Home› Sports Talk

What NFL players could make an NBA team and what NBA player could make an NFL team?

SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,119 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Sports Talk
I think that Tony Gonzales of NFL fame would have been able to play in the NBA. He was a stud on the Cal basketball team when he played both football and basketball in College.

Some other NFL players played basketball in college [in fact some of them only played basketball in college and because of their size and speed have gone on to play in the NFL].

It would not surprise me to see some current and former NBA players being talented enough to play on an NFL team (assuming that they are able to get used to being hit and tackled and have the mental toughness to take the punishment of an NFL season). Could you imagine LeBron James (6'8", 260 lbs) playing tight end or even playing as a receiver?

Are there any NFL or NBA players you can think of that would be able to play in the "other league"?

Comments

  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 30,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I thought Antonio Gates was a good Basketball player, Im not sure if he had a chance at the NBA though.
  • Skin2Skin2 Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭
    Football is the easiest sport to play without any prior experience, because body size, speed, and strength plays such a big role. If you have all that(and athletic coordination), then it doesn't take much prior experience to play. Willie Gault is a good example.

    Many kids enter high school without any prior football experience, and they can excel...as long as they have the size, speed, and strength.

    Going to basketball is a little tougher, as one just can't rely on their physical attributes...because dribbling and shooting are refined skills that take time to develop.

    So to answer the question, I would imagine there are a lot of NBA players that would more than hold their own in the NFL as either WR, TE, or defensive backs.

    There would be a select few NFL players that have the requisite ball handling and shooting skills necessary to even survive in the NBA...unless they played extensively previously.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,694 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Winfield (IIRC) weas drafted by 4 pro leagues--baseball, basketball (NBA & ABA) and football organizations.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • 3BoyzTrading3BoyzTrading Posts: 798 ✭✭


    << <i>Football is the easiest sport to play without any prior experience, because body size, speed, and strength plays such a big role. If you have all that(and athletic coordination), then it doesn't take much prior experience to play. Willie Gault is a good example.

    Many kids enter high school without any prior football experience, and they can excel...as long as they have the size, speed, and strength.

    Going to basketball is a little tougher, as one just can't rely on their physical attributes...because dribbling and shooting are refined skills that take time to develop.

    So to answer the question, I would imagine there are a lot of NBA players that would more than hold their own in the NFL as either WR, TE, or defensive backs.

    There would be a select few NFL players that have the requisite ball handling and shooting skills necessary to even survive in the NBA...unless they played extensively previously. >>



    I hope you are just comparing NBA to NFL players and strictly athletes that would excel in similar positions. To use high school football and the NFL in the same debate is garbage. Put LeBron James at Defensive End and he would get his behind handed to him. Put him at Tight End with minimal contact, he'd probably do well unless it was a run play. That's assuming he can handle the rigors of a full NFL season. Ultimately we are talking about athletes and I'm positive a large percentage of the NFL players can dribble, pass and shoot a basketball. Ask a NBA power forward or center to block Ndamakung Suh, edge rush an offensive tackle or take a pulling guard head on, you wouldn't get very may participants. Ask a similar NFL player to rebound a basketball or block someone out, they wouldn't mind.
  • dontippetdontippet Posts: 2,606 ✭✭✭✭
    Marcus Pollard played basketball at Bradley. Bradley doesn't even have a football team. I doubt if he could play in the NBA though.
    > [Click on this link to see my ebay listings.](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=&amp;_in_kw=1&amp;_ex_kw=&amp;_sacat=0&amp;_udlo=&amp;_udhi=&amp;_ftrt=901&amp;_ftrv=1&amp;_sabdlo=&amp;_sabdhi=&amp;_samilow=&amp;_samihi=&amp;_sadis=15&amp;_stpos=61611&amp;_sargn=-1&saslc=1&amp;_salic=1&amp;_fss=1&amp;_fsradio=&LH_SpecificSeller=1&amp;_saslop=1&amp;_sasl=mygirlsthree3&amp;_sop=12&amp;_dmd=1&amp;_ipg=50&amp;_fosrp=1)
    >

    Successful transactions on the BST boards with rtimmer, coincoins, gerard, tincup, tjm965, MMR, mission16, dirtygoldman, AUandAG, deadmunny, thedutymon, leadoff4, Kid4HOF03, BRI2327, colebear, mcholke, rpcolettrane, rockdjrw, publius, quik, kalinefan, Allen, JackWESQ, CON40, Griffeyfan2430, blue227, Tiggs2012, ndleo, CDsNuts, ve3rules, doh, MurphDawg, tennessebanker, and gene1978.
  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 11,802 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Sports are very specialized. I am sure many NFL players could play in the NBA as defensive specialists and many NBA guys could make an NFL roster.

    I really don't think any player playing his second best sport is going to perform at the same (or even close) level.

    Bo Jackson was looking like he might be developing into a SUPERB baseball player, but he was not as good at baseball as football.

    To answer the OP's question Kyle Rudolph of the Minnesota Vikings might have a shot at making an NBA team.
    2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
  • telephoto1telephoto1 Posts: 4,898 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Put LeBron James at Defensive End and he would get his behind handed to him. Put him at Tight End with minimal contact, he'd probably do well unless it was a run play. That's assuming he can handle the rigors of a full NFL season.

    Yeah... because running back and forth on offense and defense without safety gear on a hardwood floor for 82 games a season is WAY easier than the rigors of going in for a few plays per quarter, with a helmet, facemask, and padding, for 16 games. image

    Edit to add... I think LeBron would do well at TE... as a receiver, I don't know what his times are, but if fast enough he could do well there also.

    RIP Mom- 1932-2012
Sign In or Register to comment.