In every sport, a potent combination of strategy, athleticism and awareness is what truly makes an athlete an absolute genius. Every coach or manager expects his players to read the ever-changing game situations and possess an IQ to successfully aid them in times of trouble. But, in the world of National Basketball Association (NBA), intelligence isn't just a bonus on top of skills, it's almost a necessity.

Standing tall above the average humans, boasting towering personalities and coming across as a menacing force on the basketball court; the NBA stars might not look the kind of intellectuals we're used to in daily lives, but you'd actually be surprised to find out just how good these high-flying monsters are in academics.

Even some of NBA's goofiest personalities are insightful and keenly interested in subjects that go beyond basketball. These guys aren't just about putting the ball into the hoop or terrorising their opponents on the court. While a lot of stars seem leave college early to begin their NBA campaigns, many have still managed to achieve a great deal academically amid the athletic demands placed on their shoulders.

Here's a look at top 5 NBA stars whose academic genius makes them much more than just high-flying basketball players:

Widely considered to be the greatest power forward of all time, Tim Duncan was as good as they come in the NBA. He's a five-time NBA champion and  two-time NBA MVP. In the finals, he is a three-time MVP. He's also been awarded an NBA All-Star Game MVP during his career. You could say Duncan won almost everything there is in the league. Dedicating his 19-year career to San Antonio Spurs, he is also a 15-time NBA All-Star and the only player to be selected for both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons.

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But, while his impeccable set of skills and commendable temperament on court makes him a legend, Duncan's intelligence and success in academics further makes him extra special. Attending Wake Forest, the Spurs great graduated from the university with a degree in psychology and is considered one of the most cerebral players of his generation.

While majority of NBA stars have been seen deploying great ferocity in their play, Duncan came across as more methodical and smart. He eventually established his reputation as stoic player which explains why the opposing fans often taunted him as "Mr Spock" during his playing days.

Standing tall at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 200 pounds, Russell Westbrook is a point guard who has established himself as one of the most athletic players in the rich history of the NBA. The 29-year-old is well known for playing at a high level of intensity, but it's his ability to maintain that intensity for the majority of the playing time that makes him special.

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Playing for Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook is one of only two players in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season, along with Oscar Robertson in 1962. He is also a six-time All-NBA Team member and led the league in scoring in 2014–15 and 2016–17 seasons. But, for a player who seems destined to achieve more greatness, Westbrook could have been successful in any other field.

Early in his life, the Thunder star was torn between academics and basketball. He wanted to go to the Stanford University and had an impressive 3.9 GPA that would have surely secured his admission. But, luckily for his fans, he chose NBA over Stanford and became one of the greatest players of his era.

Since many basketball players tend to drop out of college in a bid to join the NBA, it's needless to say that they wouldn't be comfortable living if it wasn't for the game. But, apart from them, there is another class of players who would have excelled in almost any career option that would have chosen instead of basketball. And, Chris Bosh is the one who belongs to the latter category.

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A two-time NBA champion (2012, 2013) and an eleven-time NBA All-Star, Bosh has been influential playing for Toronto Raptors (2003-2010) and Miami Heat (2010-2017). He might be a free agent now, but Bosh isn't just restricted to playing ball on court. He has a keen interest in computer programming and spends majority of his downtime learning new forms of coding.

An outspoken advocate for the benefits of computer programming, Bosh believes that all young students should know some basic coding in order to prepare for themselves for the future. Apart from being a techie, he is also a member of both the National Society of Black Engineers and the Association of Minority Engineers.

With a record six-time NBA MVP, a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was undeniably one of the greatest player to have graced the NBA with his esteemed presence. A member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two as an assistant coach, Abdul-Jabbar twice was voted NBA Finals MVP.

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However, apart from his success on court, Jabbar was also extremely mature for his age and able to cope with constant media attention. He was a history major and spent a lot of time reading and listening to music. His awareness for racial prejudice was also strong, and it wasn't surprising to see him became a follower of Malcolm X.

Today, he is successful author and a part-time actor.

A professional basketball player and an influential politician, Bill Bradley is one of the few NBA stars who've managed to don many hats and successfully come out on top. He was a two-time NBA champion (1970, 1973) and also an NBA All-Star (1973) while playing for New York Knicks. He was the youngest member and the only undergraduate to have been selected in the American Olympic team which won its sixth consecutive gold medal in 1964.

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During his NBA career, Bradley used his fame on the court to explore social as well as political issues. Bradley also wrote a book where he chronicled his experiences in the NBA and the people he met along the way. After his retirement in 1977, Bradley ran for the Senate and won the seat in the general election.

In the Senate, Bradley acquired a reputation for being somewhat aloof and was thought of as a "policy wonk", specializing in complex reform initiatives. Among these was the 1986 overhaul of the federal tax code which reduced the tax rate schedule to just two brackets (15 per cent and 28 per cent) and eliminated many kinds of deductions. He served three terms as a Democratic US Senator from New Jersey and ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.