As legend has it, Davis Love III introduced Jordan, a 3-handicap in our most recent ranking of athlete-golfers, to golf when the two were at UNC. MJ has been in love with the game since, often playing the days of big basketball games and even competing in Golf Digest's U.S. Open Challengeat Bethpage Black in 2009. By the way, check out that personalized driver!
Jerry West
The model for the NBA logo's silhouette also has good form on the golf course. West is a 5.4 at Bel-Air CC and the Greenbrier. He's also played a big role in the PGA Tour's Northern Trust Open in recent years.
Stephen Curry
The NBA's best long-range threat plays to a 2-handicap. Curry backed that up when he finished fourth at the 2013 American Century Championship in Tahoe, golf's most competitive celebrity tournament. Curry's work hosting a golf tournament for scholarships in California's Bay Area is a big reason he is honored as one of of Golf Digest's "Golfers Who Give Back" in the December 2013 issue.
Perhaps the biggest golf fan of any NBA player, Paul enjoys going to PGA Tour events and following fellow Wake Forest products Bill Haas and Webb Simpson. Unfortunately for the L.A. Clippers' point guard, watching the best hasn't rubbed off on him that much. His handicap is still hovering around 20.
Clyde Drexler
After playing in Michael Jordan's shadow his entire career, it's Drexler who has bragging rights when it comes to their golf handicaps. Drexler carries a 2.0 handicap at Royal Oaks in Houston, but has he ever teed it up against his former Dream Team rival?
Ray Allen
The owner of one of the prettiest shooting strokes in NBA history has a pretty sweet swing on the course as well. Allen is a 1.6 handicap at TPC River Highlands, site of the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship. Not bad for someone who also knocked down the most clutch shot (left) of the Miami Heat's run to an NBA title in 2012-2013.
Jason Kidd
The future Hall of Famer retired after the 2012-13 season to become the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, but his golf game keeps getting better. Listed as a 6.6 handicap in 2009, Kidd is down to a 5.4 at East Hampton Golf Club.
Deron Williams
Kidd's primary weapon as a new coach will be this All-Star point guard. Williams plays to an 8 handicap, meaning the two should have some competitive battles on the golf course. What's the etiquette when it comes to playing with your boss, again?
Penny Hardaway
Shaq's running mate before Kobe doesn't need any help on the course. The former point guard holds a 1.7 handicap index at Spring Creek Ranch in Memphis, Tenn. The bigger question: Does 'Little Penny' play golf?
Bob Cousy
The NBA legend's golf game has diminished from an 8.6 handicap in 2009 to a 12.0, but he still plays about three times a week in the summer. Pretty impressive for an 85-year-old.
Bill Russell
Cousy's former Celtics teammate is a big (understatement) golfer as well. The NBA's shot-blocking giant has been knocking shots OFF his own handicap index the past few years. Russell has gone from a 14 in 2009 to an 11.7 at Useless Bay (great name!) G&CC.
Julius Erving
"Dr. J" helped pave the way for the above-the-rim style of play we're used to watching in today's NBA. In 2009, he was listed as a 14.9 handicap.
Steve Nash
The Los Angeles Lakers' point guard has a 13.7 handicap. Considering he'll turn 40 during this upcoming season, though, it's safe to say Nash will get even better once he steps away from the NBA.
