The Round MoundList RulesOnly two-sport athletes who could have been superstars in both sports
Famous athletes who could have dominated a second sport tell the story of men and women with so much athletic ability that they shouldn't be limited to being the best at just one sport when they could easily find success in several sports. Many athletes have tried to become successful two-sport athletes and few have succeeded but dozens more have the potential.
This list isn't about the notable two-sport athletes like Deion Sanders, who won both the Super Bowl and a World Series, or Hershel Walker, who won the Heisman Trophy, appeared in the Winter Olympics in bobsled and competed in mixed martial arts, or Michael Jordan, who returned after retiring from the NBA to play in the MLB, or Bo Jackson, who enjoyed success playing professional football and baseball during his career. This list is about the athletes who despite having the talent to dominate two sports, stuck to one and became one of the best to ever play.
For many athletes, this choice between two sports was an early one. Tom Brady for instance was selected in the MLB Draft but declined to play football. His three Super Bowl rings and numerous NFL records show he made a wise choice. Kirk Gibson was one of the best wide receivers in NCAA Football but chose the MLB contract offer over the one from the NFL. He went on to win two World Series and is still active as a highly successful MLB manager. Wilt Chamberlain had the choice of track, basketball, volleyball, boxing and football in his early years. He picked basketball and for that is now a household name.
These big names and so many more from professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey and other sports could have easily dominated a second sport. For one reason or another they made the tough decision to focus on one primary sport and in many cases went on to become legends in that sport. It would be tough to think that they regret the decision but one they certainly look back upon and wonder "what if?"1
937155Bo Jackson
Age: 58Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Bessemer, Alabama, United States of America
Teams: Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Chicago White Sox
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson (born November 30, 1962) is an American former baseball and... more2
596151Deion Sanders
Age: 53Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Fort Myers, Florida, United States of America
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons
Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. (; born August 9, 1967), nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is... more3
1,045316LeBron James
Age: 36Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, United States of America
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Played football in high school before his historic NBA careerLeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball... more4
569192Wilt Chamberlain
Dec. at 63 (1936-1999)Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia 76ers
Before becoming a legend in the NBA, he was sought after by nearly every sport from track, volleyball, boxing and footballWilton Norman Chamberlain (; August 21, 1936 – October 12, 1999) was an American basketball... more5
433144Jim Brown
Age: 84Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: St. Simons, Georgia, USA
Teams: Cleveland Browns, Syracuse Orange football
College letterman in Football, Baseball, Lacrosse and TrackJames Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is an American former professional football... more6
21546Jim Thorpe
Dec. at 65 (1888-1953)Nationality: France, United States of America
Birthplace: Oklahoma, United States of America
Teams: Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Oorang Indians
James Francis Thorpe (May 22 or 28, 1887 – March 28, 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic... more7
416164Usain Bolt
Age: 34Nationality: Jamaica
Birthplace: Sherwood Content, Jamaica
Usain St Leo Bolt (; born 21 August 1986) is a retired Jamaican sprinter. He is a world... more8
23894Russell Wilson
Age: 32Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Wisconsin Badgers football, NC State Wolfpack football
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the... more9
370174Allen Iverson
Age: 45Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Hampton, Virginia, United States of America
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons
Earned all-state honors in high school football playing quarterback before joining the National Basketball AssociationAllen Ezail Iverson (; born June 7, 1975), nicknamed "the Answer", is an American former... more10
319144Steve Nash
Age: 46Nationality: Canada, England
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Suns
Could be playing soccer in the MLSStephen John Nash (born 7 February 1974) is a Canadian former professional basketball player... more11
280132Tony Gonzalez
Age: 44Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Torrance, California, United States of America
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, California Golden Bears football
Dominated college football and basketball, including playing in the 1997 Sweet Sixteen, before enjoying a successful professional football careerAnthony David Gonzalez (born February 27, 1976) is a former American football tight end. He... more12
12230Jesse Owens
Dec. at 67 (1913-1980)Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Oakville, Alabama, United States of America
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and... more13
13540Herschel Walker
Age: 58Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Wrightsville, Georgia, United States of America
Teams: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Georgia Bulldogs football team
Herschel Walker (born March 3, 1962) is an American former professional football player,... more14
9617Jackie Robinson
Dec. at 53 (1919-1972)Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Cairo, Georgia, United States of America
Teams: UCLA Bruins football, Brooklyn Dodgers, Brooklyn Dodgers, Kansas City Monarchs, Los Angeles Bulldogs
Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional... more15
239121John Elway
Age: 60Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Port Angeles, Washington, United States of America
Teams: Denver Broncos
Spent time in the minors for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals before going on to become one of the best football players ever16
190113Shaquille O'Neal
Age: 48Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics
Shaquille Rashaun "Shaq" O'Neal ( shə-KEEL; SHAK; born March 6, 1972) is a retired... more17
213132Brock Lesnar
Age: 43Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Webster, South Dakota, United States of America
In addition to spending time in professional wrestling, he once made the roster for the Minnesota VikingsBrock Edward Lesnar (; born July 12, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, and former... more18
12160Julius Peppers
Age: 40Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Wilson, North Carolina
Teams: Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, North Carolina Tar Heels football
Played college basketball at North CarolinaJulius Frazier Peppers (born January 18, 1980) is a former American football defensive end. He... more19
168102Antonio Gates
Age: 40Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Teams: San Diego Chargers
Played basketball at Kent State before joining the ChargersAntonio Ethan Gates Jr. (born June 18, 1980) is an American football tight end who is... more20
15194Hakeem Olajuwon
Age: 57Nationality: Nigeria, United States of America
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
Teams: Houston Rockets, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
Started a promising soccer career in his native Nigeria before coming to the United States to play basketballHakeem Abdul Olajuwon (; Yoruba: [olaɟuwɔ̃]; born January 21, 1963), formerly spelled (& still... more21
13985Tim Duncan
Age: 44Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands
Teams: San Antonio Spurs, San Antonio Spurs, Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball
Planned to compete in swimming in the Summer Olympics but after his pool was destroyed by a hurricane, focused his energy on basketballTimothy Theodore Duncan (born April 25, 1976) is an American professional basketball coach and... more22
10761Nate Robinson
Age: 35Birthplace: Irvington, New Jersey
Plays in the NBA, but was an All-American football player at the University of WashingtonNathaniel Robinson (born January 18, 1985) is a former American football defensive tackle. He... more23
8247Pat Riley
Age: 75Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Rome, New York, United States of America
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns
Selected in the 1967 NFL Draft and the 1967 NBA Draft and played several seasons in the NBA before becoming one of the best basketball coaches of all time24
10065Dave Winfield
Age: 69Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
Teams: New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins
Baseball HoFer was also a star basketball player at U of Minnesota. Coach Bill Musselman called him the best rebounder he's ever seen.David Mark Winfield (born October 3, 1951) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB)... more25
8652Michael Jordan
Age: 57Nationality: USA
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Washington Wizards, North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American... more
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