Top 5 NBA Players Likely to Make Great Fighters

We all know boxing legend Roy Jones, Jr. can ball. In fact, the basketball probably helped his boxing prowess, giving him better footwork and hand-eye-foot coordination than boxers without that background. Also, did you know that Jones played a game of professional basketball and defended his title in the ring on the same day?

So who has done it in reverse? Tucked somewhere deep in your long-term memories, you may remember that Kendall Gill tried his hand at professional boxing as a cruiserweight. He turned out to be pretty good, going 3-0 with a 2 wins via 1st round KO.

Here are my Top 5 NBA Players Likely to Make Great Fighters!

5. Richard Hamilton : Yeah, he's skinny, but so is Paul Williams. Hamilton's fluidity and conditioning are something to behold, and he's stronger than he looks. Just like he punishes would-be defenders by running them through screens, Hamilton would torture opponents in the ring with his great conditioning and work rate, just like Williams, aka "The Punisher".

4. Kobe Bryant : His competitive ability means he will technically master whatever combat sport he dedicates himself to. He will also carry the killer instinct from the court to the ring or cage. Just like he plays basketball like a game of chess, he will be a chessboxer in the ring.

3. Ron Artest : He was the main villain in the Malice in the Palace. He boxes. He broke Michael Jordan's ribs. He's a little crazy. He's jacked (6-7, 240 lbs). Imagine Rampage Jackson with a loose screw in his head.

2. Allen Iverson : If one of them were his main sport, he could be great in either boxing or MMA. He's a born athlete with great ability and instincts. He's wiry strong, lightning quick and super-coordinated. He tops it all with long arms and unbelievable creativity.

1. Latrell Sprewell : He's not in the NBA anymore, but nevertheless, Spree has and lean and mean body to dominate almost any sport he puts his mind to. He's got a compact torso, long limbs, and not a wasted bone or muscle for peak athletic performance. He's explosive, both in terms of quickness and temperament. He's the type of guy you just don't mess with. Whenever he enters the ring or cage, he will be looking for the kill, and his body will help him get it.

17 Comments On: "Top 5 NBA Players Likely to Make Great Fighters"

 
Kobe actually takes some kind of martial arts.

I think Ron should be #1

considering that they would of course fight in their own weight class, I think the 2 energizer bunnies would be top 2, AI and Richard Hamilton, much like Manny Pacquiao, they just keep going.. and going...

I would not want to get in the ring with any of the top 5,great picks.

I would take 5'5 Earl Boykins ahead of most PG's in the league... Ben Wallace as well with Centers. Im sure Lebron could hold his own as well...

How about Rasheed Wallace?

rasheed cant fight, just like ZO and LJ, they are all talk and no action! SHAQ TOO! he couldn't even hit Charles or brad miller when they were right in front of hiM!

i gotta say i wouldnt be worried about steppin into the ring with any of these guys cuz theyre just so skinny even if they got long arms and speed, i think one good shot would put most of them on their ass.
but if weight classes are counted then I go with AI. he was a multi-sport athlete before so I gotta say a natural athlete takes it.

i agree with sprewell...Dude is volatile like U-235..should still be in NBA but whatever, NBa teams would waste millions of dollars on scrubs like Marko Jaric, Jared Jeffries and Eddie House...

Floyd MEriweather can ball too......

maybe predator marquis daniels or TMNT Nate Robinson is deflee an athletic freak of nature that I could see knock people out...Being a KNicks fan Nate always punches players every game or so, its too funy...That Denver Knicks brawl was classic Nate Robinson flipping out like Rapheal from TMNT movie..

what about KG, get Kobe outta there, he cried during the Philadelphia All-Star game, jesus and of all time id put Hakeem, MJ, Bill Russell, Dr J, and Abdul-Jabbar id love to seee a fight night love the props on AI

Who put Kry Baby on the list?!?! LMFAO he is one of the biggest babies in the league talk about a glass jaw!
The only gut in the list i agree wit is Sprewell... and maybe Al if we are talking about fightin their own weight class!
NO Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard, Melo, Andre Iguodala or Amarie S.?!?! Those are some bad dudes!!!

list list sucks

this list sucks

what about Shaqfu


What!? No Corey Maggette? He's the strongest player, pound for pound, in the NBA. He's got quickness, explosiveness, strength, toughness, everything it would take to be a good fighter. Maggette would be the best fighter in the NBA, no question.

You have to be kidding me if you don't but Ben Wallace on that list, he'd be number one too. This guys an absolute beast. He started a brawl along with who should be number two in ron artest.
Others who would be god fighters
-Corey Maggete
-JR sMith
-Al Harrington
-Nate Robinson(light weight)
Kobe shouldn't be on that list, he's a cheap shot waiting to happen.

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