10 funniest athletes who have shone on screen

When Jalen Brunson opened the 52nd season of Saturday Night Live, the move highlighted a familiar trend: athletes often move seamlessly from fields and courts to entertainment screens. Brunson, named Finals MVP and part of the team that brought the New York Knicks their first title in 53 years, used the monologue and sketches to show that some athletes know how to be natural even as comedians.

According to Bleacher Report, the magazine compiled a ranking of the 10 funniest athletes who have left their mark on television and film. In special mention stands Tom Brady as the “most unintentionally funny athlete,” while the list includes names like Josh Hart, known for his self-irony and The Roommates Show podcast, and Sydney Colson, who has taken stand-up courses and brought humor even to the team’s difficult moments.

The ranking also includes figures who built screen careers after their athletic pasts: Dave Bautista established himself as a comic actor thanks to his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy and other imitations, while Kevin Durant is known for his trolling style on social media. LeBron James is a dedicated performer who embraces the “ham” role when called upon, and John Cena made the move from WWE to comedy with roles in films like Trainwreck and as the Peacemaker character.

Marshawn Lynch made humor from the contrast between his public image and his real personality, making famous the phrase “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.” Charles Barkley has built his comic career in the studio on Inside the NBA for more than two decades, while Shaquille O’Neal uses his size to produce slapstick scenes and the famous Shaqtin’ a Fool segment. At the top of the list stands Peyton Manning, according to Bleacher Report.