The NBA boasts some of the most dedicated athletes to participate in professional sports. Many players who set foot on the hardwood dedicate even the offseason to perfecting their craft, with the goal of becoming some of the greatest hoopers ever.
In their quest to hone their skills, some professional basketball players have resorted to practicing combat sports. Some of the hoopers who also practiced martial arts did so well or had the right physique or mentality that they could have also become combat stars.
Here are a few NBA players who could have found success in combat sports as well.
Five NBA players who could have been combat star
#1 Deron Williams
In an exhibition boxing match held in 2021, Deron Williams faced off against ex-NFL running back Frank Gore. The two athletes engaged in an epic slugfest that ended in a split decision in favor of Williams.
The display from Williams was so impressive that fans would be forgiven for imagining a hypothetical scenario, one where the three-time NBA All-Star pursued boxing instead of basketball.
#2 Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal fits the description of an anomaly. Despite standing seven-foot-one and weighing over 300 pounds, he displayed the athleticism of someone much smaller.
Now, imagine a person with that size and agility participating in an MMA bout. It isn’t difficult to imagine that Shaq would have been able to stand toe-to-toe with the toughest heavyweights, and it seems like a mercy that he didn’t seriously pursue martial arts.
It isn’t a purely hypothetical scenario at all, as Shaq practiced mixed martial arts. He also fought boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya in a short exhibition match in 2009.
#3 James Johnson
James Johnson is best known as an enforcer on the court, and perhaps his most popular NBA moment was when he threw fists at Serge Ibaka in a regular-season game between the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors in 2018.
The altercation was quickly stopped, which was for the best, especially for Ibaka, as Johnson has a background in mixed martial arts. In fact, there are claims that he’s undefeated in kickboxing (20-0) and MMA (7-0). He once also claimed that he could beat Jon Jones in a fight.
#4 Carmelo Anthony
During his basketball career, Carmelo Anthony incorporated boxing into his training regimen. In an article by Jared Zwerling for ESPN in 2013, Melo’s love for boxing as well as how it helped him become a better basketball player was detailed.
The article talked about how seriously he took his training, and one can’t help but wonder how the 10-time NBA All-Star would have done in a sanctioned WBO fight.
#5 Kobe Bryant
The late Kobe Bryant displayed a high level of work ethic that allowed him to succeed in the NBA. His discipline in training his skills translated into several accolades, including five championships.
At one point, part of his training regimen involved Jeet Kune Do, the martial art popularized by Bruce Lee. Had Kobe decided to pursue MMA instead with the same level of dedication and discipline he had with basketball, there’s no telling how well he might have done as a fighter.
