Better Athletes NFL or NBA players?

[clippertown]

I would love to see a professional athlete only Olympic Games.

Athletics is the only real way of measuring athleticism on an even playing field.

[Flopper]

I'd say basketball simply because if given a choice the best athletes will choose the NBA over the NFL because of the drastic difference in potential earnings and the fact that basketball doesn't destroy your brain with a barrage of sub-concussive blows. The other factor is that basketball requires a level of coordination that many of the speed/power athletes in the NFL don't possess.

I also would't be surprised if there's a drop-off in the quality of NFL skilled position players as CTE awareness increases and NBA and MLB salaries and expected lifetime earnings (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/visualnewscom/visualizing-the-yearly-sa_b_4184716.html) continue to dwarf those of the NFL.

[Side beard]

NFL athletes hands down.

NBA players are weaklings and lack overralll athleticism.

NFL athletes are dudes that can bench 225 20 times, have a 40 vertical and a '11 broad jump and then run a 4.3

Only NFL caliber athlete I think that is in the NBA right now is Lebron and the only dude that would last in the NFL would be Lebron.

Yeah, cool. But what are their stamina?

Football: 1.25 miles for receivers and cornerbacks. Football players don’t have a lot of time to travel very far. According to the Wall Street Journal, the average NFL game includes only 11 minutes of actual playing time. Receivers and cornerbacks run the most at just over one mile a game. That’s still an impressive feat considering 11 massive and highly trained athletes would prefer they run as little as possible.

All that bench pressing and vert they have only for that? Sheesh, I think I would prefer having NBA-level athleticism or even soccer player. They are fit and can do their job for long period of time.

[yoyoboy]

NFL athletes and I don't think it's particularly close. They're so big yet so fast and so mobile. I'd say NBA players are more "skilled" at their respective craft though.

[wallflower]

I'd say basketball simply because if given a choice the best athletes will choose the NBA over the NFL because of the drastic difference in potential earnings and the fact that basketball doesn't destroy your brain with a barrage of sub-concussive blows. The other factor is that basketball requires a level of coordination that many of the speed/power athletes in the NFL don't possess.

I also would't be surprised if there's a drop-off in the quality of NFL skilled position players as CTE awareness increases and NBA and MLB salaries and expected lifetime earnings (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/visualnewscom/visualizing-the-yearly-sa_b_4184716.html) continue to dwarf those of the NFL.

I gotta agree with this. Although, yes it is comparing apple and oranges. I wonder how many all state multi sport athletes choose football over basketball. I always hear a lot of stories of athletes choosing bball over other sports (Barnes, Ainge, Budinger, Iverson). I wonder if it's the same with football?

[RRyder823]

I'd say basketball simply because if given a choice the best athletes will choose the NBA over the NFL because of the drastic difference in potential earnings and the fact that basketball doesn't destroy your brain with a barrage of sub-concussive blows. The other factor is that basketball requires a level of coordination that many of the speed/power athletes in the NFL don't possess.

I also would't be surprised if there's a drop-off in the quality of NFL skilled position players as CTE awareness increases and NBA and MLB salaries and expected lifetime earnings ([url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/visualnewscom/visualizing-the-yearly-sa_b_4184716.html[/url]) continue to dwarf those of the NFL.

I gotta agree with this. Although, yes it is comparing apple and oranges. I wonder how many all state multi sport athletes choose football over basketball. I always hear a lot of stories of athletes choosing bball over other sports (Barnes, Ainge, Budinger, Iverson). I wonder if it's the same with football?

Russell Wilson and Jamis Winston are just two examples there's a lot of others. It happens on every sport. Guys tend to simply gravitate to the sport they're best suited to excel in

[tdotrep2]

This question is subjective. Put an nba player on an nfl team and they are probably useless and their abilities would not translate. Same goes for nfl players but obviously there is exceptions. Put an nfl player out on a soccer pitch and after 10 minutes they would have no use, and aside from stamina low center of gravity would be an issue. Each sport has a number of freaks but chances are the reason their freaks is how well they are suited for their sport and they could very well look average in another

[Jkam31]

Anybody who thinks nba players are more athletic can't be taken serious. It's not even close.... A guy like rose in his athletic prime would be an average athlete at WR,CB.


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[Chalk1]

Anybody who thinks nba players are more athletic can't be taken serious. It's not even close.... A guy like rose in his athletic prime would be an average athlete at WR,CB.


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Yeah, but none of those football players have anywhere near Rose's overall athletic abilities, or else they'd be playing in the NBA.

They can run, jump and catch a ball. That's it. Rose and all the other NBA PGs have so much more overall athletic abilities. Some of those NFL guys can barely even dribble a ball, and if they could they would be playing basketball instead of football.

NBA PGs have elite hand eye coordination, dexterity and the overall athletic abilities that are simply not required of any football position. It's not even close.

[Jkam31]

Anybody who thinks nba players are more athletic can't be taken serious. It's not even close.... A guy like rose in his athletic prime would be an average athlete at WR,CB.


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Yeah, but none of those football players have anywhere near Rose's overall athletic abilities, or else they'd be playing in the NBA.

They can run, jump and catch a ball. That's it. Rose and all the other NBA PGs have so much more overall athletic abilities. Some of those NFL guys can barely even dribble a ball, and if they could they would be playing basketball instead of football.

NBA PGs have elite hand eye coordination, dexterity and the overall athletic abilities that are simply not required of any football position. It's not even close.

You need hand eye to catch a ball but there speed,change of direction, explosiveness, and other stuff that goes into athleticism is world class.
Guys weight 300+ pounds should be running as fast as they do.


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[Cavaliers2]

Anybody who thinks nba players are more athletic can't be taken serious. It's not even close.... A guy like rose in his athletic prime would be an average athlete at WR,CB.


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Yeah, but none of those football players have anywhere near Rose's overall athletic abilities, or else they'd be playing in the NBA.

They can run, jump and catch a ball. That's it. Rose and all the other NBA PGs have so much more overall athletic abilities. Some of those NFL guys can barely even dribble a ball, and if they could they would be playing basketball instead of football.

NBA PGs have elite hand eye coordination, dexterity and the overall athletic abilities that are simply not required of any football position. It's not even close.

I agree most NFL players have no hand eye coordination....haha have you seen some of the catches those guys make? Also have you guys seen the video of Johnny Manziel dunking? He's not even 6 feet tall and really wasn't that impressive athletically at the combine and he was dunking easy

[qm22]

ITT people talk about combine measurements comparing guys who are 4 years older and specifically train for a test and measures things favorably to a group of teenagers who only care a bit about the test. In reality, most of the differences are things that could be made up with training time and the tests are subjectively chosen measurements that are very inadequate in estimating athletic talent.

Got to SMH at people saying NFL players can dunk as if it is meaningful. Its even worse when they usually look terrible in their vids. There might be a few who could credibly do it well and fewer who might be able to in a game (Terrell Owens IMO). Most NFL players look just like rec-leaguers dunking and playing.

The most simple argument is the success of sub-NBA prospects who were college NCAA bball players thriving in the NFL. That would not seem possible if the NFL had significantly higher athletic capacity requirements.

[hype_2004]

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.

My man, are you familiar with Deion Sanders? He's one of the greatest athletes ever. And just because somebody said Jordan ran a 4.3 doesn't mean it legitimately happened. And for that matter, Deion ran in the 4.2s twice at the combine when he didn't even plan to run. He threw on regular gym shoes (not track shoes) and ran. I've seen footage of him dunking a basketball off skates during some Atlanta Falcons skate-ball game.

I know Jordan is supposedly the best at everything in the world he touches, but I'm rolling with Deion.

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Deion Neon primetime sanders FTW! LMFAO dude is 6 foot and jumps and dunks with ease, runs 10.25 100 meters, 4.2 40, 45 inch vert, agile like a cat jumps like a jackrabbit and runs like a cheetah, incredible one of a kind athlete.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW_An26P0XY

[hype_2004]

Anybody who thinks nba players are more athletic can't be taken serious. It's not even close.... A guy like rose in his athletic prime would be an average athlete at WR,CB.


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Yeah, but none of those football players have anywhere near Rose's overall athletic abilities, or else they'd be playing in the NBA.

They can run, jump and catch a ball. That's it. Rose and all the other NBA PGs have so much more overall athletic abilities. Some of those NFL guys can barely even dribble a ball, and if they could they would be playing basketball instead of football.

NBA PGs have elite hand eye coordination, dexterity and the overall athletic abilities that are simply not required of any football position. It's not even close.

HAnd Eye co-ordiantion, dexterity are SKILLS and not linear athleticism, NFL players suck at dribbling and shooting the ball when they played in HS but godamn they were the fastest and strongest amongst their peers many were former HS track champions and record holders in the throws and sprints. This is why they excelled at track and football and not basketball where skill is more of a determining factor for athletic success.

[young_frogger]

I am going to go with NBA athletes here as well.
Facets of athleticism can be summarized as follows:
Strength-NFL: however most of this can be attributed to training
Speed-NBA: Running backs and receivers are obvious exceptions, but the average NBA player is faster if you account for linemen, etc.
Endurance: NBA
Vertical Leap: NBA (Again, on average)
Size: NBA: Height which can't be taught

As many people have noted, almost everybody with the athleticism needed to make it in the NBA would take the NBA for health and financial reasons, and most of the athletic advantages NFL players have can be attributed to training differences and focuses. Occasionally you see guys in the NFL with the size and athleticism to succeed in the NBA but were lacking in basketball skills, but IMO this is much rarer than the reverse. NFL players focus nearly entirely on strength, sprint training etc. To have a successful NBA career it is extremely important to have good endurance and stay lean.

[hype_2004]

Ill end this debate, if you put NFL and NBA athletes to compete in track right now in the sprints and throws who do you think will come out on top? Marquise Goodwin vs Derrick Rose in the long Jump/100 meters? , Ted Ginn vs any guards in the hurdles, Margus Hunt vs anyone in the shot put/discus Lebron James Vs Megatron in the decathlon? or how about retired NFl guard Stephen Neal(beat Brock Lesnar and made him cry in college) vs Shaq in wrestling/MMA, now you dudes are catching on arent you or are you jackasses that clueless about the world class athletes tat are currently playing the NFL?

[Jkam31]

I am going to go with NBA athletes here as well.
Facets of athleticism can be summarized as follows:
Strength-NFL: however most of this can be attributed to training
Speed-NBA: Running backs and receivers are obvious exceptions, but the average NBA player is faster if you account for linemen, etc.
Endurance: NBA
Vertical Leap: NBA (Again, on average)
Size: NBA: Height which can't be taught

As many people have noted, almost everybody with the athleticism needed to make it in the NBA would take the NBA for health and financial reasons, and most of the athletic advantages NFL players have can be attributed to training differences and focuses. Occasionally you see guys in the NFL with the size and athleticism to succeed in the NBA but were lacking in basketball skills, but IMO this is much rarer than the reverse. NFL players focus nearly entirely on strength, sprint training etc. To have a successful NBA career it is extremely important to have good endurance and stay lean.

You are grossly mistaken like most people are on vertical. I'm 100% sure you look at nba players vert when measured running which gets to 40". While nfl players are measured with no step vert which is a better indicator. Nba players rarely get over 35" no step

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[D.Brasco]

Anybody who thinks nba players are more athletic can't be taken serious. It's not even close.... A guy like rose in his athletic prime would be an average athlete at WR,CB.


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Yeah, but none of those football players have anywhere near Rose's overall athletic abilities, or else they'd be playing in the NBA.

They can run, jump and catch a ball. That's it. Rose and all the other NBA PGs have so much more overall athletic abilities. Some of those NFL guys can barely even dribble a ball, and if they could they would be playing basketball instead of football.

NBA PGs have elite hand eye coordination, dexterity and the overall athletic abilities that are simply not required of any football position. It's not even close.

HAnd Eye co-ordiantion, dexterity are SKILLS and not linear athleticism, NFL players suck at dribbling and shooting the ball when they played in HS but godamn they were the fastest and strongest amongst their peers many were former HS track champions and record holders in the throws and sprints. This is why they excelled at track and football and not basketball where skill is more of a determining factor for athletic success.

I disagree strongly with your sentiment here. Hand eye coordination especially is huuge in athletics and sports at the processional level and can't be discounted.

I've seen gym rats who can bench 300 lbs and squat 450+ etc. but without hand eye coordination their strength is pretty much negligible for any athletic purposes aside from maybe powerlifitng.

Hand eye coordination can be what separates the strong dude at your squat rack from elite athlete.

[Laimbeer]

Basketball requires more of the tools we associate with athelicism. Pretty easily NBA players.

[NBA Fan 1234]

Is endurance really something we should be listing under athleticism? Are marathon runners athletic?

In a comparison between NFL players (besides most linemen and QBs) and NBA players (excluding most bigs), I'd pick NFL players. They're explosive, have quick hands, huge verts, quick feet, change of speed / direction, etc. Although, if we're including other sports, I might not pick either. Probably gonna get laughed at, but Crossfit athletes (the top ones / competitive ones) are incredible athletic in every sense of the word (including endurance).