Rob Gronkowski gives expert take on LeBron James' football potential
06/26/2024 12:19 PM
The debate over whether NBA players can play in the NFL better than NFL players can play in the NBA will seemingly never come to a close as both sides argue their talking points back and forth. Rob Gronkowski, a former NFL superstar, may have given the basketball side some ammo with his take on LeBron James.
James is often seen as a good enough athlete to thrive in the NFL had he chosen that league over the NBA. Basketball seems to have worked out alright for him but he was more than just a great athlete in his high school days. He was a legitimately dominant wide receiver at St. Vincent-St. Mary, where he was named to the All-Ohio team twice.
Gronkowski joined former teammate Julian Edelman on the "Games with Names" show and explained his vision for how James would have dominated on the gridiron.
"LeBron would've been an absolute monster on the football field… I really wish he tried out for the NFL."
– Rob Gronkowski on LeBron James football potential. @RobGronkowski@KingJames@gameswithnames
Full Episode: https://t.co/YVQUcv6G3gpic.twitter.com/bKmOajcfwt
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) June 25, 2024
Rob Gronkowski praises LeBron James’ potential as football player
"LeBron would've been an absolute monster on the football field," the former All-Pro said. "I can see him being the hybrid, ATH [athlete] tight end. He’s just so tall but he’s got the athleticism to be able to pull off the ATH position. I don't see him being a true Y, throwing himself at defensive ends, 9-techniques, D-ends that are 280, 290 [pounds]. I don't see him doing that but I see him blocking the linebackers, blocking the safeties when needed but also just dominating in the pass game. I mean, he’s a freak of an athlete."
Gronkowski recalled that James once got an offer from former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll during the 2011 NBA lockout. He also got one from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "I definitely thought about it," James said when recalling his offers in a 2021 Monday Night Football broadcast. Those offers, perhaps partially serving as publicity stunts but also genuine gauges of his interest, add to Gronk’s point. Edelman agreed that LBJ would have been a force.
"I really wish he tried out for the NFL," the former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout said, adding that he was "hoping to see that happen. I just wanted to see his athleticism translate to the football field. Because I’ve seen his highlights, his high school highlights. The guy is just an absolute beast."
James is perhaps an exception in this debate, as people on both sides would acknowledge that he’s the special type of athlete who would have been able to dominate either sport at the highest level. But his talent does at least serve as a reference point for how bigger NBA athletes would be incredible mismatches in the NFL.
Plenty of NBA and NFL athletes played both sports growing up, even in college. Allen Iverson was an outstanding football player in high school, excelling as a quarterback, defensive back and kick returner. Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez, Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates all played college basketball before going on to be Pro Bowlers in the NFL. Even Draymond Green once suited up for a spring football game at Michigan State.
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