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The NBA's best multi-sport athletes of all-time

By John Jefferson Tan,

7 hours ago

Being a great player often requires relentless hard work, dedication, and practice. However, some players seem to possess an innate, multi-faceted talent that sets them apart from the rest. Many NBA stars and legends are exceptional basketball players and talented athletes in other sports. This puts them in a special category as the NBA's best multi-sport athletes. Let's get to know some of them below.

Pat Riley – basketball and football

After an impressive college basketball career with Kentucky, Pat Riley seemed destined to be in the NBA. True to form, NBA scouts kept tabs on his progress, and he was eventually selected by the San Diego Rockets as the 7th overall pick in the 1967 NBA Draft.

Interestingly, Riley was also chosen in the 11th round by the Dallas Cowboys in that same year. However, as Riley weighed in on his future, he decided to pursue a career in the sport he truly loved and chose the NBA over the NFL.

Looking back, it's safe to say Riley made the right decision. Not only did he enjoy a nine-year NBA career, but he also won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West. After retiring, Riley became an NBA coach and an executive.

Michael Jordan – basketball and baseball

In the midst of his illustrious NBA career, Michael Jordan shocked the world by transitioning to professional baseball. In 1993, "His Airness" announced his abrupt retirement from basketball after winning three consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls to play minor league baseball with the Birmingham Barons.

Despite not having played baseball professionally since high school, Jordan's love for his childhood sport and determination did not stop him. However, MJ's time in baseball was met with mixed reviews at the time because, as it turned out, Jordan was not a borderline terrible outfielder.

Nevertheless, Jordan's underwhelming minor-league baseball stint certainly did not take away anything from his legacy as the GOAT.

LeBron James – basketball and football

Many consider LeBron Ja as the greatest player the modern NBA and perhaps, of all time. However, some may not kthat but The King's legacy could've been altered with one major career decision. Apart from being an exceptional basketball player, James was also an outstanding football player in high school. In fact, he even received offers to play college football before ultimately choosing to pursue an NBA career.

Amidst his celebrated career as arguably the country's most talented high school player, LeBron decided to skip college and jump straight into the NBA. In 2003, James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers as their No. 1 overall pick. The rest, as they say, is history.

Allen Iverson – basketball and football

Very much like LeBron, Allen Iverson was also hyped as the best incoming NBA rookie there was. Playing as a quarterback and cornerback, "The Answer" was a standout high school football player for Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia. At the same time, Iverson was also the team's star in basketball.

Iverson's exemplary performances in basketball and footbearned himning the Associated Press High School Player of the Year award in both sports. In 19 by the Philadelphia 76drafted A.I. with the first 1st overall pick. He quickly made a name for himself by revolutionizing the combo guard position and becoming an influential figure in the league.

Despite his NBA success, Iverson once admitted that he would've pursued a career in both sports if he could.

"I would definitely try to do both just from the love that I have for basketball ever since Michael Jordan gave me the vision," Iverson confided. "I would definitely try to play both, and when I went to Georgetown, I asked coach [John] Thompson, 'Could I play football?' We had to walk to the gym every day from class, and I always passed the football field, and I would always get emotional, tears coming from my eyes because I missed the game so much. One day I had enough courage to ask him if I could play, and with the language, I can't say what he said, but I never thought about playing again, I knew it wasn't happening."

Ray Allen – basketball, soccer, baseball, running and more

Ray Allen once revealed that before settling down with basketball, he immersed himself in various sports during his childhood. According to Allen, he showcased his skills in different early athletic pursuits including competitive soccer, baseball and running, among others.

Through his experiences in playing a wide array of sports, Allen cultivated a passion for competition and a relentless drive to excel, laying the groundwork for his stellar NBA career.

Allen said he did well at every sport he tried back then as he made it a point to always be at his best at everything he did. This mindset lifted the lid as to why he is one of the most lethal three-point shooters of all time.

"I was a kid that was always trying to figure out who I was and where I was and how to fit in and it wasn't just basketball, as we moved around the world, I played every sport. I played soccer, I was good at soccer and I was good at it because I loved running, I loved competing, I wanted to be the best, " Allen once divulged.

"I played baseball. I was a pitcher, and I remember the first time I threw a curveball, that excited me, and I remember throwing the curveball when nobody do curveballs in the league I played in, and when it curved, the batter looked at me like, 'What was that?' Like, that was amazing. So, that gave me love for baseball, and then I was a receiver in football, and I remember scoring a touchdown, my brother was a quarterback, so I played everything growing up. I didn't just play basketball,"

Wilt Chamberlain – basketball, track and field and volleyball

Wilt Chamberlain is arguably the greatest scorer of all time. Having set a whopping 72 basketball records to his name, "The Big Dipper" has undeniably cemented his legacy as one of the most dominant players in NBA history. But apart from hooping, Chamberlain also excelled not only on the basketball court but also in track and field and volleyball.

During his time at Overbrook High School in West Philadelphia, Wilt logged impressive track and field results. After retiring from the NBA, Chamberlain played volleyball in the International Volleyball Association, where he also became the president and was enshrined in the organization's Hall of Fame for his impactful contributions.

To this day, Chamberlain is remembered by many as not only one of the greatest NBA players of all time but also as one of the world's so-called super athletes.

Tim Duncan – basketball, swimming and kickboxing

Before Tim Duncan chose to embark on a basketball career, he aspired to be an Olympic swimmer. During his teenage years, he excelled in the 50, 100, and 400-meter freestyle races, harboring hopes of participating in the 1992 Olympics to represent the Virgin Islands.

Unfortunately, a setback occurred when Hurricane Hugo devastated the island's only swimming facility. Subsequently, Duncan shifted his focus to basketball.

As an NBA player, Duncan was one of the most consistent stars of his generation. But towards the end of his career, he had found a new passion in kickboxing, a dynamic and challenging combat sport that combines elements of boxing and martial arts.

Kickboxing requires discipline, focus, and physical strength which makes it a very fitting hobby for "The Big Fundamental." As an avid fan of combat sports, Duncan quickly fell in love with kickboxing as it presented him a new set of challenges and opportunities for personal growth in his post-NBA life.

According to his kickboxing trainer Jason Echols, Duncan swiftly got the hang of it in kickboxing .

"When [Duncan] he walked in, he was always the quiet guy in the public eye; I believe I saw a different side of him, because he's a roaring lion in martial arts," Echols once said. " He's an animal. It's a different thing than what you see out on the court… he's a f**king monster."

Hakeem Olajuwon – basketball and soccer

Growing up in Nigeria, Hakeem Olajuwon actually began his athletic journey on the soccer field, displaying exceptional talent and passion for the sport. His agility, speed, and competitive spirit made him a standout player from a young age.

However, it wasn't long before his destiny took a different turn toward the basketball court. It didn't take long for the young athlete to realize his true calling. Then, University of Houston basketball head coach Guy Lewis agreed to bring him to America for a tryout. Since then, Olajuwon's road to basketball stardom began.

As expected, Olajuwon enjoyed a remarkable college basketball career in UH, setting the stage for his NBA career. In 1984, "Dream" was drafted by the Houston Rockets as their No. 1 overall pick.

Before long, Hakeem made a name for himself in the league as an exceptional big man. He was a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor, but he was best known for his unstoppable post moves. Admittedly, Olajuwon's craftiness in the paint was influenced by his background in soccer .

"All my fakes in basketball are from soccer. It's body movement, footwork. That was my foundation to be agile for my height," Olajuwon once said.

Danny Ainge - basketball and baseball

Danny Ainge was never a super athletic athlete, but he was undeniably a multi-talented one. In college, Ainge was crowned as the national basketball player of the year award at BYU, but he opted to pursue baseball and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1977 amateur draft.

Eventually, Danny made it to the pros in 1979 and played 211 games of professional baseball for the same team. Two years later, Ainge figured he'd take his talents to the NBA and was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1981.

Ainge helped the Celtics win two NBA championships, became an All-Star once, and enjoyed a 14-year NBA career.

In conclusion, these athletes prove that dedication, hard work, and a love for competition can lead to success in various athletic endeavors. Moreover, their stories inspire young athletes to pursue their passions and strive for greatness in whatever sports they choose to pursue.