LeBron James could have done something similar to Deion Sanders as a multi-sports athlete if he had accepted a contract from the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in 2011. James had considerable experience playing football during his high school days. However, Charles Barkley never seemed to be a fan of the idea of seeing LeBron James play in the NFL. Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show, Chuck expressed how he saw LeBron James and other basketball players as not good enough to play football professionally.
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Several other NBA players have been speculated to have the talent to play professional football. Players like Zion Williamson, Anthony Edwards, and Ben Simmons could easily have made a great career playing football professionally. However, Charles Barkley seemed quite aversive to any such proposition.
Charles Barkley scoffs at the idea of seeing LeBron James and other basketball players in the NFL
Charles Barkley was vehemently against the idea of LeBron James and other NBA players playing professionally in the NFL. When Dan Patrick asked Chuck to select his football team among current basketball players, the former Phoenix Suns star did not believe that even LeBron James could handle the NFL’s intensity, given he had only played football at the high school level.
“Well please don’t say LeBron [James]. This dudes be making me so mad thinking he can play, beause he played football in high school because he was bigger than everybody else. What’s one thing about the pros, you’re not bigger or faster than anybody else.”
However, Charles Barkley thinks that some guards, such as Russell Westbrook and Kevin Johnson, may have the talent to feature as wide receivers if they ever consider an NFL career. But despite such assurances, Barkley still refuses to see NBA players at the same level as their NFL counterparts.
“I think guards like 6’2″, 6’3”, they would make [it]. Like Russell Westbrook, somebody like that. Guys like that are built sturdy. I think they would make great wide-receivers or safeties….I love that guy as a player and he could. If he had played football, he would have been all pro as a safety or a corner.
I think most of the guards who were fast and quick like Kevin Johnson. I think you know guards like that, they could have been a wide receiver or a corner. But let’s be honest. Most of the NBA players, they’re not tough enough to football.
They’re not, no disrespect to him. We have way more talent now, don’t get me wrong. But as for that going out there, just knocking hell out somebody play, basketball players aren’t built like that.”
However, this does not mean the same rules apply to NFL players. Time and again, we have seen several NFL stars impress on the hardwood during the NBA All-Star Celebrity games. Football legends like Reggie Bush, Deion Sanders, Terrell Owens, and Steve Smith have all thrived in the NBA All-Star weekend, showcasing their skills beyond their professional domain.
LeBron James was ready to begin an NFL career back in 2011
LeBron James once revealed on MNF Manning Broadcast how Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered him a playing contract in 2011. At that time, the NBA lockout was underway, making the chances of James accepting the Cowboys’ contract of high possibility.
Although the move never came to fruition, this could count as a ‘What if’ scenario in conversations regarding LeBron’s legacy. Bron was confident he would have made it to the team, be it Dallas or anywhere else. To this day, James still honors this contract by keeping it framed in his office.
