LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players ever.
But the NBA legend, with championship stints for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, could’ve played football instead.
He was a star wide receiver for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. At his size and speed, there’s no telling how good he might’ve been.
Superstar wide receiver Davante Adams shared his thoughts on LeBron the football player during Wednesday’s appearance on Dan Patrick’s show.
“He would’ve been one of the best receivers, tight ends, all time. No question… He can fly, too. That’s the thing. He’s one of the fastest NBA players. I’ve never seen someone cover space on the basketball court, like John Wall, Derrick Rose.”
Even at 40, James would probably still catch some touchdowns.
LeBron’s High School Football Career
LeBron James earned All-Ohio wide receiver honors as a junior for St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron.
That junior season, he posted 57 catches for 1,160 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He was a top-end football recruit. Those coaches probably knew as well as anybody else that LeBron’s future was the NBA.
LeBron’s quarterback Willie McGee told Sporting News’ Bill Bender about his teammate’s abilities on the gridiron.
“He had the football speed, the acceleration, the ability to make people miss and was a punt-return-type guy. His hands were amazing. The ability to catch the ball, one hand, two hands, adjust to the ball in the air, it was uncanny. He could throw the ball, too. You put him on a reverse, and he can throw it off that. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do on a football field.”
James actually received contract offers from both the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks during the 2011 NBA lockout.
He didn’t play his senior season of high school football as he focused on basketball.
The gridiron dreams are probably in the past now. But it’s quite the “What if?”
