Recently, controversial sports pundit Skip Bayless fueled an interesting debate online.
He claimed that, inch by inch, Kyrie Irving was the most gifted NBA player of all time, stating that he was a better finisher and had better handles than Allen Iverson.
As it happens in sports, some agreed with him, and others didn’t.
Moreover, it also opened up the debate for who was the greatest athlete overall, and Bayless, truth to form, also shared his two cents on the matter.
Per Bayless, there hasn’t been a better overall athlete than the legendary Deion Sanders.
I’m with LeBron, though with a qualifier: Inch for inch, at 6-2, Kyrie is the NBA’s most gifted player ever. But most gifted ever in any sport, making him the greatest all-around athlete ever, was Deion Sanders.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 5, 2024
Truth be told, he might be onto something, as Sanders found plenty of success in two different sports, dominating in the NFL as the best shutdown corner of his generation — and arguably of all time — and also had a long career in Major League Baseball, even playing in the World Series.
Perhaps Bo Jackson could also have a say in this conversation, but Sanders’ longevity should give him the nod.
Besides being a defensive back, Sanders also made a living as a special teamer and even as a wide receiver every now and then.
He was the jack of all trades and a guy whose sheer athleticism and feel for the game helped him make an impact regardless of his role, so he’s a great pick for this debate.
