the NBA today, Iggy can capably play either shooting guard or small forward, and he's a great all-around player. 

Similarly, Julian Edelman can do anything on the football field. He plays wide receiver for the New England Patriots. He returns punts. He even plays defense when asked to and makes tremendous form tackles. 

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash

NFL Comparison: Tony Gonzalez

Steve Nash and Tony Gonzalez may both be incredibly old (not in the real world, but in the sports world), but they're both playing at high levels.

Nash is 37 years old and still averaging double-digits in the assists column, while the 35-year-old Gonzalez just completed a season in which he caught 80 balls for 875 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge

NFL Comparison: Antonio Gates

I'm going to be honest here and admit that I have trouble thinking of LaMarcus Aldridge as anything other than LaMarcus Aldridge. He's just kind of...LaMarcus Aldridgey. 

But the Portland Trail Blazers big man is a big, physical freak and so too is Antonio Gates. In the same vein, no one really thinks of Antonio Gates as anything but...Antonio Gatesy. 

Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins

NFL Comparison: Albert Haynesworth

If this one needs any explanation, you should probably start following these two sports a little more closely. 

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan

NFL Comparison: Peyton Manning

Tim Duncan and Peyton Manning are both the elder statesmen of their respective leagues. 

Both have won championships, been the best players at their positions in the past, aged yet hung around in the league at an elite level and stayed class acts while doing so. 

Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani

NFL Comparison: Joe Flacco

Both Andrea Bargnani and Joe Flacco are good at what they do, but you'd never mistake either for a superstar. 

Bargnani scores, and that's literally about it. Flacco is nothing more than a glorified game manager. 

Utah Jazz: Al Jefferson

NFL Comparison: Steven Jackson

Playing for the 2-14 St. Louis Rams (who have never been good while he's been in the backfield), Steven Jackson rushed for 1,145 yards and five touchdowns during the 2011 NFL season.

It was actually a bit of a down year for him. 

Al Jefferson is in a similar situation because he puts up big numbers, though not quite near the league leaders, on bad teams. This year, the big man is averaging 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the 8-4 Utah Jazz.

Although the record is gaudy, they aren't really title contenders. 

Washington Wizards: John Wall

NFL Comparison: Alex Smith

John Wall, much like Alex Smith back in the day, was incredibly hyped coming out of college. But so far, the Washington Wizards point guard has not done much to justify being selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, just like Smith. 

Wall was by no means great during his rookie season, and he's been simply terrible as a second-year player. His play inspired me to tweet the following last Saturday: "It's always sad to realize that a player you thought would be a stud just isn't any good. I'm looking at you John Wall."

There's still plenty of time for him to rebound though, just like Smith has done this season.