The NBA and the boxing world have clashed recently. Which member of the Golden State Warriors would fair the best in the ring?
If you haven’t seen it yet, former Golden State Warriors point guard, Nate Robinson, was KO’d in two rounds by Youtube sensation Jake Paul. This lit the sports community in a blaze as everyone chipped in with jokes to clown Robinson for his embarrassing performance.
It was clear Robinson entered the fight without much experience. In contrast, Paul has apparently been training for years to become a professional boxer. When taking into account their history and height differential – there was an obvious skill gap between the two. Thankfully, that didn’t stop Stephen Curry from taking to Twitter to get a few roasts off.
Be ok Nate......come on man.
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) November 29, 2020
But, this begs the question – who would be the best boxer on the Warriors?
Most would probably jump straight to Draymond Green. After all, his aggressive playstyle is what has made him such a powerful defender. It’s easy to imagine Green entering the ring with a ton of energy. However, if you’ve seen his football tape from Michigan State, it’s clear that Green isn’t the most coordinated athlete in the world. His technique would likely need some adjusting.
Obviously, someone like Curry would be more adept at using his lightning-quick reflexes and slick footwork to dance around opponents. Yet, his lack of firepower would probably land him on the ground next to Robinson.
James Wiseman would likely be a beast. The 7-footer has a 9-foot-6-inch standing reach, giving him a length advantage over everybody. It’s hard to imagine anybody striking with more power than Wisseman, but his lack of agility might cause him to fall hard.
Andrew Wiggins has the perfect build to be a killer in the ring. His long arms and muscular frame would allow him to strike with force and he is quick enough to evade opponents. However, Wiggins doesn’t appear to have a fighting mentality as his demeanor on the basketball court is mostly calm and collected.
This leaves us with Kelly Oubre Jr. – one of the only active NBA players to have started a real physical altercation in a game. A few years ago, Oubre tossed Kelly Olynyk after a hard screen was set on him. Oubre has similar physical assets to Wiggins but possesses a more fiery competitive spirit that would probably make him a solid fighter.
While no one on the Warriors is set to step into the ring, anytime soon, James Johnson of the Dallas Mavericks has subtly expressed interest in going toe-to-toe with Paul in the future.