The NBA and the NFL are followed by millions of fans worldwide and arguably rank as the two biggest sports leagues in world football.
As we draw closer to the fall, this is an exciting time for fans of both leagues as we look ahead to the upcoming season. And for fans looking for NFL betting opportunities among the best NFL bets this week, there are some athletes whose names on the roster can make all the difference.
It is hardly surprising that among the elite players in both leagues there are athletes who would be capable of switching sports. When it comes to the NBA, there are many current and former stars who, based on their college and high school careers, as well as their physical attributes, could have thrived in the NFL. In the end, they chose the NBA, but NFL fans will always wonder what might have happened if they’d opted for the gridiron over the hoops.
Allen Iverson
One of the greatest NBA players of all time, Iverson was a four-time scoring champion and an 11-time All-Star during a glittering career. Remarkably, though, basketball was his second sport. When he played football in high school, he presented as a dual-threat pass thrower who could take teams apart on the ground or through the air. And for good measure, he also played as a kick returner and defensive back.
In fact, although he was named AP’s High School Player of the Year in football and basketball, Iverson has spoken about how he initially had little interest in basketball. But fortunately for NBA fans, he stuck with basketball and went on to be one of the game’s biggest names.
LeBron James
Putting aside discussions about the NBA GOAT, everyone can agree that LeBron James is prominent in that conversation. But like Iverson, his talent extended beyond the basketball court. Switching from quarterback to wide receiver in high school, James was a two-time All-Ohio pick, scouted by Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame and Miami, and those who saw him play remain convinced that he would have thrived in the NFL.
At 6’9”, James has a seven-foot wingspan and a 40-inch vertical jump. In 2013, he claimed to have run a 4.6-second dash over 40 yards during training camp. Had he opted for football, James could have featured as a DK Metcalf-type receiver, but with additional height and weight, and would be tough to stop. Coupled with his famed work ethic and commitment to excellence, he would surely have made an NFL star.
Jalen Suggs
A rising star in the NBA, in another timeline, Suggs could have been making an impact in the NFL.
While in high school, Suggs rated among the top 20 best dual-threat quarterbacks in the US, and the second-best talent in Minnesota.
While in school, he guided the team to one state title and one second place, and in the process accumulated 2,213 throwing yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior, in addition to 978 running yards and 12 scores on the ground. He also played on defense, recording nine interceptions and two return touchdowns.
He made history when he was named both Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year, and received scholarship offers from Georgia, Ohio State, Iowa State, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Michigan State before ultimately opting for a basketball career.
Matt Barnes
A key part of the Golden State Warriors’ 2017 NBA Championship campaign, Barnes played 14 seasons in the NBA but could easily have had a long and storied football career.
At Del Campo High in California, Barnes earned All-American wide receiver honors, recording 100 receptions, 2,070 receiving yards and 45 receiving touchdowns over two seasons. His high school retired his football shirt with the number 21 in 2011. He went on to earn 58 receptions for 1,112 yards as a senior in the fall of 1997, and he led the country with 28 touchdown catches. In both basketball and football, he received All-American, All-State, All-CIF, All-City and All-League recognition.
And even after his NBA career launched, Barnes was still considering a switch to the NFL. When he found himself a free agent in 2006, his agent reportedly contacted a number of NFL franchises to look into the possibility of switching to football. That plan was shelved when the Warriors signed him, and he went to enjoy a career that saw him play 929 times for nine NBA teams.