Matching Game: NBA stars and tennis pros

While the ATP Tour begins the clay-court season, NBA basketball tips off two months of playoff basketball. The biggest superstars in both sports will be on center stage even while red-hot Roger Federer rests until the French Open.

Contrasts abound between tennis and basketball, but the following is a tribute of their comparable qualities. Enjoy a matching game of modern legends.

1

The standards of their sport with every conceivable skill to be the greatest players of all time. They are geniuses with creative shot-making, and they’ve revitalized their legacies after they were seemingly written off as contenders.

2

Revolutionary stars who defeated the kings of their sport to reign supreme. While Nadal brought greater fitness and stretched the tennis court with baseline grinding, Curry’s long-range attack has stretched the court for NBA defenses.

3

Djokovic and Durant know how hard it is to surpass legends at the top of their sports. The former finally got his French Open title after so many other achievements, and the latter finally has the team and opportunity to get his championship. Both personify smoothness and are impossible problems for opponents with off-the-charts talent.

4

They are blue-collar grinders with savvy footwork and tireless persistence. It took them years to track down their greatest championships, and maybe they will never get the acclaim of their generation’s flashiest superstars, but these underrated legends will be remembered forever.

5

Nobody labelled them as contenders until they stood up and conquered their bigger rivals. Both are stocky, play physical styles and are as tough as nails, with persistence to spare.

6

Full-speed ahead with talent that really hasn’t been seen. They power their way through opponents with razzle-dazzle showmanship and suspect shots that entertain the crowds. They can be subjects of media and fan criticism, but they play with the swagger to be the very best.

7

Undersized, but speedy and gritty, these two stars have done everything short of dominating their sport. They are still on the rise, but continue to face questions if they have enough weapons and strength to win the biggest titles.