Comparing Every NBA Star to a Simpsons Character

Currently in their 23rd season, The Simpsons is the longest running American sitcom in the history of television, surpassing Gunsmoke in 2009.

No show can compare in longevity and popularity over the course of that time, much like the popularity some of today's NBA athletes whose jersey sales and endorsements are at an all time high.

Since the show loves to bring on athletes, politicians and other famous folks, several members of the NBA have been featured in episodes, including LeBron James, Yao Ming and Kobe Bryant.

In the spirit of comparison and pop culture, some of today's NBA stars resemble the characters we've come to know and love from the popular cartoon created by Matt Groening. Here are 10 NBA stars and the character each most resembles from The Simpsons.

Nelson Muntz: LeBron James

From time to time, Nelson Muntz is on one side of the spectrum. He's a bully, he takes lunch money and he makes life terrible for other elementary schoolers on the show.

But in other situations, he's a hero, coming to the aid of both Lisa and Bart at certain times and making the playground a better place for everyone.

Is there a description that fits LeBron James any better? One day he's the villain of the league, others he's the MVP.

After "The Decision," he took a lot of flak for selfishness and his true intentions. Now, thanks to Dwight Howard, he's lost some of that public hate and moved back into the role as one of the pioneers of the best basketball league on Earth. Although there's still that pesky 4th quarter issue.

Bart Simpson: Dwight Howard

Bart Simpson is the lovable prankster of the show. His antics are followed far and wide, and he never hesitates to rub people the wrong way for a good laugh or something he sees as worthy of his time and criminal mind.

Dwight Howard loves to have fun. He usually plays the game with a smile, leading fans and reporters alike to wonder what he's really so happy about.

Fluctuating between returning to the Orlando Magic and hitting the free agent market has captivated national audiences for the majority of the season. He also boasts the mischievous attitude that Bart employs. 

I, for one, would love to see what kind of antics these two could muster up in an afternoon or two.

Marge Simpson: Derrick Rose

Marge is the lovable mother of the family and a great contributor. When she is needed by one of her children for a problem or her husband to pick up the pieces, she's always there. Without her, the show would still go on, but it just isn't quite the same when Marge is away. 

Chicago has felt that with Derrick Rose this season. He's missed a number of games with a myriad of injuries, yet Chicago still has a firm grasp on the East's No. 1 seed without their MVP.

However, they just aren't quite the same when he isn't in the lineup. Can you imagine if Marge hadn't been there during one of Lisa and Bart's school needs? Or when Homer was on the end of another one of his classic nosedives down a mountain or a concrete hill?

Chicago needs Rose like The Simpsons need Marge; both are the anchors for their team and family. 

Sideshow Bob: Kobe Bryant

Sideshow Bob just keeps appearing in The Simpsons world, after numerous attempts to rid Springfield of his quest for revenge. He's the character that keeps coming back for more, even though his attempts are often foiled.

Who comes more, night in and night out, than Kobe Bryant? Like Sideshow Bob, he changed his appearance, from the number eight to 24, but his intentions are still clear: He wants as many rings as his fingers will hold. 

Bob wants Bart dead. Kobe wants to be on top the basketball world. There probably aren't two more consistent statements in the realm of the show or the NBA, and nobody quite has the killer instinct that Sideshow Bob personifies more than Kobe Bryant. 

Maggie Simpson: Kevin Durant

By NBA standards, KD is still pretty young, only in his fifth season of professional action. Like Maggie from the show, he's also somewhat overlooked, even though his talents might be just as solid as anyone else in the show, or in his case, the league.

While she doesn't say much, Maggie often shows that she might only trail Lisa intellectually. The same can be said for Durant. He doesn't often go out of his way to get in your face or do a flashy interview, but his skills are second to only a few in the league.

KD's coming out party is right around the corner. LeBron, Kobe and anyone else in the limelight won't be able to hold him down for much longer. Hopefully this time next year, after an MVP and maybe a championship, this comparison won't be valid.

Groundskeeper Willie: Kevin Love

Love is a beast, you don't want to mess with him in the paint. Until that concussion issue that has sidelined him since last week, he hadn't shown any signs of weakness in his NBA career. 

In the same way, Groundskeeper Willie is also a monster. Underneath his outer madness is a chizzled, muscular body. While he has his moments of toughness with students in the stead of Principal Skinner, he also has a soft side.

I think of Kevin Love as the same type of guy. He's got the big wooly beard and you don't want to make trouble for him on the clock. But off the court he probably wouldn't hurt a fly.

Professor Frink: Dirk Nowitzki

From the photo to the idea, nothing could describe Dirk Nowitzki as a Simpson's character more than Professor Frink. Often an unorthodox man with potions and concoctions that are anything but simple, he still has good ideas, although most of his don't go to great use.

However, Dirk's unorthodox and extreme methods for putting the ball in the basket can't be considered anything other than brilliance. His shots don't always go in, of course, but the ones he does put in at a high degree of difficulty are simply incredible.

Dirk might be on the backside of his career, but he still has some crazy shots left. This one to win the game against Orlando was nothing short of mad.

Lisa Simpson: Dwayne Wade

I might be alone here, but sometimes Dwayne Wade just doesn't seem to fit with the Miami Heat. When he was running things by himself it was different. But now that LeBron James, Chris Bosh and a multitude of other island castoffs are in town, it doesn't seem like he's part of the crew. 

An 11-1 record without Wade in the lineup for the Heat would suggest that he doesn't even really belong on a team with James and Bosh, and that they're better off without him.

Of course, the Heat might be the best team in basketball when all three are clicking, but that hasn't happened in moments of importance quite yet.  

Lisa is often better off when the rest of her family isn't with her, as well. She thrives in situations of integrity and intellectual superiority, much like Wade does when he is called upon to take the last shot or carry the team. 

Ironically, James and Bosh came to play with Wade, but it seems like they're more suited for the city than the longest tenured Heat player himself. Like Lisa Simpson, Wade will continue to overcome, whether it's with his current family in Miami or for a new team someday. 

Montgomery Burns: Carmelo Anthony

Montgomery Burns usually gets what he wants. Remarkably, over the course of his career, the same can be said for Carmelo Anthony. Call it luck or being it the right situation, but Melo isn't usually on what he considers the wrong end of a situation. 

He cowboy'd his way out of Denver to New York. When Jeremy Lin was lighting up MSG all by himself, the big question became whether or not the two could co-exist.

He's now back to his normal self, carving up defenses single-handedly by taking contested, wide open and crazy shots that go in at a high clip.

Even more surprisingly, he's doing it playing power forward most of the time, putting conventional wisdom aside in the wake of Amar'e Stoudemire's injury. 

Burns often puts wisdom aside when he needs to get something done. I get the same sort of feeling from Anthony. When he makes up his mind to shoot the ball, there is almost something sinister to his approach. Teammates and others be darned, these two guys know how to take charge. 

Homer Simpson: Russell Westbrook

Homer is the lovable and most recognizable character from the show. His signature catch phrase, D'Oh!, has even become part of the American lexicon. 

No matter the scheme or the antic, Homer seems to come out on top. You can't argue with results.

The same should be said for Westbrook, who endures critics far and wide that bash his inability to understand he has Kevin Durant on the team, and his penchant for turning the ball over far too often. 

Some people hate Homer. Some people hate Westbrook. But Homer brings home the bacon and takes care of his family, and Westbrook has co-captained his Oklahoma City Thunder team to the best record in the West. 

Love him or hate him, the results speak for themselves. Not even Homer could muddy that up. Or could he?   

Follow me on Twitter @DowntownEG, for some NBA love, some song lyrics, and some randomness. 

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