22 NBA Stars Who Love To Play Golf
Like most people, NBA stars — past and present — like to hit the links in their free time. With the 2018 All-Star game taking place tonight, we thought it would be the perfect time to count down some of the best ballers-turned-golfers.
Here’s a look at some of the best of the best golfers that the NBA has to offer.
Michael Jordan
Former NBA basketball star Michael Jordan hits a shot during during the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge on Bethpage State Park’s Black Course, Friday, June 12, 2009, in Farmingdale, N.Y.
Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley plays during the pro-am round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, NJ., Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Ray Allen
Former NBA basketball player Ray Allen watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the final round of the Tournament of Champions LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Shaquille O’Neal
In the pro-am round of The Greenbrier Classic 2015, Shaquille O’Neal blast his opening tee shot and entertains the crowd.
Stephen Curry
Golden State Warriors NBA basketball player Stephen Curry follows his drive from the 17th tee during the Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic golf tournament Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, in Hayward, Calif.
Chris Paul
United States Olympic basketball gold medalist Chris Paul, with the Los Angeles Clippers, tosses a golf ball in the air after putting on the seventh green during the Pro-Am for the Wyndham Championship golf tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012.
Penny Hardaway
Anfernee Hardaway watches his tee shot during the American Century Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev., on Friday, July 17, 2009.
Jason Kidd
We sent LPGA Pro Kris Tschetter out to the Midwest to take on NBA legend and Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd in a best-of-five series of golf and basketball challenges. Who comes out on top? Watch the video to find out!
Julius Erving
Basketball legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving watches his tee shot Saturday, July 31, 1999, during the 1999 Bob Gibson All-Star Classic in Omaha, Neb.
Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade, of the Miami Heat, prepares to tee off during the 10th Annual Irie Weekend Celebrity Golf Tournament Presented by Cadillac on Friday, June 20, 2014 at the Miami Beach Golf Club in Miami Beach, Fl.
Zach Levine
Chicago Bulls basketball player Zach Levine watches a tee shot during the pro-am for the LIV Golf Chicago tournament at Rich Harvest Farms on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Sugar Grove, Ill..
Pau Gasol
Former NBA basketball player Pau Gasol lines his putt on the second green at Pebble Beach Golf Links during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif., Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Vince Carter
Former NBA basketball player Vince Carter watches his tee shot on the 11th hole during the final round of the Tournament of Champions LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.
JR Smith
North Carolina A&T’s J.R. Smith tees off on the first hole during the first round of the Phoenix Invitational golf tournament in Burlington, N.C., Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Smith, who spent 16 years in the NBA, made his college golfing debut in the tournament hosted by Elon.
Andre Iguodala
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In this Oct. 12, 2016, file photo, Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala follows his shot from the 16th fairway of the Silverado Resort North Course during the pro-am event of the Safeway Open PGA golf tournament, in Napa, Calif. Iguodala’s second passion is golf. He’s putting that to work at the PGA Championship by doing reporting for Turner Sports.
Shane Battier
PGA Professional Dustin Johnson and former NBA superstar Shane Battier square off in a three point shoot out on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 during the adidas Golf event at Trump National Doral in Doral, Fla.
Alonzo Mourning
Former NBA basketball player Alonzo Mourning, left, and President Barack Obama speak with one another while golfing at Farm Neck Golf Club, in Oak Bluffs, Mass., on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2014. In a rare move for him, the president planned a break in the middle of his Martha’s Vineyard vacation to return to Washington Sunday night for unspecified meetings with Vice President Joe Biden and other advisers.
Toni Kukoc
Former NBA basketball player Toni Kukoc chips to the first hole during the first round of the Encompass Championship golf tournament in Glenview, Ill., Friday, June 20, 2014.
David Robinson
Seven foot, one-inch Naval Academy center David Robinson takes a swing while participating in the Vince Lombardi charity golf tournament in Wheaton, Maryland, June 22, 1987. Robinson was the first pick in the National Basketball Association’s annual player draft, taken by the San Antonio Spurs.
Yao Ming
Former NBA star Yao Ming hits out from a bunker on the 18th green during the final round of the World Celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament in Haikou, in southern China’s island province Hainan on Sunday Oct. 21, 2012.
Antoine Walker
Former NBA all-star Antoine Walker walks off the 18th green at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Stateline, Nev., on Friday, July 17, 2009. Walker is playing golf this weekend in northern Nevada before a scheduled court date Monday in Las Vegas in a case involving an $822,500 gambling debt.
Chris Webber
Philadelphia 76ers forward Chris Webber, and former NBA player Charles Barkley ham it up for photographers before teeing off on the opening round of the Amercian Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course at Stateline, Nev., Friday, July 14, 2006.
