LeBron James Was ‘Seriously Considering’ NFL Switch In 2011, And More Things The Kelce Bros. Said
It’s not often you hear Travis Kelce admit he was nervous. But the 10-time Pro Bowl winner and two-time Super Bowl champion admitted to feeling butterflies at the start of his podcast on Wednesday.
“I’m nervous but pretty excited,” Travis told his brother Jason in the latest edition of “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.”
That’s because their featured guest was someone who was a “long time coming”: the one and only LeBron James.
Thanks to successful football careers and their hit podcast, the Kelce brothers are currently two of the most famous athletes — retired, in Jason’s case — in the world. But the Cleveland natives can’t even lay claim to being Northeast Ohio’s most famous athlete. That distinction belongs, of course, to Akron’s own “King James.”
In between reminiscing about Cleveland basketball, the three Ohioans discussed LeBron’s near-NFL career, debated NBA vs. NFL and discussed LeBron’s greatest accomplishment. LeBron reveals when he considered playing in the NFL
LeBron James playing in NFL has always been a fun topic for sports fans, but has it ever come close to reality? Well, James once revealed that he was seriously considering stepping foot on the gridiron.
“The only time I really super-duper realized it was in 2011 when we had NBA lockout,” James said. “And I didn’t know when we were going to make a deal with the owners and get our league back, so I actually thought about it a little bit back then.
“I was still young enough to go out there with you guys, but that’s the only time I really thought about it.
The 2011-12 NBA season did not begin until Christmas due to a 66-game regular season lockout that ironically ended with James winning his first NBA championship with Miami Heat. James, who was 26 at the start of the season, published in 2021 yes it is Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks offered him an NFL contract.
LeBron weighs in on whether NFL vs. NBA is ‘easier’
As one of the few super-athletes who could play both professional football and basketball, LeBron was the perfect person to pose the hotly debated topic.
“Which is easier to do: an NFL player going to the NBA, or an NBA player going to the NFL?” Jason asked LeBron.
After taking a deep breath, LeBron prepared to settle the argument once and for all (?).
“I mean, I think it’s easier for a basketball player to try the NFL than it is for an NFL player trying to make it to the NBA.
LeBron saluted the Bills receiver Keon Coleman and Raven’s receiver To Flowers — whose basketball highlights went viral — before backing up his stance.
“Yeah, it’s going to take a transition period (going from the NBA to the NFL),” he said, specifically mentioning having to get used to hitting again. “Once you get into the groove, it’s like riding a bike.”
“Football goes to basketball, it’s more coordination and running and jumping and it’s, like, consistent,” he explained, since basketball players don’t get as many timeouts between actions.
LeBron also revealed that he thinks Russell Westbrook or Anthony Edwards would be other NBA players who could make the “cleanest transition” to the NFL.
“Rus would be an incredibly strong safety or free safety,” he said. “He’s trying to hit someone.” LeBron admits the NFL dominated the NBA on Christmas Day
The NBA has played games on Christmas since 1947. The NFL only recently made it an annual tradition, holding at least one game on December 25 in each of the last five seasons.
This year, despite Christmas falling on a Wednesday, the NFL scheduled two games and neither was close. Travis Kelce’s The Chiefs dominated the Steelers in a 29-10 victorywhile it is The Ravens crushed the Texans 31-2.
Despite this, fans got involved, setting a Netflix Christmas viewing record. Of course, that helped the global superstar as well Beyoncé hosted the halftime show in Houston.
Meanwhile, the NBA’s four-game Christmas schedule was more competitive, he pointed out LeBron’s Lakers sneak past Steph Curry and the Warriors in the finish line. After winning, LeBron told ESPN“I love the NFL. But Christmas is our day.”
Fast forward a few weeks later, and LeBron took a slightly different tone when Jason asked him “Who owns Christmas?”
“From a ratings standpoint, you all blew us away,” LeBron admitted. “The games weren’t as great as they should have been, but you’re freakin’ Beyonce.”
Still, LeBron said, “I had to stand up for the NBA.” And to be fair, The NBA had its best Christmas ratings in five years.
Lebron gushes about playing with Brony
One of the most talked about stories of the NBA offseason and the early part of the regular season was James playing alongside his oldest son, Bronnie James. The Lakers selected Brony with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA draft and the father-son duo made history when they shared the court in the season opener.
James gave his perspective on being teammates with his son.
“When it comes to titles, it’s a special thing,” the elder James said. “But to be able to be in this league and play in this league and also to do it with Brony now, like that’s one of the biggest accomplishments — and probably the No. 1 accomplishment that I’ve ever been able to do.” “
He went on to expand on what makes him so special.
“It helps me to see him every day grinding and going through the process of trying to become what he wants to be, while I’m sitting there and just watching him and doing the things he wants to do and being able to take it all in, it helps I’m getting some of the minutes , hours and years back that I didn’t have with him because I was playing so much,” James said.
After Travis praised Brony for withstanding all the scrutiny that comes with following in his legendary father’s footsteps, LeBron acted like the proud father that he is.
“Brony doesn’t need to play basketball at all. It’s not like he needs the money. He can do whatever he wants,” LeBron told the Kels. “He says, ‘This is my career, these are my goals, these are my aspirations and I want to play ball.’ This is something I love.’
“I love that kid. He’s great.”
Brony James has been with the Lakers and their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, this season. He appeared in nine NBA games, but was unable to get consistent playing time.
The 40-year-old James, a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and 20-time All-NBA honoree, is averaging 23.7 points, 8.8 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 50.9/39. ,1/76,2 for Los Angeles Lakerswho are the seventh seed in the Western Conference this season at 20-17.
Meanwhile, Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs are the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and are the hosts Houston Texas on Saturday in the divisional round.
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2025-01-16 01:55:00