So are you turning this thread from "which professional sport is the hardest" to "which sport was the toughest when you played as a pipsqueak in elementary school"?
I am saying basketball is a more difficult game to play than hockey. Mainly over the stretch of a strenuous playoff run. I found basketball to be much more tiresome and put more of a strain on my body. Having to win play an abundance of basketball games over a stretch of 2 months would be tougher than having to play a stretch of hockey matches.