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Cycling or cross-country skiing. They would crush stick and ball guys.
To take that a step further, triathletes. Upper body strength (swimming), lower body strength (cycling), endurance (running). Decathletes might have the edge here though as someone mentioned.
I think basketball is as much about particular skills as athleticism. It would be interesting to see how an all-star hoops team would do vs an all-star hockey team in a decathalon event.
Best strength: football or rugby or wrestling or MMA
Best speed: basketball or soccer
Best athleticism: basketball
I'd say if there was to be a sport that best prepares you for every other sport out there it would basketball. Need to be coordinated with hand-eye to shoot and have coordinated legs to play defense (make cuts, quick movements, etc), sprinting up and down the court over and over again for speed, constantly moving on offense and defense for endurance, and there's the strength necessary because contrary to what most people believe, basketball can actually be pretty physical. Obviously not on the scale as football or rugby, but in the paint it can get pretty physical. You can't be extremely skinny and be successful because there are bigger guys that you won't be able to do anything against because of their sheer size on you.
No one has mentioned Ice Hockey or Boxing yet. The title of this thread is difficult to answer, since there is no criteria to determine an answer. I would agree with several other posters that Basketball players would be the most versatile at excelling at other sports.
Now one could ask which sport requires the most athleticism? There was a panel of so called experts that ranked each sport, based on 10 different aspects of athleticism. Not saying I am or am not in total agreement, but they ranked Boxing number 1, Ice Hockey number 2.
No one has mentioned Ice Hockey or Boxing yet. The title of this thread is difficult to answer, since there is no criteria to determine an answer. I would agree with several other posters that Basketball players would be the most versatile at excelling at other sports.
Now one could ask which sport requires the most athleticism? There was a panel of so called experts that ranked each sport, based on 10 different aspects of athleticism. Not saying I am or am not in total agreement, but they ranked Boxing number 1, Ice Hockey number 2.
That list was a joke, swimming that low? ARE YOU SERIOUS Also, auto racing and skateboarding need to be higher than that like say at least in the 10s. It probably takes more athleticism to grind a rail than it does to kick a soccer ball or manage being in a high speed car than it does to pitch a baseball. What a joke list that was.
Best strength: football or rugby or wrestling or MMA
Best speed: basketball or soccer
Best athleticism: basketball
I'd say if there was to be a sport that best prepares you for every other sport out there it would basketball. Need to be coordinated with hand-eye to shoot and have coordinated legs to play defense (make cuts, quick movements, etc), sprinting up and down the court over and over again for speed, constantly moving on offense and defense for endurance, and there's the strength necessary because contrary to what most people believe, basketball can actually be pretty physical. Obviously not on the scale as football or rugby, but in the paint it can get pretty physical. You can't be extremely skinny and be successful because there are bigger guys that you won't be able to do anything against because of their sheer size on you.
I think you could have lined up auto racing with soccer in the "Best endurance" category.
I'm not sure why endurance sports are being discussed. The thread title asks who is the best athlete, not who has the most stamina. And to me it's NBA players. In every other sport big men have limits. Sure Rob Gronkowski is a great athlete for his size but he doesn't come close to the athletism of LeBron James.
While I can see the decathalon argument these are simply jack of all trades guys competing with other jack of all trades. To be pretty good (by world class standards) at 10 different things to me is not as impressive as being 6'9" and making crazy athletic plays the way NBA players make them.
Best strength: football or rugby or wrestling or MMA
Best speed: basketball or soccer
Best athleticism: basketball
I'd say if there was to be a sport that best prepares you for every other sport out there it would basketball. Need to be coordinated with hand-eye to shoot and have coordinated legs to play defense (make cuts, quick movements, etc), sprinting up and down the court over and over again for speed, constantly moving on offense and defense for endurance, and there's the strength necessary because contrary to what most people believe, basketball can actually be pretty physical. Obviously not on the scale as football or rugby, but in the paint it can get pretty physical. You can't be extremely skinny and be successful because there are bigger guys that you won't be able to do anything against because of their sheer size on you.
Best endurance is wrestling
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Also, auto racing and skateboarding need to be higher than that like say at least in the 10s. It probably takes more athleticism to grind a rail than it does to kick a soccer ball or manage being in a high speed car than it does to pitch a baseball. What a joke list that was.
