Better Athletes NFL or NBA players?

[JulesWinnfield]

I know Im going way back in the thread bringing this up and it doesn't answer the topic at hand, but I just wanted to add something about the comments regarding Jordan failing miserably in baseball

If someone stops playing any sport when they're like 17 years old, and don't try to pick it up again until they were 31, they will have no chance whatsoever to ever succeed on the pro level. If Jordan treated basketball that way, he wouldn't have made the NBA. Imagine Jordan getting a tryout with the Bulls in 1994 when he really hadn't played basketball since like 1981. Pete Myers would have murdered him in a Bulls practice. If Miguel Cabrera stopped playing baseball when he was 17 and tried to pick it up at 31, he'd never make the MLB level either

[Quinarvy]

I know Im going way back in the thread bringing this up and it doesn't answer the topic at hand, but I just wanted to add something about the comments regarding Jordan failing miserably in baseball

If someone stops playing any sport when they're like 17 years old, and don't try to pick it up again until they were 31, they will have no chance whatsoever to ever succeed on the pro level. If Jordan treated basketball that way, he wouldn't have made the NBA. Imagine Jordan getting a tryout with the Bulls in 1994 when he really hadn't played basketball since like 1981. Pete Myers would have murdered him in a Bulls practice. If Miguel Cabrera stopped playing baseball when he was 17 and tried to pick it up at 31, he'd never make the MLB level either

Truth be told, Jordan did really damn well for how long it had been since he played baseball. He had a good number of walks (about every 10 at bats), his strikeouts were a bit high, but hitting .200 at AA after that long not playing baseball is amazing. Then he had a crazy amount of steals and had a good fielding percentage.

[BmanInBigD]

The top tier athletes of the NBA are superior. You simply can't disregard their height. A 6'6 athletic freak is more impressive than a 6' freak. That's what makes Lebron special; even if he was 6'2, he would still be considered a freak. At his current height, he's an once a generation specimen.

I disagree. At 6 feet or even 6'2", he wouldn't be considered that special. There's tons of guys as athletic as him; his height (6'8", not 6'6", btw) and length make him so unusual. And he's the exception in the NBA. And even still if you had an all-around test of athletic ability, Deion and Bo Jackson would come out ahead of him.

Yea I said if he was 6'2, he would still be freakish athletes but in company with other great athletes around that height. You basically agreed with everything I said.

I most certainly did not. If he was 6' or 6'2' with his current athletic ability, he'd be nothing special. What makes him "impressive", or special, as you say, IS his height. But that doesn't make him more athletic than shorter guys, just more so than most guys his height. And a 6' "more" athletic freak is more impressive than a 6'8 athletic-by-comparison-to-other-giants freak IMO.

[GreenWithEnvy]

So in Crossfit, they preach about 10 attributes that encompass a great athlete and that's what they strive for. These attributes have been proven to create the perfect athlete. If someone can be good at all of these instead of great in a few areas, they are great athletes. They are:

1. Cardiovascular/respiratory endurance – The ability of body systems to gather, process, and deliver oxygen.
2. Stamina – The ability of body systems to process, deliver, store, and utilize energy.
3. Strength – The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply force.
4. Flexibility – The ability to maximize the range of motion at a given joint.
5. Power – The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply maximum force in minimum time.
6. Speed – The ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement.
7. Coordination – The ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement.
8. Agility – The ability to minimize transition time from one movement pattern to another.
9. Balance – The ability to control the placement of the bodies center of gravity in relation to its support base.
10. Accuracy – The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity.

Football players (as a whole not certain positions) are good/great in Strength, Power, and Balance.
Basketball players (as a whole not certain positions) are good/great in Cardiovascular/Respiratory, Stamina, Flexibiliy, Coordination, Agility, Balance, and Accuracy.

As a whole, basketball players are better athletes than football players. Football players might smoke basketball players in the weightroom but when it comes to endurance, cardio, and plyometric work, basketball players will smoke football players.

Its all how you want to look at things. If you think running a short distance really fast (at a very short clip) and being insanely strong is being a better athlete than constantly moving for roughly 30/40 mins while having to worry about coordination, footwork and with minimal breaks than that's your opinion.

I personally think Hockey players are the best athletes on the planet. They have the attributes from basketball players and football players...oh, and while skating.

[mopper8]

I just wanted to mention that Randy Moss had a 4.25 40-yard dash and was one of the great leapers at the WR position, and when he played in the NBA summer league, he did not look particularly standout for the sport in either quickness or leaping. Certainly not slow, but not jump-out-of-your-seat, did-you-see-that-guy type stuff that'd you expect if all the pro-NFL hyperbole in this thread were true.

[Showtime:Part2]

the average nfl player is definitely a better athlete than the average nba athlete. however, the elite nba athletes like lbj, young shaq, jordan, etc... are far superior relative to elite nfl athletes imo. they have no holes in any facet of athleticism.

[Kobe8Forever]

the average nfl player is definitely a better athlete than the average nba athlete. however, the elite nba athletes like lbj, young shaq, jordan, etc... are far superior relative to elite nfl athletes imo. they have no holes in any facet of athleticism.

I agree. I think the NBA at the top end has the best athletes in any sport. Yes, there are 7 footers who are just big or certain offense specialists who rely on great shooting, but even these guys have to be athletic enough to keep up.

The craziest thing to me though is that the greatest soccer player right now (arguably ever) is Messi who is only 5 7. Still, I would bet on Jordan being relatively better at soccer if he applied himself than Messi would be at basketball.

[kooldude]

I most certainly did not. If he was 6' or 6'2' with his current athletic ability, he'd be nothing special. What makes him "impressive", or special, as you say, IS his height. But that doesn't make him more athletic than shorter guys, just more so than most guys his height. And a 6' "more" athletic freak is more impressive than a 6'8 athletic-by-comparison-to-other-giants freak IMO.

Lebron at 6'2 is still an elite athlete. If he's nothing special, then you're saying elite athletes are nothing special. A close comparison is Baron Davis but he's nothing special, right?

I don't understand your last statement. Are you more impressive by what's closer to the norm then?

[RollingWave]

I'd guess I should make the joke that the NFL guys are on roids while the NBA guys are on weed so obviously we can conclude the guys on PED > guys on PDD (Performance Debilitation Drug)

[BmanInBigD]

the average nfl player is definitely a better athlete than the average nba athlete. however, the elite nba athletes like lbj, young shaq, jordan, etc... are far superior relative to elite nfl athletes imo. they have no holes in any facet of athleticism.

Far superior to Prime Time? Really??

[Strange Clouds]

This is tough but I'll go with NBA players. When I think about athleticism the first things that come to mind are vertical leap, speed, and durability/flexibility, I think the NBA has the NFL beat on all of them.

[Showtime:Part2]

the average nfl player is definitely a better athlete than the average nba athlete. however, the elite nba athletes like lbj, young shaq, jordan, etc... are far superior relative to elite nfl athletes imo. they have no holes in any facet of athleticism.

Far superior to Prime Time? Really??

jordan ran a 4.3 40 in college and had least a 44" vert with some claiming he had a 48" vert. he's taller and stronger than sanders with much better lateral movement as well so yes, he blows him out of the water in terms of pure athelticism. there's videos of jordan throwing footballs over 65 yards with no practice whatsoever so the guy had a cannon too. can you name one TE or WR in the NFL today more athletic than lebron/jordan? let's not even get into wilt.

[BmanInBigD]

the average nfl player is definitely a better athlete than the average nba athlete. however, the elite nba athletes like lbj, young shaq, jordan, etc... are far superior relative to elite nfl athletes imo. they have no holes in any facet of athleticism.

Far superior to Prime Time? Really??

jordan ran a 4.3 40 in college and had least a 44" vert with some claiming he had a 48" vert. he's taller and stronger than sanders with much better lateral movement as well so yes, he blows him out of the water in terms of pure athelticism. there's videos of jordan throwing footballs over 65 yards with no practice whatsoever so the guy had a cannon too. can you name one TE or WR in the NFL today more athletic than lebron/jordan? let's not even get into wilt.

I'd put a lot of money on Deion in a race, 40, 100, 200, whatever. Dude ran track in college. Once played a baseball game, went and ran a leg of the 4x100, then went back and played the second game of a double-header. And stronger? Both about 195 pounds, one 5 inches shorter and played football. I'd put a lot more money on Sanders being stronger. Not that that has anything to do with athletic ability. Lateral quickness? Lemme guess, you never saw Prime return punts or cover receivers. Not to mention playing baseball compared to Jordan. But ok, maybe Jordan can out jump him (maybe not), so I guess he blows him out of the water....

[Showtime:Part2]

Far superior to Prime Time? Really??

jordan ran a 4.3 40 in college and had least a 44" vert with some claiming he had a 48" vert. he's taller and stronger than sanders with much better lateral movement as well so yes, he blows him out of the water in terms of pure athelticism. there's videos of jordan throwing footballs over 65 yards with no practice whatsoever so the guy had a cannon too. can you name one TE or WR in the NFL today more athletic than lebron/jordan? let's not even get into wilt.

I'd put a lot of money on Deion in a race, 40, 100, 200, whatever. Dude ran track in college. Once played a baseball game, went and ran a leg of the 4x100, then went back and played the second game of a double-header. And stronger? Both about 195 pounds, one 5 inches shorter and played football. I'd put a lot more money on Sanders being stronger. Not that that has anything to do with athletic ability. Lateral quickness? Lemme guess, you never saw Prime return punts or cover receivers. Not to mention playing baseball compared to Jordan. But ok, maybe Jordan can out jump him (maybe not), so I guess he blows him out of the water....

sure he could beat mj in a race but that's only if mj didn't run track and get some practice first. guys like lbj are running 4.6 40s without any practice doing it! you don't think they can improve their 40 times a bit with proper technique and some repition/training like nfl/track players do? gimme a break. you still can't name me one te or receiver in the league today more athletic than lebron. or name me a single guy in the nfl that has ever had the overall athletic package wilt had.

[BmanInBigD]

RGIII and Dez Bryant off the top of my head are probably as athletic as LeBron.

Look, a legitimate case can be made for lots of guys. But saying "so-and-so blows yahoo-x out of the water" is a bit hyperbolic. No one will ever know, but the most important trait for b-ball, height, is not that conducive for being "athletic" IMO. Backed up by the fact that most decathletes, one of the truest tests for overall athletic ability, are not that tall.

[Ditchweed]

NHL is better than both NFL or NBA for overall good shape/health and which includes cardio.

[B-Ball Freak]

I think Calvin Johnson and Adrian Peterson are more comparable athletically to Lebron.

[litex]

NFL, unless you consider height a component of athleticism, which most people don't. The most athletic guy in the NBA over the last decade was probably Nate Robinson, and there are a lot of NFL players who fit his athletic profile.

The only way the NBA has better athletes is if you consider height a factor. Say you have a 6 ft guy, and a 6'6" guy, and they run the same 40 speed, bench the same amount, have the same vertical, etc. In all ways they are athletically identical, except one is half a foot taller. Is the taller guy a better athlete, purely because he's taller? if you say no, then the NFL has better athletes, if you say yes than the NBA likely does. Personally I say height is not a part of athleticism.

[D.Brasco]

NFL, unless you consider height a component of athleticism, which most people don't. The most athletic guy in the NBA over the last decade was probably Nate Robinson, and there are a lot of NFL players who fit his athletic profile.

The only way the NBA has better athletes is if you consider height a factor. Say you have a 6 ft guy, and a 6'6" guy, and they run the same 40 speed, bench the same amount, have the same vertical, etc. In all ways they are athletically identical, except one is half a foot taller. Is the taller guy a better athlete, purely because he's taller? if you say no, then the NFL has better athletes, if you say yes than the NBA likely does. Personally I say height is not a part of athleticism.

Height does play a part in athleticism let's be real. The average man in america is about 5'9" the average height of athletes in all of the 4 major sports are 6'+. There is a correlation. Longer arms and limbs play a big factor in giving you an athletic edge.

Usain Bolt is a great example of this factor, with his long ass strides to make up for his slow start speed.

[litex]

NFL, unless you consider height a component of athleticism, which most people don't. The most athletic guy in the NBA over the last decade was probably Nate Robinson, and there are a lot of NFL players who fit his athletic profile.

The only way the NBA has better athletes is if you consider height a factor. Say you have a 6 ft guy, and a 6'6" guy, and they run the same 40 speed, bench the same amount, have the same vertical, etc. In all ways they are athletically identical, except one is half a foot taller. Is the taller guy a better athlete, purely because he's taller? if you say no, then the NFL has better athletes, if you say yes than the NBA likely does. Personally I say height is not a part of athleticism.

Height does play a part in athleticism let's be real. The average man in america is about 5'9" the average height of athletes in all of the 4 major sports are 6'+. There is a correlation. Longer arms and limbs play a big factor in giving you an athletic edge.

Usain Bolt is a great example of this factor, with his long ass strides to make up for his slow start speed.

Usain Bolt is a great athlete because he's fast, not because he's tall. if he was the same speed but 5'10", he'd be just as good an athlete.

sure he could beat mj in a race but that's only if mj didn't run track and get some practice first. guys like lbj are running 4.6 40s without any practice doing it! you don't think they can improve their 40 times a bit with proper technique and some repition/training like nfl/track players do? gimme a break. you still can't name me one te or receiver in the league today more athletic than lebron. or name me a single guy in the nfl that has ever had the overall athletic package wilt had.

Bo Jackson was a much better athlete than Wilt, because being tall is not a component of athleticism. You don't get extra credit for running a fast 40 time while being tall. The 5'8" guy with a 46" vertical and 4.3 40 time is a better athlete than a 6'6" guy with a 42" vertical and 4.5 40 time.