Now in his 22nd season in the NBA, there is no denying that LeBron James is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He has made an ever-lasting impact on the sport and has achieved milestones and records many thought were impossible. Even at age 40, the Ohio native remains a top player in the NBA. As it stands, James is a basketball legend. However, according to the man himself, there is another world where that statement is not true. At least not to the same extent.
Recently, James revealed he considered joining the NFL during the NBA lockout in 2011. Though he admitted it is a “what-if moment” in his life, James said that was the only time he truly thought about making the change (YouTube link).
“The only time I’ve really taken it super seriously was in 2011 during the NBA lockout. I didn’t know when we were going to make the deal with the owners and get our league back going. So I actually thought about it a little bit back then. I was still young enough to get out there with y’all. That’s the only time I’ve seriously considered it. I’ve had serious dreams about this all the time, and in my dream, the ball is never kicked off,” James said.
“It’s like me in warm-ups, running routes, coming out of the tunnel. Then, right when the game starts, I wake up or some [__]. It’s like, okay, yeah, that’s a sign—I’m not supposed to be out there. But, man, I’ve thought about it. During the lockout, I was like, ‘What if I just tried one year?’ But ultimately, I think it was just one of those what-if moments in life.”
LeBron James Reveals He ‘Thought About’ Joining the NFL
Imagining This Hypothetical
It is unclear how realistic a James move to the NFL would have been. Even if he wanted it, there have to be other teams around the league willing to bring him on. However, if there was any non-NFL player at the time who could have made that switch, it was James.
At the time, James was turning 27 and was entering his second season with the Miami Heat. There were also legitimate doubts that the NBA would have a season in place that year. Ultimately, the lockout ended on Christmas Day, leading to a shortened season. However, the now four-time champion joining the NFL is an interesting hypothetical.
James is one of the greatest athletes to ever play professional sports. At 6’9″, he likely would have played the tight end position. Strictly due to his size, there is reason to believe James could have dominated in the league. Ultimately, it never happened, but it is an interesting thought nonetheless.
The Last Word On LeBron James in the NFL
All things considered, it is probably best for James that he never switched over to the NFL, if only for one year. In the 2011-12 season, James won the first championship of his NBA career with the Heat against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Furthermore, he won MVP that year and had arguably his most dominant season up to that point. It may have crossed his mind, but it is fair to say James has no regrets over his decision.
