Appearing on the ‘New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce’ podcast, NBA superstar LeBron James said the closest he came to giving the NFL a shot was during the 2011 NBA lockout.
“I didn’t know when we were going to make the deal with the owners and get our league back going,” James said on the podcast with the brothers who, like James, are from northeast Ohio. “So I actually thought about it a little bit back then. I was still young enough, you know, to get out there with y’all. But, you know, that’s the only time I’ve actually seriously considered it.”
James, 40, was a standout wide receiver in high school at Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary. James said Ohio State offered him a chance to play basketball and football, but he stopped playing football after his junior year of high school.
“My best friend at the time, Sian Cotton, went off to Ohio State and he played for Ohio State football. … I could have roomed with him, played football during the fall, basketball during the winter and spring, so that would have been dope.”
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Of course, James bypassed college for the NBA and was the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft.
Asked for a player comparison, James said, “Probably like a mix between Gronk (Rob Gronkowski) or Randy Moss a little bit, but he’s a lot smaller than me. He runs a lot faster, but he’s a lot smaller than me. But Megatron (Calvin Johnson), we have the same stature as far (as) build. Tony Gonzalez with him and his size, and obviously he played basketball as well. I used to love his celebration when he used to dunk on the goal post, too.”
What’s harder, James was asked, an NFL player going to the NBA or an NBA player going to the NFL?
“I’ve been hearing and seeing people’s responses and going back and forth,” James said. “I want to say I think it’s easier for a basketball player to try NFL over the NFL player trying to get into the NBA.”
Which NBA player would make the smoothest transition to the NFL? “I would say Russell Westbrook or Anthony Edwards,” James said.
It’s clear from James’ social media posts and this podcast that he remains a huge football fan.
“I try to watch as many NFL games, college games, high school games,” he said.
James revealed his knowledge of the NFL by pointing out injuries, players who switched teams and players who were struggling or excelling.
The Kelce brothers razzed James for the NFL vs. NBA Christmas Day games, and James acknowledged, “From a viewership standpoint, you all kicked our (expletive).”
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt