NBA players that could have been stars in the NFL

[ziggy]

Watching "Shaq Versus" the other night made me think of this.
Which NBA players could have been stars if they had devoted their skills to the NFL.

A few right off hand.

Shaq - He could have been an outrageous defensive lineman with his size, strength and agility. And I'm sure that he could have easily bulked up to 390-400 pounds if he had needed to.

King James - He would have been an unstoppable tight end in the Antonio Gates mold

Kobe - He has the speed, tenacity, toughness... and yes even a little of the diva-ness required to be a top shelf WR.

Who are some other NBA players that could have been stars in the NFL?

[Ghost Kat]

Kobe wouldn't hit anyone or want to get hit. He got beat up by Reggie Miller and Chris Childs.

Old school. Moses Malone and Darryl Dakins as defensive ends.

I think Felton could be a Reggie Bush pass out the back field type of running back. Dwayne Wayne also.

Anthony Mason and Charles Oakley remind me of the two bullies from the Mighty Ducks movie that get on the ice and beat people up. So...Linebackers for those 2

[teej]

AI can throw a football 60 yards into a truckbed, precision point accurate. I'd take him.

I could see DJ being a corner...

[SWedd523]

AI can throw a football 60 yards into a truckbed, precision point accurate. I'd take him.

I could see DJ being a corner...
Kobe is too much of a bitch to be a star. He couldn't take the hits.

Here's my NBA to NFL notables:

Offense


I could definitely see Kevin Love be a Ben Roethelisberger type of QB. I still remember watching his UCLA warmup shots from the far corner. Dude has aim.
Chauncy Billups as a RB. He was an All-State QB in high school and he's Lendale White's cousin.
Glen Davis is big ass dude. Perfect for the FB position. He was a pretty damn good football player in high school. His skills would translate well to the NFL
LeBron would be a sick Tony Gonzales/Antonio Gates type of TE.
Dwayne Wade and Josh Smith are my WR's. Both are big, strong, fast, AND played football in high school

Defense


Shaq and Boozer as interior lineman with Ron Artest and Jason Maxiell as my ends. That is a scary ass DLine!
Not really sure about my LB's.....
Nate Robinson and Allen Iverson as my CB's. Robinson was actually on a football scholarship when he went to Washington and only walked on for basketball. AI was Mr. Football in Virginia as a QB and was even rated higher than Vick :o
Steve Nash as the kicker = self explanatory
Rasheed Wallace as my punter! +1 if anybody knows why he'd be a great punter ;)

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Rasheed Wallace as my punter! +1 if anybody knows why he'd be a great punter ;)


I'll take a wild guess. Was he a punt,pass & kick champ as a kid?

[teej]

He tried to walk on as punter at UNC???

[SWedd523]

No and NO! :facepalm:

[ziggy]

No and NO! :facepalm:

He is able to punt a basketball through the basket from halfcourt?

[SWedd523]

No lol though Steve Nash can


Sheed once punted a basketball into the stands.....

[Walt Cronkite]

Iverson was apparently an elite quarterback in hs.

[ziggy]

Ron Artest - Linebacker

He has the mean streak, physicality and the touch of insanity needed to play the position.

[azfollower]

I can definitely see someone like Early Boykins being a sneaky kick returner. Maybe Muggsy Bogues.

[davcbow]

Muggsy was fast in his day..

I could see Sean May bulking up in blubber to at least 400 lbs and playing center. Center of the universe........:biggrin:

[teej]

^ LOL

What about KG? He could be a TE too.

[SWedd523]

^ LOL

What about KG? He could be a TE too.
Too skinny. His knees couldn't handle the wear and tear

[teej]

They handled the NBA for 1000 games, and 12 seasons...

[SWedd523]

They handled the NBA for 1000 games, and 12 seasons...
uh.... He had documented knee problems that kept him from playing the end of last season and the playoffs. What makes you think he'd be able to handle blocking and being tackled for 16 weeks of football?

He's too lanky to handle all of the punishment.

[azfollower]

KG wouldn't even be the best Celtic. Other than Big Baby (a potential beast), they've also got Perkins, who I could see absolutely abusing people either as a massive tight end or DE.

[rsxnova]

I think crash would make a great special teams player.

[ziggy]

I think crash would make a great special teams player.
Or a great receiver that has no fear of going over the middle.

[ammofan]

Yeah crash would be a sick receiver....maybe not the 1 or 2 receiver but in the slot he would be awesome

[rsxnova]

Or a great receiver that has no fear of going over the middle.

Think Wes Welker part deux

[teej]

^nah, Wes is small and white. Crash is more like Chad Ochocinco or Randy Moss.

[Beekizzle]

Charles Oakley at LB or DE would be awesome. I do think LeBron would be an unreal safety and TE.