If Roger Federer played basketball: point guard, rated 85

Roger Federer as a basketball player: scouting report

Roger Federer plays point guard, and he plays it with the kind of ease that makes defenders wonder whether he is trying. He won twenty Grand Slam singles titles, including a record eight at Wimbledon, with a style built on touch, variety and perfect timing rather than raw force. That is a point guard's style. His basketball IQ is the top mark on his card, and his shooting and playmaking are level just behind it, so he can beat you as a scorer or as a passer and decides which in an instant.

His one handed backhand was the most admired shot in tennis, and the comparison on the court is a pull up jumper with perfect mechanics, the same release whether he is open or contested. He also has a creator's imagination. He grew up as a ball kid at his hometown tournament in Basel and later won it many times, and he plays like someone who studied the game from every angle. His defense is solid and his athleticism is fine, built on footwork and anticipation that always seemed to put him in the right place before the ball arrived.

Rebounding is the softest part of his card, so pair him with a big who owns the glass and let Federer push the ball the moment the rebound is secured. He slides to shooting guard with only a small drop, which makes him useful even if you already have a point guard, and he can hold small forward in a pinch. Take him in the first round. A player who stayed at the top of his sport for so long with that much grace is the rare piece you can build an entire roster around.

Plays like An effortless lead guard who makes the game look easy

Put Roger Federer in your lineup

8 rolls, a starting five and a bench, 82 games. Can you go 82-0? Free, no account.