NBA Power Rankings: The Top 25 NBA Players and Their Pro Athlete Counterparts
It is a difficult task when comparing athletes' skill sets to ones that participate in different sports. One must look at overall attitude, desire to win, among other things, when attempting to find some similarities between players.
When it comes to looking at players from a one-league standpoint, things are much easier. It is not as hard to identify game styles, as well as compare one athlete's reputation to another player's.
When comparing one player in one sport to another player in a completely separate one, one must do a lot of research if one hopes to convince the audience that there are at definitely similarities involved.
This is a list of the Top 25 NBA Players in the NBA, as well as the 25 athletes that share the most in common with them.
Apologies to all NHL fans. I don’t really watch that much hockey, so there are no NHL players mentioned here.
No. 25 Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks) = Carl Crawford (MLB—Tampa Bay Rays)
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Sure, he’s not as speedy as Crawford is, but from a defensive specialist perspective, Smith and Crawford compare pretty well.
Smith has a tendency to reject shots from ridiculous angles, while Crawford eats up a lot of turf while going after some mind-boggling catches.
More importantly, both are valued members of their respected teams (will Crawford go to the Yankees this off season? This Red Sox fan hopes not), and their defensive tenacity is definitely coveted.
No. 24 Yao Ming (Houston Rockets) = Randy Johnson (Retired MLB Pitcher)
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Long, lanky and sometimes injury prone—this is the best comparison I could come up with.
Although Yao has never won a championship and Johnson has; both players are undoubtedly very similar in how each is/was a towering presence that was always feared.
Here’s hoping Yao returns to All-Star form and plays lights out after sitting all next year. As far as Johnson, well, he won 300 games and a World Series, so retiring this past year was probably the right call.
No. 23 Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers) = Larry Fitzgerald (NFL—Ar. Cards)
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Both players could really become the best at their position if they had the right team and coach around them if you think about it. Iggy is an all-around player who can do anything you ask of him (well, maybe except shoot from three-ball range), while Fitzgerald is as explosive a WR as you will find in the league.
The thing is, both players have been inconsistent. Just when you think one of them will go off and be a consistent nominee in “Top Players” discussion, something happens. Whether it is losing your Hall of Fame quarterback or your team struggling to find an identity and coach, both of these guys remain very well-respected athletes, but ones who could still take a couple step forward into irrefutable greatness.
No. 22 Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns) = Landon Donovan (MLS—Los Angeles Galaxy)
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Each of these guys is short in stature and not afraid to lash out at their teammates at times (Nash most recently, and Donovan had his thing with Beckham a few years ago), but undeniably the most crucial part to their teams.
The United States came to love Donovan after his historic, incredibly emotional goal vs. Algeria to send Team USA forward this past summer.
Nash has always gotten the love he deserves, whether it be from the ladies because of his long hair, or basketball fans who appreciate his ball-handling skills and off-court charity work.
Both athletes share very similar characteristics in how they handle themselves in their respective sports, as well as how much America appreciates them.
No. 21 Gerald Wallace (Charlotte Bobcats) = Robinson Cano (MLB—New York Yankees)
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While not necessarily the MVP candidate that Cano was this past year, Wallace is another one of those all-around players. When you think Yankees, you think A-Rod and Jeter. Cano’s name probably comes next.
He does not necessarily avoid the limelight, but he does not do things to try to get in it either.
Like Cano, Wallace is a defensive guru who is solid in every statistical category and whose personality is hard not to love. You have got to think if Wallace was in a bigger market that he would get more MVP talk as well.
No. 20 Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks) = Arian Foster (NFL—Houston Texans)
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No, Johnson is not as young as Foster is and does not have the massive upside that the new found Texas star possesses, but both are still explosive players.
Both are on teams that you just have no idea what to expect out of. One minute you think the Hawks might be a possible contender out East, than they are getting swept at the hands of the Orlando Magic.
The same thing applies to the Texans, who have shown they can beat the Colts, but fail to distance themselves from the rest of the pack like the Pittsburgh Steelers did to start out.
I think both teams are a step away from being major contenders, and I think it will take these respected players to help them take that giant step.
No. 19 Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) = Stephen Strasburg (MLB—Wash. Nationals)
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Both are former No. 1 overall draft picks, and both came into the league with extremely high expectations. Neither has disappointed so far. Rose is already one of the best point guards in the league, thanks to his blinding quickness coupled with his clever penetrating moves inside.
Strasburg came into the MLB with a bang, striking out 14 batters and giving a disappointed fanbase some hope for the future.
The Bulls have done an excellent job building their team around Rose so far, and one has to think the Nationals will follow a similar path.
No. 18 Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors) = Peyton Hillis (NFL—Cleveland Browns)
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Both of these guys have done an outstanding job emerging from obscurity and becoming forces to be reckoned with.
While Ellis is a little more stringy and inconsistent compared to the rock-solid Hillis, both players are still learning how to become star athletes.
Monta has got the scoring part down, now he just needs to work on his handles, while Hillis needs to continue to put out solid games in order to be called one of the league’s best.
The best news of all is that they’re both still young and have plenty of room for growth.
No. 17 Amar'e Stoudemire (New York Knicks) = Mark Teixeira (MLB—New York Yankees)
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Stoudemire and Teixeira both had similar mindsets when it came to free agency: “show me the money."
Both players are definitely stars in the league already.
Amar'e’s case is the most intriguing; he won’t be catching Steve Nash’s passes anymore, so will he go down like Kenyon Martin did once he departed New Jersey and J-Kidd?
Both of these guys are fiery players and each has the ability to put up monster games when called upon. Just like Tex is able to muscle out monster home runs, Amar'e is becoming one of the most impossible players to guard thanks to his consistent mid-range J and slashing ability to the rim.
No. 16 Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics) = Adrian Peterson (NFL—Minnesota Vikings)
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A little bit of a stretch, I’ll admit that, but both players have unquestionably benefited from having a Hall of Famer (in Rondo’s case, three of them) around to help aid their progress.
Rondo has become one of the most exciting players in the league. While not as big a scoring threat as he is a defensive wizard and exceptional ball-handler, he is well on his way towards greatness.
You have got to think that Brett Favre has instilled some of his wisdom and knowledge into Peterson, since Adrian is still a young player who is anxious to stay atop the “Best Running Back” discussion.
Both are going to be major threats in their respected sports for years to come.
No. 15 Chris Bosh (Miami Heat) = Steven Jackson (NFL—St. Louis Rams)
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Both have been quietly the best player on a bad team for a long time.
The Raptors were a once-respected Eastern Conference team during the days of Vince Carter, when the NBA Finals were not that far out of the question.
Around that same time, (early 00’s), the St. Louis Rams were a title contender thanks to Kurt Warner’s resilience and professionalism.
With Bosh going to the Heat, his days of losing appear to be over thanks to teaming up with LeBron and Dwyane.
With a promising QB in Sam Bradford, the Rams appear to be on the right track as well. Both Bosh and Jackson have been one of the best at their positions, and not having any of the limelight on them while doing it.
No. 14 Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) = Derek Jeter (MLB—New York Yankees)
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You know, I hate to use another Yankee (I really do), but this comparison is just too good to pass up.
Each of these guys have won multiple titles, having done so with a calm, cool demeanor that does not demand attention; and both still remain threats even in their elder age.
Both have stayed on their teams throughout their decorated careers, and the cities they have played in have embraced these guys completely.
While each probably has only two to three years left in their leagues, you can bet they will not go out quietly. Both are in a position to add one more ring to their collection if everything goes their way.
No. 13 Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers) = Joey Votto (MLB—Cincinnati Reds)
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Each of these guys has played on small market teams and both continue to get better as the years progress.
Indiana has made it clear that Granger is their franchise player and that they are focused on building the team around him; while Votto emerged during this past year as one of the most feared sluggers in the league.
Both are still relatively young, seem comfortable in their small-city environment, and will continue to be the number one threat teams will look at when they match up against their squads.
No. 12 Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs) = Rafael Nadal (Tennis)
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The international similarity is obviously there, but both of these guys have proven to be winners throughout their careers.
While Manu is much older and has battled an array of injuries throughout his career, Nadal has dominated the sport of tennis and still has a long career ahead of him.
Both of these athletes play with a flair and originality that is irrefutably magnetic. Whether it be Manu’s running-back protecting of the ball to the basket driving style, or Nadal’s emotional facial expressions, both of these guys are hard not to love.
No. 11 Chris Paul (N.O. Hornets) = Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL—Jacksonville Jaguars)
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Each of these athletes is rather small for their positions: Paul is six feet tall, and Jones-Drew is 5'7".
However, each has done a fine job making their mark on their sports, with Paul becoming one of the best passers and pace setters in the NBA, as Jones-Drew continues to truck his way for yards.
Both are ridiculously quick players that any opponent fears.
Will both of these guys continue to be stuck on a mostly average team that has talent but not the skill to go to that next level? Only time will tell.
No. 10 Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers) = Tim Lincecum (MLB—San Francisco Giants
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Gasol caught a lucky break at the start of 2008, as he was freed from the average Memphis Grizzlies in order to pursue championships with the best player in the league in Kobe Bryant.
Lincecum had to sit at home a couple of MLB postseasons before finally reaching the World Series this past year with the Giants.
Both players have played on the biggest stage, and each has a hairstyle that could either be considered epic or laughable.
Both have a very unique style, with Gasol putting up soft floaters and hook shots that you do not see from most players, while Lincecum delivers the ball so violently to his catcher that you wonder how his head is not snapping off during every pitch.
No. 9 Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers) = Calvin Johnson (NFL—Detroit Lions)
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Both players were expected to help their franchises regain dignity and be able to become a winning team in the near future.
While Detroit may be a year away from becoming that, Portland is a consistent sleeper pick in the Western Conference, and plenty of credit has to go to Brandon Roy due to his scoring ability and winning attitude.
Johnson is unquestionably one of the NFL’s most talented wide receivers, who appears intent on helping the Lions become a respectable team that will not be the punch-line of jokes for late night show hosts anymore.
No. 8 Deron Williams (Utah Jazz) = Roy Halladay (MLB—Philadelphia Phillies)
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While Williams has not had the career that Halladay has had so far, he’s well on his way.
The Utah Jazz look to be a threat for years to come, while some people (like me) are still scratching their heads as to how the Philadelphia Phillies did not make it into the World Series this year.
The main thing that both these particular players share is that they do not say much and would rather lead by example.
In fact, with Williams being the sole captain on the Jazz now, head coach Jerry Sloan has said that he has encouraged Williams to become a more vocal person on the court, even if it is not his nature.
Halladay looked pleased but calm after pitching a rare no-hitter during this past postseason against the Reds, and one has to admire the humble approach both he and Deron bring to their sports.
No. 7 Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) = Dustin Pedroia (MLB—Boston Red Sox)
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Although perhaps a tad small when compared to players at their positions, both Wade and Pedroia have proven to be the heart and soul of their teams.
With Pedroia, you know you are going to get great defense, quickness on the base-paths, and a monster home run once in a while.
Like Pedroia, Wade is defensively savvy, while possessing a lethal driving game as well as the ability to have huge games when called upon.
Both of these guys have won a championship, and each has a bright future ahead of them thanks to their teams being in good contending shape.
No. 6 Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) = Terrell Owens (NFL—Cincinnati Bengals)
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While arguably top players at their positions, both of these athletes have established a reputation for having a poor attitude.
Melo is confusing everybody right now, saying things like, “It’s time for a change”, yet stating that he never asked the Nuggets for a trade.
Also, being close to Philadelphia myself, Eagles fans everywhere still despise Owens for being so selfish and unfair to the team that accepted his cocky persona and loved his on-field tenacity.
You cannot help but think each of these guys could be multiple title winners if they put their own desires aside and concentrated on their games and had confidence in their organizations.
However, neither has given any indication that they would rather win a championship over making a lot of money, which is a fatal flaw to have, especially when you are big-time athletes.
No. 5 Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic) = David Ortiz (MLB—Boston Red Sox)
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Number one, these two share a terrific sense of humor that has been shown on numerous occasions.
Dwight has become one of the biggest post threats in the league during the last few years, thanks to his freakish body, exceptional rebounding and shot-blocking ability; as well as having the skill to get deep inside the paint on offense.
Ortiz still has one of the deadliest bats in the league. While Ortiz is not as athletically gifted as Dwight from a speed standpoint, both of these players are powerful threats in their sports, thanks to their big bodies whose congenial personalities make them individuals any athlete would love to play alongside with.
No. 4 Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) = Drew Brees (NFL—New Orleans Saints)
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Both of these guys scream “all-offense”.
Brees is the driving force behind one of the most lethal offenses in the NFL. Nowitzki is perhaps the most difficult matchup in the NBA, mostly due to his 7' frame, which makes it almost impossible to block his outside shot.
One wonders if the Saints' Super Bowl victory will be the only one in the Brees era, seeing they were not favored during the entire last year and they have gotten off to a somewhat rocky start this year.
You could say the same thing for Dirk, in terms of NBA Finals appearances, being that since 2006 the Mavs have not been able to regain their title-contender form when it comes to the playoffs.
With that said, both athletes know how to score—and score well—and now that each of these guys has rounded the 30-year old mark, one can bet that their desire to win a couple titles has never been greater.
No. 3 Kevin Durant (Okla. C. Thunder) = Peyton Manning (NFL—Indianapolis Colts)
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While Manning has more experience and a greater win percentage than the much younger Durant, each of these players’ professionalism and desire to win are the main reasons why their teams decided to make them their franchise players.
Both are the centerpieces of teams who are favored to be threats in their leagues.
Durant has proven to be adept with reaching out to his fans via his constant Twitter and Facebook updates, while Manning is the ultimate commercial go-to guy.
More importantly, both of these athletes want to win championships. They will get their money, sure, but their legacy is much more important to them compared to a few extra bucks. You have to respect that.
No. 2 LeBron James (Miami Heat) = Brett Favre (NFL—Minnesota Vikings)
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You either love or hate these two. There is no middle-ground.
LeBron lost a good chunk of his fan base after ditching Cleveland to pursue multiple championships in Miami, while Favre committed the ultimate betrayal against Green Bay Packers fans by joining the rival Minnesota Vikings.
It is obvious that these two value winning championships over keeping their fans, which can either be perceived as selfish or brave.
One really has to wonder what these guys will be remembered for after their careers come to an end (who knows when with Favre).
Will the Vikings ever win a Super Bowl? Will the Heat win three or four titles thanks to their new super-team? We shall see.
No. 1 Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) = Alex Rodriguez (MLB—New York Yankees)
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Much like LeBron and Favre, Bryant and Rodriguez are polarizing athletes.
Bryant’s history is not the cleanest due to a sexual scandal in the early 2000’s, and A-Rod lied before finally confessing to steroid use. However, each is arguably the best player in their leagues.
A-Rod finally won a title last year and Kobe is on pace for matching Michael Jordan in terms of titles.
Even if you do not like them, you have to admit that they are very interesting figures in sport who have acquired a loyal fan base despite their obvious flaws.
Most importantly, however, their skills set them apart from everybody else in their leagues.
