Your Odds Of “Going Pro” If You’re From North Carolina

Author Melanie Day

November 1st, 2023 11:29 AM

Most young kids at least give a sport or two a try. Many also grow up dreaming of playing professional sports. I’m reminded on the NCAA commercials that often air during college athletics that says “almost all of us will go pro in something other than sports”. The NCAA estimates that only about 1-2% of college athletes go on to play professional sports. On any given year there are over 500,000 college athletes in the US. I took the liberty of doing that math for you- it comes out to around 10,000 individuals per year. So what are your odds of making it pro in the major sports if you’re born in North Carolina?

Our friends at Gambling.com conducted research on the “Odds of Going Pro” in a range of sports such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. The looked at these odds for the residents of every state in America and shared with us the results for North Carolina. The odds for created by comparing the total number of current pros that there are from each state to the respective 2023 male birth rate.

The research revealed that in North Carolina, the odds of going pro in the analyzed sports are as follows:

• Odds of Making it in the NBA: 1 in 1339

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  It's no secret North Carolina has produced a lot of basketball players.

• Odds Of Making It In The NFL: 591

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  The best odds are to make the NFL. Football teams have a 53 man active roster, more than most other sports.

• Odds of Making It in the MLB: 1 in 1721

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  Looking to play Major League Baseball? These odds aren't bad but I'd be interested to see it when it's simply professional baseball. With the amount of minor league and other smaller teams it has to be pretty good.
• Odds of Making It In the NHL: 1 in 30117

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  In a warm weather climate picking up hockey isn't the most common thing to do. Though we do have a successful hockey team, maybe that will inspire more North Carolinians to give the sport a try. But for now the worst odds of making it in the NFL in any state lie in NC.

• Odds of Playing Professional Soccer: 1 in 1772

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  With as many people that grow up playing soccer I'd expect this to be better odds. But perhaps there is a lot of competition for not a lot of spots?

• Odds Of Playing Professional Golf: 1 in 1628

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  You're odds of making it on the PGA Tour or as a professional golfer? i in 1628. One of the better options for those born in NC.
• Odds Of Making it in the MMA: 0

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  But you an always be the first!

• Odds Of Making it in Tennis: 1 in 10039

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  It's possible but not likely to become a professional tennis player in North Carolina.

• Odds of Becoming an Olympian: 1 in 3012

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  With as many obscure sports I would guess this would be higher. But I guess there a lot of individual events making the total number of Olympians lower.

You can read more from Gambling.com here.

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Author Melanie Day

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