1) Wilt Chamberlain, volleyball

After a total rupture of his patellar tendon cost Chamberlain almost the entire ’69-’70 season, the legendary star got creative in rebuilding his leg strength. The “Big Dipper” took up volleyball as a rehab activity and found that his 7’1″, 275 pound frame was perfectly built for the sport. When his NBA playing days ended, Chamberlain returned to volleyball, embarking on a lengthy pro career well into his 40s. That included a stint as an owner-player of the Southern California Bangers in the short-lived International Volleyball Association (IVA). While Chamberlain was lacking in defensive and strategic fundamentals, he largely made up for it with an incredibly powerful strike, leaving many volleyball experts to speculate that he could have been a legend of the sport if he had concentrated on it earlier.

2) Danny Ainge, baseball

He may not have the aura of Bo Jackson or the accolades of Deion Sanders, but Ainge did something no other multi-sport athlete has pulled off before or since. He was the first and only prep athlete to be named a high school All-American in three different sports. Ainge jettisoned football to concentrate on basketball and baseball during college, spending his summers with the Toronto Blue Jays and his winters with the BYU basketball team. A utility player who mainly played at second base, Ainge batted just .220 in three seasons with Toronto and when the Celtics drafted him in 1981, he leaped at the opportunity. This set off a legal dispute, with the Celtics eventually forced to buy out his Blue Jays contract, and feeling some caveat emptor as Ainge struggled in his first few seasons. But the versatile guard eventually became a key component of three title teams and even made an All-Star appearance in 1988.

3) Nat Clifton, 16-inch softball

A groundbreaking player in the early days of the NBA, Clifton was essentially the league’s first Black superstar. Prior to that, he had earned his stripes on the barnstorming circuit, impressing in stints with the New York Rens and Harlem Globetrotters. Clifton was also an accomplished baseball player, playing first base at DuSable High School in Chicago and later moonlighting with the Chicago American Giants of the Negro Leagues during his time with the Globetrotters. But he arguably excelled most at the more obscure sport of 16-inch softball. Developed in Chicago (and sometimes called Chicago Ball), 16-inch softball is a variation of the sport in which the ball is larger and fielders do not wear gloves. Known for his freakishly large hands that could essentially envelope a basketball, Clifton was a perfect specimen for 16-inch softball and became a legend in the sport’s pro league, eventually getting inducted into its hall of fame.

4) Charlie Ward, football

There’s been a fair amount of college basketball players who moved on to stardom in the NFL, including recent Hall of Fame inductees Terrell Owens, Julius Peppers, and Antonio Gates. But the reverse is much more rare and Ward is unquestionably the best to ever do it. The two-sport star had an inauspicious start at Florida State, joining the football team as a punter and the basketball team as a raw prospect with low expectations from coaches. But Ward developed into a star in both sports, especially football, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1993 while leading the Seminoles to a national championship. Upon graduating in 1994, Ward was initially mum on which sport he’d pick but when he failed to get drafted by an NFL team (teams were concerned about not just his commitment but also his small stature) but went in the first round of the NBA Draft to the Knicks, the choice was easy. The NFL still came calling from time-to-time, with teams occasionally contacting Ward about backup quarterback roles, but he ultimately spent a decade in the NBA, mostly with New York. Ward is one of just three Heisman Trophy winners to in a different pro sports league, along with Bo Jackson and Vic Janowicz.

5) Keith Erickson, baseball and volleyball

1964 was quite a year for Erickson. It was his junior season at UCLA, where he was the starting power forward on the school’s first championship team under John Wooden. In the National Semifinal win over Kansas State, Erickson had arguably the biggest game of his collegiate career, finishing with 28 points and 10 rebounds. A few months later, Erickson was on his way to Tokyo for the Olympics, but in volleyball instead of basketball. At 6’5″ and exceedingly athletic (Wooden once called him the best pure athlete he ever coached), Erickson was a natural in basically any sport. His UCLA scholarship was actually in baseball and basketball and he spent any time left with the volleyball team, helping them win back-to-back NCAA titles in 1964 and 1965. Things didn’t go so well for Erickson and the U.S. team in Tokyo, finishing in ninth place, and post-college he concentrated solely on basketball, becoming a stalwart in the Lakers roster for many years.

6) Kris Humphries, swimming

Out-swimming Michael Phelps is an accolade few can claim. But that list, however short, includes Humphries. Growing up in Minneapolis, Humphries followed in the footsteps of his older sisters by taking up competitive swimming. At age 10, he was arguably the best swimmer in the world in his age cohort. Need evidence? Phelps was the same age and went head-to-head against Humphries in seven different events. Humphries not only logged the better time than Phelps in six of the seven disciplines, he set world records in all of them for his age group, some of which were only recently broken. But two years later, Humphries hopped out of the pool and onto the court, setting aside swimming to concentrate on basketball. He eventually became an All-American at the high school and collegiate levels, then spent 13 years in the NBA.

7) Dave DeBusschere, baseball

DeBusschere was a revelation in his rookie NBA season, averaging 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Pistons and getting named 1st-Team All-Rookie. Rather than spend the subsequent offseason working on his free throws, DeBusschere took the mound for the Chicago White Sox. A right-handed pitcher with a solid fastball, DeBusschere had led University of Detroit to its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance and then signed with the Sox as an undrafted free agent. That 1963 season was his baseball peak, making seven starts and winning three, including a complete game shutout against the Indians. But the White Sox had a stacked pitching rotation at the time, leaving little opportunity for DeBusschere. After two subsequent seasons in the minor leagues, he gave up pro baseball for good in 1965. It was fortuitous timing, as the ’65-’66 season was his first as a player-coach for the Pistons, a dual role that required full attention.

8) J.R. Smith, golf

Following a lengthy recruiting battle, the then prep basketball star Smith committed to the University of North Carolina in 2004. But he soon after set aside his college aspirations, opting to instead jump straight into the NBA from high school. Almost 20 years later Smith pulled a Rodney Dangerfield, enrolling at North Carolina A&T at the age of 35 (reportedly on the advice of Ray Allen). In addition to his obvious basketball prowess, Smith was also a phenomenal baseball and football player in high school, and likely could have gone pro in either of those sports. He didn’t take up golf until later in life, gravitating to the sport after his NBA career ended in 2020 and his competitive nature needed an outlet. An adept learner, Smith was soon after good enough to earn a spot on the North Carolina A&T golf team as a walk-on. He wrapped up his collegiate golf career in 2025 while earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies.

9) Dick Groat, baseball

Decades before Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, Groat was the original two-sport superstar. Though baseball is what eventually won out in his priority hierarchy, basketball was his first love. After a star turn on the court at Swissvale High School in the Pittsburgh area (where he also lettered on the baseball and volleyball teams), Groat took a basketball scholarship at Duke University. There he became the now renowned program’s first big star, earning several national player of the year awards and setting the NCAA season record for scoring in ’51-’52. Though baseball was secondary in those days, Groat also became a diamond legend for the Blue Devils, catching the eye of Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Branch Rickey, who offered him a contract. After leading the Pirates in hitting in his rookie season, Groat then joined the Fort Wayne Pistons that November. He was the second leading scorer on the Pistons over 26 games but left the team that February to enlist in the U.S. Army. When he returned, Rickey gave him an ultimatum to give up basketball and Groat complied, capping his NBA career at just one season. He subsequently went on to an exemplary MLB career, making eight All-Star teams, earning one MVP award, and winning two World Series titles.

10) Allen Iverson, football

When speculating on how NBA players could thrive in other sports, Iverson is almost always in the discussion. His unique blend of natural skill, coordination, and competitive fire would acclimate to virtually any athletic arena. But don’t take our word for it, consider the evidence in Iverson’s brief football career. At Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, Iverson was not only the starting point guard on the basketball team, he was also quarterback of the football team, while additionally spending time at running back and defensive back. In his junior year, Iverson led both teams to state titles, while also being named Associated Press National Player of the Year in both sports, an unprecedented accomplishment. Iverson had grand plans to remain a two-sport athlete at college and was considering offers from Notre Dame and Maryland when his infamous bowling alley altercation incident occurred. After he spent several months (unjustly) in prison and had to forgo athletics in his senior year, Iverson’s scholarship opportunities dried up. His only major offer was a basketball scholarship from Georgetown University, which also fields a football program but at a secondary division level. Thus, Iverson focused in on basketball, a decision that ultimately led to a place in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

11) John Lucas, tennis

Following an incredible high school career in which he broke Pete Maravich’s North Carolina state scoring record, Lucas reportedly received over 400 scholarship offers. Shunning local powerhouses Duke and North Carolina, he instead chose Maryland, a school with a limited history of success. But the Terps offered Lucas something most colleges wouldn’t, an opportunity to play both basketball and tennis. In addition to his basketball accolades, Lucas was also one of the top prep tennis players in the country. He excelled on both courts while at Maryland. On the basketball side, he was a two-time 1st-Team All-American and set the program’s all-time scoring record. In tennis, Lucas was also an All-American while leading Maryland to two ACC titles. He gave a go of it at the pro tennis level, competing in some Grand Prix tournaments and two World Team Tennis seasons. But the NBA was where Lucas truly thrived, ultimately playing 14 seasons and compiling over 6,000 assists.

12) Chuck Connors, baseball
13) Dick Ricketts, baseball

There’s plenty of good reasons why we haven’t seen a professional two-sport star in the U.S. in decades. The rigors of each individual sport have become too taxing to allow it, with necessitated year-round focus on conditioning, training, and skill enhancement. Things were a little different back in the NBA’s early days, when the league was seemingly fly-by-night and players were regularly showing up to practices and games hung over and/or half-hearted in their efforts. This gave Connors an opportunity to chase two dreams simultaneously after he returned from his World War II active duty. In 1946, Connors signed with the Rochester Royals, then of the National Basketball League, and helped them win a championship. He was then part of the inaugural NBA season, suiting up for the Celtics for 53 games. Meanwhile, Connors bounced around baseball’s minor leagues for years, playing just parts of one season at the highest level with the Chicago Cubs. Ricketts managed to be a little more impactful in basketball. After a star turn at Duquesne, he was the #1 pick in the 1955 NBA Draft and averaged 9.3 points per game over four NBA seasons. Ricketts spent his summers as a pitcher in the baseball minor leagues, finally getting called up to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959 after his NBA career had ended. Connors and Ricketts are two of 13 athletes who played in the NBA and MLB, with other contemporaries including Howie Schultz, Hank Biasatti, Gene Conley, and Frank Baumholtz. There’s an interesting postscript to note for Connors. When his basketball and baseball careers fizzled out, he moved to Hollywood and transitioned into acting. His most famous role was as the titular character in the Western television show The Rifleman. It was the favorite show of a mom in Brantley, Alabama, who named her son Chuck Connors Person, leading to his “Rifleman” nickname which carried all the way into a lengthy NBA career.

14) Deron Williams, boxing

The basketball-to-combat sports pipeline hasn’t been particularly fruitful over the years, but most basketball players aren’t built like Williams, physically and mentally. The pugnacious point guard was one of the most physical and bruising basketball players of his generation. At 6’3″ and 200 pounds, he could careen to the hoop like a bowling ball and set screens as well as any center. Despite near constant injury woes, Williams played 12 seasons in the NBA, making three All-Star teams and landing in the top 25 in league history in total assists. Williams’ brawn had been largely forged in a youth wrestling career, but upon retirement from basketball, he turned to two different fighting sports as new ventures. Williams first considered making a go of it in mixed martial arts, opening up his own MMA gym in his hometown of Dallas and training for a fight that was ultimately nixed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then turned his attention to boxing, culminating in a 2021 bout with former NFL star Frank Gore as an undercard to a Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley fight. You couldn’t be blamed for seeing this match as a publicity stunt (perhaps conjuring images of Manute Bol participating in the exploitative Celebrity Boxing) but it actually turned out to be a legitimate and entertaining fight, with Williams outlasting Gore in a split decision. Gore immediately called for a rematch but Williams subsequently stated that his boxing career was one-and-done.

15) Steve Nash, soccer

From 2008 to 2012, numerous NBA and professional soccer players participated in the “Showdown in Chinatown,” a series of exhibition soccer matches played in Manhattan to raise money for various charities. The ringleader was Nash, whose relationship with the sport of soccer was basically inherited as his father John had played professionally in South Africa. Nash showed prowess in the sport at a young age, with the goal of joining the academy of his father’s favorite squad, Tottenham Hotspur in London. Like most Canadian kids, he was also a hockey obsessive (his neighbors included future NHL stars Russ and Geoff Courtnall), and additionally spent time in youth rugby and lacrosse leagues. But basketball is what captured Nash’s imagination more so than anything else, even though he didn’t really take up the sport until he was a teenager. Despite the late start, the natural athlete and quick learner quickly ascended into stardom, eventually earning two NBA MVP awards and a spot in the Naismith Hall of Fame. In addition to coordinating high-profile exhibition and pick-up soccer games, Nash has also become a soccer franchise owner in recent years, purchasing stakes in the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS and Mallorca of the Spanish La Liga.

16) Mark Hendrickson, baseball

As this list attests, there have been plenty of two-sport athletes over the years, but only Hendrickson can make the claim of giving up a historic Ken Griffey, Jr. home run and getting iconically posterized by Michael Jordan. A three-sport superstar (tennis, in addition to basketball and baseball) at Mount Vernon High School in the Seattle area, he was simultaneously drafted by the Texas Rangers and Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 and opted for the latter, becoming a fellow rookie with Allen Iverson. Hendrickson’s NBA career wasn’t remarkable, averaging 3.3 points per game over four seasons with the Sixers, Kings, Nets, and Cavaliers, but it did include one indelible moment. Unfortunately, that moment was Hendrickson getting dunked on by Jordan in a play that was captured so perfectly on camera that the picture graced the cover of the next season’s NBA Register. During his brief NBA career, Hendrickson spent his summers in minor league baseball and shifted to full-time on the diamond in 2000, eventually getting a call-up from the Toronto Blue Jays. His preeminent baseball highlight was also one in which Hendrickson was on the wrong end of history, this time giving up Griffey’s 600th career home run in a 2006 game. Give Hendrickson this, though: He was a much better baseball player than Jordan, hanging around for nine seasons in the major leagues.

17) John Havlicek, football

When the Celtics selected him #9 overall in 1962, it was actually the second time that Havlicek had been drafted by a professional team. Just a few months earlier, Havlicek had his name called by the Cleveland Browns, who selected him in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. This move came despite the fact that Havlicek had not played any college football, concentrating instead on his basketball career and earning All-American honors while leading Ohio State to the 1960 NCAA title. He was an accomplished football player in high school, playing quarterback at Bridgeport High School (in Eastern Ohio) in addition to basketball and baseball. Browns owner Art Modell was legitimately interested in the local product as a wide receiver and Havlicek reported to training camp to give it a shot. He even made it into one preseason game, lining up on offense alongside the legendary Jim Brown but Havlicek was cut soon after and made the subsequent decision to concentrate solely on basketball going forward. Modell reportedly tried to lure Havlicek again in 1966 with a contract offer but Celtics coach Red Auerbach stepped in and shut down the possibility even before Havlicek could ponder it.

18) Tim Duncan, swimming

Like his older sister Tricia, who represented the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 1988 Olympics, Duncan was a world class swimmer at age 13 and planned on qualifying for the 1992 Olympic games. But in 1989 the Category 5 Hurricane Hugo left a destructive wake across the Caribbean. On Duncan’s home island of St. Croix, approximately 90% of buildings were damaged or destroyed by Hugo. Another casualty was the island’s only Olympic-sized swimming pool. This left Duncan with only the ocean to use for training but a fear of sharks quickly dispelled those plans. One structure that wasn’t damaged by the hurricane was the Duncan family basketball hoop, so the teenaged Tim turned his attentions to a new sport, coached at first by his brother-in-law, a former collegiate basketball player. By his senior year of high school, Duncan was a dominant force, soon after moving on to Wake Forest and then the NBA, where he won five titles in a legendary career.

19) Walt Davis, track and field

Led by legendary coach Phog Allen and anchored by Naismith Hall of Famer Clyde Lovellette, the U.S. men’s basketball team cruised to gold at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. Concurrent to their dominance on the court, one of Lovellette’s countrymen and future NBA rival was earning hardware out on the track. Davis was the gold medalist in men’s high jump, setting an Olympic record in the process with a jump of 2.03 meters. It was the culmination of a standout track and field career at Texas A&M, where Davis was a two-time All-American in the sport while also starring on the Aggies basketball team. This was an especially incredible feat for someone who contracted polio at age nine, leaving him unable to even walk for several years. After his Olympic glory, Davis shifted focus to basketball. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1952 and spent six years in the NBA, including championship seasons with the Warriors in 1956 and Hawks in 1958. Davis became the first – and still only as of 2024 – NBA player to earn an Olympic gold medal in a sport other than basketball.

20) Stephen Curry, golf

Golf has long been an obsession of NBA superstars. One infamous example is at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, where Michael Jordan reportedly snuck off to golf daily, even on basketball game days, and often brought Dream Team teammates in tow. But while most NBA players take up golf later in life as a diversion (and, in Jordan’s case, a gambling opportunity), Curry was enamored with the sport from a young age. Even as he’s blossomed into an NBA legend, with two league MVP awards and four championships, Curry has remained an accomplished golfer. He regularly competes in not just celebrity tournaments but also in events at the Korn Ferry level, which is the feeder system for the PGA. His love of the sport of golf has also expanded into philanthropic and media pursuits, as Curry is currently funding the Division I golf teams at Howard University and is an executive producer and occasional guest on the miniature golf competition show Holey Moley.

21) Scott Burrell, baseball

An exclusive fraternity of 13 athletes have competed in both the MLB and NBA, and Burrell is not amongst them. But he does hold the distinction as the only player drafted in the first round in each league. Baseball was Burrell’s initial favorite sport, fostered by hanging around practices and games as a youth, watching the high school and collegiate teams his dad coached. A three-sport star at Hamden High School in Connecticut (he was also quarterback in football), Burrell had offers from several colleges to play both baseball and basketball, including the University of Miami. Connecticut University was offering a basketball-only scholarship and Burrell took it, won over by the coaching staff and the desire to stay close to home. He was selected by the Seattle Mariners as a pitcher in the 1989 MLB Draft and then subsequently by the Blue Jays in 1990. Burrell attempted to succeed in Toronto’s minor league system while simultaneously starring for the Connecticut Huskies. He never made it past single A ball and gave up on his major league dreams after getting drafted by the Charlotte Hornets. Over eight NBA seasons, Burrell’s most famous teammate was a fellow minor league baseball washout, as he joined Michael Jordan and the Bulls for their ’97-’98 title season.

22) Nate Robinson, football

When Robinson matriculated at the University of Washington as a two-sport athlete in 2002, he had huge shoes to fill. His father Jacque was a football legend on the Seattle campus, amassing over 2,000 rushing yards in his career and earning MVP honors at the 1982 Rose Bowl (the first freshman ever to do so). Jacque was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1985 but couldn’t make it in the NFL, amassing playing time only as a scab during the players strike in 1987. Nate actually attended Washington on a football scholarship as well and had a solid freshman year as a cornerback before opting to focus solely on basketball as a sophomore. At 5’9″ and 180 pounds, Robinson likely lacked the size to thrive as an NFL cornerback but, of course, you could say that about his basketball career too. Yet he lasted 11 seasons in the NBA, showing off his otherworldly athleticism in three Slam Dunk Contest titles.

23) Chase Budinger, beach volleyball

Basketball and volleyball have long been linked in Southern California culture, dating back to the ’60s when UCLA hoops stars like Greg Lee were moonlighting in the burgeoning beach volleyball scene. Budinger is the latest in that long line of west coast dual sport athletes, starting with his days at La Costa Canyon High School in the San Diego area. He was named a McDonald’s All-American in basketball and in volleyball, was awarded National Player of the Year honors while leading his school to three straight state titles. Budinger opted to concentrate on basketball in college, removing any doubt of his hardwood loyalty by attending the University of Arizona, a school without a men’s volleyball program. He was drafted by the Pistons in 2009 but his NBA career never took off, ultimately averaging 7.9 points per game for his career over parts of seven seasons. When the Nets cut him ahead of the ’16-’17 season, Budinger decided to step away from basketball and return to his other favorite sport. Instead of the indoor variety, Budinger shifted over to beach volleyball, quickly rising up the ranks in the FIVB world tour. Along with his partner Miles Evans, Budinger qualified for the 2024 Olympics, where he was reunited on Team USA with some former NBA rivals like Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

24) Calvin Murphy, baton twirling

Succeeding in the NBA at 5’9″ requires an extreme amount of toughness, quickness, wits, and fearlessness. For Murphy, those qualities carried over smoothly from the cutthroat world of competitive baton twirling. Yes, baton twirling, something you likely associate with marching bands or military parades, has been a competitive sport in the United States since at least the 1950s, when its first governing bodies were established. Murphy took it up in his childhood in Connecticut, winning numerous youth state titles, but slowly gravitated away from the sport as basketball consumed his time in college. But even as he was making a name for himself as one of the NBA’s leading point guards, Murphy kept connected to baton twirling by teaching classes in Houston. On the urging of some of his acolytes, Murphy made one last return to the baton in the summer of 1977, qualifying for and participating in the U.S. National Championships in Denver. Perhaps that brief dip back into the world of twirling was the catalyst for Murphy averaging a career high 25.6 points per game for the Rockets in ’77-’78, and then making his first NBA All-Star appearance in ’78-’79.

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