The question of whether NFL players could theoretically compete in the NBA and vice versa has generated some internet discussion in response to recent remarks made by former NBA role player Austin Rivers.
Several prominent athletes, both past and present, have weighed in to express their opinions on the conversation. Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce offered his opinion on the subject following ESPN analyst Ryan Clark’s explanation of why he thought some NBA players would find the mental toughness needed to play football to be too much.
LeBron James would be an anomaly, Kelce said, adding that he believes the 39-year-old would be a standout in the NFL even if he generally agrees with Clark’s assertion that NBA stars couldn’t compete in the league.
“I love this argument and passion from Ryan, and as a football player my mind is screaming hell yea!!! But, if I was an NFL GM, and it was an option, I’d sign LeBron today and within one offseason he’d be the greatest redzone threat in the NFL.”
At 6′ 8″ and hyper-athletic, it’s not difficult to see why the prospect of James as a tight end or wide receiver has been the topic of many discussions in the past. Kelce is among the many who believe that James would’ve been a generational pass catcher had he opted to pursue football, boldly claiming he’d be the biggest red zone threat in the game.
