A Pro Football Hall of Famer believes that LeBron James doesn’t have the “type of toughness” needed to play in the NFL. The former NFL player said that he would be surprised if James ever made it into the league, and that the NBA superstar is too much of a “showboat” for football.
LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, and has since gone on to become one of the most successful players in NBA history. However, despite his success, he doesn’t have the type of toughness needed to play in the NFL according to Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown.
NBA superstar LeBron James has evolved into one of the best athletes of all time during the last two decades. It’s amazing to see someone who is 6 feet 9 inches tall and 250 pounds sprint down the floor and soar into the air. However, given his incredible athleticism, one must wonder how effective LeBron James would have been as a football player.
James was a gifted wide receiver in high school, but he wisely chose the NBA over the NFL. In fact, Cris Carter, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, thinks he made the correct decision since James lacks the “kind of tenacity” required to succeed in the NFL.
On Sept. 8, 2013, LeBron James speaks with Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett before of a game against the New York Giants. | Getty Images/Wesley Hitt
Before becoming an NBA superstar, LeBron James was a standout football player at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
As a sophomore, James caught 42 receptions for 820 yards and seven touchdowns, earning him first-team All-Ohio accolades, according to Bleacher Report. As a junior, he caught 61 receptions for 1,245 yards and 16 touchdowns. Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Alabama were all interested in the potential No. 1 overall selection in the NBA draft.
However, due to a fractured wrist, James missed his senior season and instead concentrated on basketball.
That didn’t completely put an end to his football ambitions, however. During the 2011 NBA lockout, he prepared to play football, and his buddy Maverick Carter said that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had offered him a contract, according to Uninterrupted in 2020.
So, if James hadn’t been a basketball star, would he have been successful in the NFL? Cris Carter isn’t convinced.
Cris Carter claims that The King lacks the “kind of tenacity” required to play in the NFL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W pZNmUx8PI
Cris Carter is a sports icon from Ohio, where James grew up. He attended to Middletown High School and Ohio State University for his education. Carter went on to become a Pro Football Hall of Famer, catching 1,101 receptions for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns over the course of his career.
In a recent interview with Dan Patrick, the former great pass-catcher addressed whether he believed James might have become the next Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson.
Carter stated on the Aug. 24 show, “LeBron is a tough man in the NBA; I don’t know whether he’s a tough guy in the NFL.” “Usain Bolt would be playing someplace if it was that simple….” NBA toughness and grit are different from the toughness and grit required to play in the NFL.”
Carter may be correct in his assessment that basketball and football are two distinct games. In any case, James made the correct choice.
LeBron James has gone on to become one of the best basketball players of all time as a result of his decision to forego football.
He has 17 All-Star appearances, four NBA MVP awards, four championships, and four Finals MVP awards. He’s also third in NBA history with 35,367 overall points and ninth with 9,696 total assists.
As a result of his outstanding performance, he is now richer than he would have been if he had never played football. James has a net worth of $500 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, after earning $387.3 million in the NBA and much more off the court as a basketball legend.
It would have been amazing to see James play football. Focusing on basketball, on the other hand, was the greatest choice he’s ever done.
Basketball Reference and Pro Football Reference provided the stats, while Spotrac provided the career earnings.
RELATED: LeBron James Once Tried to Bring a Former All-Star to the Cavs, But Was Strongly Rejected: ‘I Didn’t Wanna Play With LeBron,’
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