Cross-sport comparisons are never easy. But trying and failing is better than not trying at all. I saw that quote on a wall while working at an elementary school. I have no idea who said it. My knowledge of both soccer and basketball has increased exponentially as I’ve grown older. I thought screw it, why not compare stars from the NBA to those in international soccer with each other. This isn’t apples to apples, and it wasn’t easy, but here we go.
Steph Curry=Lionel Messi
We’ve never seen anything like Steph Curry. He changed the NBA with his incredible three-point shooting. Curry was the centerpiece of a team that changed the sport. Messi has awed fans with his ability to dribble and shoot accurately from anywhere. Curry and Messi both can take over the game with moments of magic. Messi can go on an insane solo run and change the scoreline. Curry can hit a flurry of threes and get his team back into a game.
Both were on incredible teams with incredible coaches. The Warriors circa 2016 and Barca circa 2009 were at the forefront of innovation of their game and were transcendent at the time. Both had first-time coaches, Pep Guardiola and Steve Kerr, who were integral in developing their young stars.
LeBron James=Cristiano Ronaldo
Both of these guys are supreme athletes who are playing into their late thirties. Ronaldo is still scoring for fun in Saudi Arabia, while LeBron is still putting up 40-point games in the NBA. You could also argue that both have been more motivated by money than actual success in recent years.
In the Winter of 2022, Ronaldo could’ve taken a pay cut and gone to another big European club to compete in another Champions League. However, Ronaldo went to a non-competitive league outside of Europe, with little fanfare. He got a lot of money to do that. LeBron is a free agent this summer, and despite the Lakers sitting ninth in the Western Conference, he is expected to get the bag and stay. Neither chose to win more titles, instead valuing quality of life and money over sporting glory.
Both are considered second in the “GOAT,” debate. With Ronaldo, the debate has been over since the 2022 World Cup. LeBron will still have his supporters, but both are certainly viewed as the second-best players of all time in their sport.
Victor Wembenyama=Jude Bellingham
Both of these young superstars are 20 years old. Both joined historic clubs with multiple titles (Real Madrid and San Antonio Spurs) this summer. Wemby and Jude are also succeeding in foreign countries. Despite the lack of team success for Wemby, he is on his way to generational superstar status in the NBA.
Jude and Wemby will also be integral to their countries’ success this summer in international tournaments. Paris is hosting the Olympic games and Wemby will have plenty of rest before that tournament at the end of July. Wemby will most likely partner Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt for France. Good luck to any team trying to score inside against two seven-footers and likely the winner and runner-up of the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Jude Bellingham will be huge for England’s success at this summer’s European Championship. Bellingham will likely partner Declan Rice in midfield. Bellingham’s ability to create chances and finish chances off will be key to England’s attack. The big test will be how Bellingham can play in big games, so far this season he’s shown up.
Anthony Edwards=Erling Haaland
Both these young superstars give incredibly hilarious interviews. Their personalities radiate through their team. Ant Edwards was the number one recruit in high school and the number one pick in the NBA Draft. Haaland was a standout at RB Salzburg and everyone wanted his signature before he chose to sign with Borussia Dortmund in January 2020.
Edwards is a physical freak who could’ve chosen to play in the NFL instead of the NBA. He is hesitantly compared to Michael Jordan. He would be an explosive dunk contest participant. His dunk over John Collins is evidence.
Haaland, like Edwards, is a physical freak. His mixture of size and speed is something that hasn’t been seen at the striker position for some time. Haaland and Edwards can both make incredible plays that shake audiences. Both have the “I’ve never seen that before,” potential.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA)=Florian Wirtz
Both of these young studs play in not-so-glamorous markets. SGA is in OKC, while Wirtz plays for Leverkusen. Despite this, both are at or near the top of their league. Wirtz will certainly be hoisting the Bundesliga title at season’s end. SGA has the Thunder in the top three in the west.
SGA is consistent, he’s even admitted that his consistency is his way of life. He has 45 games this season where he has scored between 30-39 points. SGA’s ability to move at his tempo on the court is eerily similar to watching Wirtz dribble through defenders. Both guys have a distinct style that doesn’t seem like others match it in their sport.
Wirtz tore his ACL in March of 2022, at that time, he had seven goals and 10 assists in the Bundesliga. After only making 17 appearances in the 2022/2023 campaign, Wirtz has eight goals and 10 assists this season. His consistency and ability to persevere through hardship are similar to SGA’s. SGA was on a horrible Thunder team his first couple of years in Oklahoma City. Now, after trusting the process, his team has shown to be contenders’.
Just like Bellingham and Wemby, Wirtz and SGA are going to be stars for their country in summer tournaments. For Wirtz, Germany is the host of the Euros this year, while SGA will lead a stacked Canada team to try for its first gold medal ever.
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Featured Image: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti/Nell Redmond
