Top 15 Nerdiest Athletes of 2014

By Tyler

Ranking the Smartest Athletes In Sports Today

Russell Westbrook smartest athletes — While some fans may not think so, a majority of professional athletes are incredibly smart and studious individuals. Nevertheless, some certainly stand out from the crowd, and these are the 15 smartest athletes in the world today.

15. Craig Breslow

Craig Breslow smartest athletes

15. Craig Breslow

Craig Breslow smartest athletes — Breslow played baseball at Yale University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biophysics and biochemistry. He then deferred attending the New York University School of Medicine to play professional baseball. Suffice to say, the guy is pretty smart.

14. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan smartest athletes

14. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan smartest athletes — Duncan received a degree in psychology from Wake Forest, and his smarts translate perfectly onto the floor, as the San Antonio Spurs forward often looks like a surgeon with a ball in his hands.

13. David Price

david price smartest athletes

13. David Price

david price smartest athletes — Price attended the prestigious Vanderbilt University for three years, and he is generally regarded as being one of the most studious pitchers in MLB today.

12. Juan Mata

juan mata smartest athletes

12. Juan Mata

juan mata smartest athletes — Mata isn't a physical behemoth on the soccer field, but the Manchester United midfielder makes up for this deficiency with incredible smarts on and off the ball.

11. Steve Nash

steve nash smartest athletes

11. Steve Nash

steve nash smartest athletes — Nash attended Santa Clara University, and the guy has confirmed a reputation as being incredibly smart through a number of savvy personal and philanthropic investments.

10. Dominic Moore

dominic moore smartest athletes

10. Dominic Moore

dominic moore smartest athletes — Moore has a degree in sociology from Harvard University, and the New York Rangers center is regarded by many people as the smartest player in the NHL.

9. Myron Rolle

Myron Rolle smartest athletes

9. Myron Rolle

Myron Rolle smartest athletes — Rolle received a degree in exercise science from Florida State University in just two and a half years, and he further exposed his smarts by delaying his NFL career for one year in order to study at Oxford University on a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

8. Kobe Bryant

kobe bryant smartest athletes

8. Kobe Bryant

kobe bryant smartest athletes — Bryant has navigated his way from 18-year-old draftee to NBA legend through internal fortitude and even more through being an absolute genius. The "Black Mamba" is an avid reader, and he likely could have been successful in any field if he wanted to be.

7. Chris Young

chris young smartest athletes

7. Chris Young

chris young smartest athletes — Young has a degree in political science from Princeton University, and it would not be surprising to see the Seattle Mariners pitcher become a politician in the future.

6. Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck smartest athletes

6. Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck smartest athletes — Luck has a degree in architectural design from Stanford University, and there is no doubting that the Indianapolis Colts quarterback has one of the smartest football minds in NFL history.

5. Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan smartest athletes

5. Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan smartest athletes — Alex Morgan has a degree in political economy from the University of California, Berkeley, and the USWNT has shown off great smarts both in public appearances and on the soccer field since graduating.

4. Pau Gasol

pau gasol smartest athletes

4. Pau Gasol

pau gasol smartest athletes — Gasol has shown a very public interest in medicine, and he can also boast being multilingual and an avid reader. The Spaniard may not be especially vocal in the public sphere, but don't doubt the fact that he is incredibly smart.

3. Jeremy Lin

jeremy lin smartest athletes

3. Jeremy Lin

jeremy lin smartest athletes — Lin has a degree in economics from Harvard University, and he has also been voted one of the smartest athletes in sports by his peers on multiple occasions.

2. George Parros

george parros smartest athletes

2. George Parros

george parros smartest athletes — Parros may have made a living as a fighter in the NHL, but the guy has the smarts to multiply his earnings in retirement. Parros has a degree in economics from Princeton University, which should only affirm his status as a very smart guy.

1. Peyton Manning

peyton manning smartest athletes

1. Peyton Manning

peyton manning smartest athletes — Manning received a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication from the University of Tennessee in only three years, and the Denver Broncos quarterback is arguably the most studious player in NFL history. Suffice to say, anybody who questions Manning's mental aptitude is making a grave mistake.