Professional athletes are often regarded as the best of the best, however, in rare instances, there are certain individuals whose talents are able to transcend a singular sport. In the NBA’s long and illustrious history, a select group of players could have easily carved out a successful career in another major sport as opposed to on the court.

Whether it was baseball, American football or even swimming, there have been a handful of players blessed with extraordinary athleticism that can lend itself to many competitive arenas. In fact, we have selected some of the most famous NBA stars who had a real chance at going professional in another sport.

Danny Ainge

Before he went on to become a well respected NBA player, winning multiple championships and being named as an NBA all star with his time playing for the Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge was actually a two sport phenom whose career in sports was far from what many would consider one dimensional. Ainge is actually one of the very few individuals who has managed to play professionally in both the MLB and the NBA, with the odds of this occurring on basketball betting sites today being very slim.

Attending Brigham Young University, Danny Ainge was a standout baseball player for his college team and would go on to be drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977. He played a total of 3 seasons in the MLB as both a second and third baseman, appearing in a grand total of 211 professional games, having over 400 at-bats in the process.

Although his baseball career saw him solidified as a legitimate professional, basketball was always calling for Danny Ainge, seeing him selected 31st overall in the 1981 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Upon doing so, Aigne joined a dynasty and went on to win NBA Championships in both 1984 and 1986, becoming known for his clutch shooting.

Kris Humphries

While Kris Humphris may be well known today for his NBA career, his athletic prowess extended far beyond just the basketball court. In fact, before he ever dunked a ball on the NBA hardwood, he was actually one of the top swimmers in the USA for his specific age group. As a youth swimmer, Humprhies helt national records in multiple events, beating out a young Micahel Phelps, who many consider to be the greatest swimmer of all time, in the 50 metre freestyle at one point.

At the age of 10, Kris Humpries was ranked as the number one swimmer in the country for his age bracket, something which seemed he was destined for a future in the pool rather on the courty. However, by the time he reached his teams, Humphries decided to shift his focus to basketball where his size and strength made him a natural. After a standout year at the college of Minnesoat, he was drafted into the NBA in 2004, with this being the start of his 13 year career. Playing for teams such as the Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz and New Jersey Nets, his physical play was a standout aspect of his game, something which was a combination of his size and strength which he could owe to his early years as a swimmer.

Nate Robinson

If there was ever an NBA athlete tailor made for a multi sport career, Nate Robinsion would fit this bill perfectly. Known for his energy, vertical eap and fearless competitive attitude, Robinson was not just a multi time NBA Slam Dunk Champion, but also a gifted collect player in American football

In his time at the University of Washington, Robinson was initially recruited to play football. He played cornerback for his collegiate Huskies side and showed his elite coverage skills and elite agility, something which would earn him a number of stars as a freshman. His performances on the turf earned him praise from scouts and coaches alike, both of which tipped him for a good shot in going to the NFL

However, partially due to his size, standing at just 5’9”, Nate Robinson decided to ultimately switch focus full time to basketball where he quickly became a favourite due to his high flying antics despite his stature. In 2005, he would go on to be drafted by the Phoenix Suns before being traded to the New York Knicks on draft night. This was the start of his decade-long NBA career, during which he became the only ever player to win the dunk contest 3 times, something which his natural athleticism and explosive speed could have seen him locking down receivers instead.

Allen Iverson

Often considered as one of the greatest pound for pound players in the history of the NBA, Allen Iverson's legendary career might have played out very differently on the football field. Before he became a basketballing icon, Ivrson was a quarterback in high school football, especially at Bethel in Virginia. During his time there, Iverson led his team to state championships in both American football and basketball, being partially elusive, accurate and having a cannon of an arm on the gridiron. At the same time, Iverson was named Virgibia High School Player of the Year in both sports, a feat few have ever accomplished, something which helped scouts consider him one of the best football players across the nation.

Iverson was recruited by Georgetown University specially for basketball following a temporary incident back in highschool, a place in which he would earn a name for himself due to his fearless drives to the rim and lightning fast crossovers. This saw him drafted first overall in 1996 by the Philadelphia 76ers, going on to become a league MVP, 11-time all star and ultimate NBA Hall of Famer.