Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

[Rocky]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

a 6'8"/270lb wideout?

Honestly most NFL teams would move this size guy to TE as at a WR against 5'11"-6'0 guys he would be doubled solely due to size and wouldnt recieve many looks.....his teammates numbers would go through the roof though. Why would he be put at a WR when a guy like Vernon Davis (3" shorter, lower bady fat%, very close (supposed) 40 time, and very close in weight) would be a TE where he matches up with LB's?

Not to mention, why would a team have a WR that was larger than their TE?

I train pro athletes during their off-season as my career and while I have not worked with LBJ have seen up him close - not a WR....

Had he stuck with football, yes he could have maybe played - but from a financial standpoint - he made the right choice as his NFL career would be much shorter and less profitable.

I doubt that Lebron is 270. More like 245 or 250. So, using your example, he would be the same weight as a guy like Vernon Davis but 3 or 4 inches taller. LBJ also seems to have a quickness, explosiveness, athletic advantage over most TE's. I wouldn't say he would instantly beat NFL corners, but he might have that ability. You probably wouldn't need to put him at TE.

I played with Calvin Johnson and Greg Jennings in NFL mini-camp and they are some of the most physically gifted athletes I've seen in the NFL. Just watching Lebron play courtside...man I'd be lying if I said he wasn't on a whole other level than even they are athletically.

Either way it's impossible to say one way or the other how he would do. I think if he made the commitment he would be a great NFL WR. You could make an valid argument why he wouldn't though. We both agree that he made the right choice by sticking to basketball.

[ehh]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

I doubt that Lebron is 270. More like 245 or 250.

There was this discussion on LBJ's size in the NBA forum a little while ago and I mentioned this..I'm 6'8 235-240 and LBJ makes me look like a twig. I would guess he's 260 at least.

[CPT]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

There was this discussion on LBJ's size in the NBA forum a little while ago and I mentioned this..I'm 6'8 235-240 and LBJ makes me look like a twig. I would guess he's 260 at least.

the guy is only 5%BF....he is 260 if he is a pound. I know it is silly to debate but there s no way an NFL club would have a larger WR than TE.

.....and David Boston was only 228@ 6'2"

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[ChampN252]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

I doubt that Lebron is 270. More like 245 or 250. So, using your example, he would be the same weight as a guy like Vernon Davis but 3 or 4 inches taller. LBJ also seems to have a quickness, explosiveness, athletic advantage over most TE's. I wouldn't say he would instantly beat NFL corners, but he might have that ability. You probably wouldn't need to put him at TE.

Just watching Lebron play courtside...man I'd be lying if I said he wasn't on a whole other level than even they are athletically.

Last generation had Bo Jackson and we have Lebron James.

[Scottdau]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

the guy is only 5%BF....he is 260 if he is a pound. I know it is silly to debate but there s no way an NFL club would have a larger WR than TE.

.....and David Boston was only 228@ 6'2"

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The funny thing was when Michael Pittman, Boston and Thomas Jones play on the Cardinals they had the biggest arms I have ever seen on football player. They must have got a deal on that stuff.

[Scottdau]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

These are some big arms. I am sure it is natural.

[mKoz26]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

you never played football... did you?

Yeah, and the linemen don't hear their names called after a big run, despite them being the reasons for it.

Do you think LeBron can handle that?

[CPT]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

These are some big arms. I am sure it is natural.

would bet my house that TJ is clean.

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

You pretty much need to have a phenomenal amount of concentration and coordination to be a great finisher in the NBA, let alone the type of finisher Lebron is. That same coordination and concentration helps you catch a football in traffic. Now I'm not saying that he will instantly be Randy Moss...but I think it's jibberish to say that he doesn't already have skills that will help him in the NFL from just being the type of NBA player he is.

It's a completely different ball though and I play basketball all the time and It has never helped me catch a football better than I already can. He has all the "physical" tools IMO but, I just don't think he has the talent to dominate. I think he could compete, just not dominate.

[Kanobi]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

Who can out jump LeBron?

I don't know about out-jumping him....but I know a few who'd KO him and change his mind about being on the field vs. the court

[Jasong7777]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

NO

[ChampN252]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

It's a completely different ball though and I play basketball all the time and It has never helped me catch a football better than I already can. He has all the "physical" tools IMO but, I just don't think he has the talent to dominate. I think he could compete, just not dominate.

I'm not knocking you, but I hate to do this. I think basketball players are better athletes than football players. One of the most dominate players is Moss. I'm talking young Moss. You guys think he could ball with Lebron at the same age? Michael Jordan played basketball/baseball. Gates/Gonazales/Charlie Sanders (taking it back) played football/basketball. Roy Jones Jr. even played pro or semi-pro ball. TO is a great baller. There are plenty of football players that tried other sports and failed..boxing specifically.

Kinda silly, but :Ballers that could play football

[da ThRONe]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

I don't know about out-jumping him....but I know a few who'd KO him and change his mind about being on the field vs. the court

You can say this about a lot of players in the league now. Just watching LeBron on the court I dont question his toughness.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

I'm not knocking you, but I hate to do this. I think basketball players are better athletes than football players. One of the most dominate players is Moss. I'm talking young Moss. You guys think he could ball with Lebron at the same age? Michael Jordan played basketball/baseball. Gates/Gonazales/Charlie Sanders (taking it back) played football/basketball. Roy Jones Jr. even played pro or semi-pro ball. TO is a great baller. There are plenty of football players that tried other sports and failed..boxing specifically.

Kinda silly, but :Ballers that could play football

And yet Bo Jackson was probably more athletic than any of them and he played football. Averaged 5.4 yards per carry in the NFL and went to an AL All-Star game. Jordan didn't make it out of the minor leagues.

[Cebby]

Re: Could LeBron James compete in the NFL?

I'm not knocking you, but I hate to do this. I think basketball players are better athletes than football players. One of the most dominate players is Moss. I'm talking young Moss. You guys think he could ball with Lebron at the same age? Michael Jordan played basketball/baseball. Gates/Gonazales/Charlie Sanders (taking it back) played football/basketball. Roy Jones Jr. even played pro or semi-pro ball. TO is a great baller. There are plenty of football players that tried other sports and failed..boxing specifically.

What is your points?

Michael Jordan tried to play baseball and failed miserably.

Gonzalez was a football player who played basketball, not the other way around.

As far as I'm aware, in recent history (last 30 or so years), there have been two players who were actually capable of playing two sports professionally, Bo and Deion. That's it.

Kinda silly, but :Ballers that could play football

Linking to bleacherreport should really equal an automatic ban.

I'm sure Chauncey Billups, despite never playing football, would be an NFL quarterback.