LeBron at tight end? 20 NBA players who could make it in NFL

LeBron James | Lakers | Tight end

When King James was a 6-foot-6 high school freshman, the football coach resisted putting him on the varsity team until the fourth quarter of the final game of the season. How did LeBron do? He scored two touchdowns and racked up over 100 receiving yards. In his two full seasons, he was an all-state wide receiver.

LeBron has the size (250 pounds), leaping ability, and competitiveness to be an incredible tight end, a more cerebral Rob Gronkowski. He’s too strong to bully off the line, too fast for press coverage, too elusive for linebackers in the open field, and near the goal line, he’d be unstoppable on jump balls. And in a pinch, LeBron could probably fill in at quarterback, especially since he can throw with both hands.

James Harden | Rockets | Wide receiver

Harden has all the attributes of a great wide receiver. He’s tall (6-foot-5), he has great body control, he’s elusive, he’s intent on scoring, and he dramatically reacts to incidental contact in order to draw penalties. Throwing to Harden would almost definitely mean lots of scoring, except for when his stepback move caused him to land out of bounds. Plus, he'd draw plenty of pass interference calls. And even though you’d think his skill set could translate to linebacker or safety, let’s be honest: Even in a fantasy world, James Harden’s not going to play defense.

Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | Offensive line

An offensive tackle must be tall, long-armed, big and nimble. That sounds like Jokic, a guy with amazing footwork and strength who already spends his games grappling with defenders. Just look at all the scratches on his arms after a game. The best part for Jokic (7-foot, 253 pounds) is that no one would hassle him for being a little bit overweight if he were playing tackle. In fact, he’d have to gain weight to truly reach his potential.

Patrick Beverley | Clippers | Cornerback

Cornerback might be the biggest position for trash talk in football, and Beverley (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) would be proud to follow in the tradition of Josh Norman, Richard Sherman and Jalen Ramsey. Beverley would follow the other team’s top wideout wherever he went, harassing him with press coverage and well-timed insults. He’d have to adjust his mindset for run plays, because otherwise Beverely is going to end up on his back, hoping the referees would call a charge on the running back who ran through him. We’d expect Beverley to end up with a lot of interceptions and a lot of penalties for illegal contact, but he’d also get receivers kicked out of games by baiting them into punching him.

Russell Westbrook | Rockets | Free safety

Westbrook has the speed, strength, and ball skills to play free safety in the NFL. In fact, the same freelancing on defense that often hurts him in the NBA would be perfect for professional football. Imagine sticking Westbrook 15 yards off the line of scrimmage with instructions to go for the ball and disrupt plays. He’d attack receivers like he attacks the basket on a break, with the straight-line speed and fearlessness of a big hitter. And when he got the inevitable INTs, Russ (6-foot-3, 200 pounds)  would be as awesome as Ed Reed on returns.

Draymond Green | Warriors | Kicker

The 2016 NBA playoffs showed us without a doubt that Green (6-foot-6, 230 pounds) can be a devastating kicker to opponents. If he could put his legs into a punt the same way he put his his legs into Steven Adams’ groin, he could be kicking at an All-Pro level. Draymond is probably a punter rather than a placekicker -– he can't hit from distance with any accuracy anymore. Green is also an excellent passer, so coaches could feel confident putting the ball in his hands on fake field goals and punts.

Blake Griffin | Pistons | Quarterback

Growing up in Oklahoma, Griffin (6-foot-9, 250 pounds) used to play wide receiver and safety. But at this point in his career, with leg injuries piling up and his passing skills developed, we see Blake as a Ben Roethlisberger type: not the most mobile QB, but very hard to bring down. And if the coaches ever want to switch things up and run a Philly Special play, it would be almost impossible to overthrow a leaper like Blake, even as he ages. Plus, he went to Oklahoma, and any Oklahoma QB has the potential to get picked No. 1.

20 MLB players with NFL potential

Kyle Lowry | Raptors | Running back

Lowry is short (6-foot, 196 pounds) by NBA standards, but his compact body and large thighs have a definite Frank Gore look to them. As we saw in the All-Star Game this season, Lowry likes to seek out contact, taking charge after charge on defense, so running it up the gut won’t be a problem for him. Nor would finding holes, after over a decade of finding seams in NBA defense. Our only concern? His time in Canada might confuse him, and lead him to expect his teams to punt on third down.

Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | Defensive end

Imagine the havoc that Antetokounmpo (6-foot-11, 242 pounds) could wreak on quarterbacks simply by standing at the line using his 7-foot-4 wingspan to knock down passes. Couple that with his speed and strength, and he looks like a potential nightmare of a pass rusher, the spiritual heir to Jevon “The Freak” Kearse. If you’re wondering if the Greek Freak can deliver big hits, just ask Mike Dunleavy Jr.

De’Aaron Fox | Kings | Slot receiver/kick returner

According to the speed ratings in NBA 2K, the most authoritative source for player skills, Fox (6-foot-3, 185 pounds)  is the fastest player in the league with a 97. That screams slot receiver, especially since Fox would be as fearless going over the middle as he is leading a fast break. His ability to spring and cut also means he’d be a nightmare bringing back punts and kicks, causing coaches to kick away from him. That's the special teams equivalent of the Hack-A-Shaq.

Ja Morant | Grizzlies | Quarterback

If you’re looking for the NBA player with the best chance to emulate MVP Lamar Jackson, the speedy Morant (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) is your guy. He’s already proven he can lead an effective offense, even with questionable talent around him. Morant is one of the fastest players in the league, he has great court vision, and if he’s not afraid of trying to jam on Anthony Davis, he’s not going to be intimidated by a linebacker hitting him on a read-option play. 

Zion Williamson | Pelicans | Defensive end

How good of a football prospect would Williamson be? Good enough that an LSU coach made him a scholarship offer in 2016, even though Zion’s high school didn’t even have a football team. LSU imagined him as a tight end, and it’s easy to see how his strength and leaping ability would translate. But given that Zion (6-foot-6, 285 pounds) is explosive enough to explode his own shoes with a strong first move, we think he’d be most devastating as a pass rusher, playing like another hooper-turned-footballer, Julius Peppers. They could always put him on offense for goal line situations.

DeMar DeRozan | Spurs | Wide receiver

Even after 11 seasons in the league, DeRozan (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) remains one of the best in-game dunkers in the NBA. But beyond his still-present leaping ability, what would make DeRozan such an effective possession receiver in our imaginary NFL is the care he’d bring to his route-running. No one in the league has complicated, precise footwork like DeRozan, who Suns coach Monty Williams said has “feet like [Hakeem] Olajuwon.” DeRozan’s quarterback could feel confident that he’s always going to be in the right spot for timing patterns, and also that he can go up to get almost any jump ball.

Semi Ojeleye | Celtics | Middle linebacker

He may not be a star, but the most impossibly jacked NBA player outside of Zion Williamson is Ojeleye of the Celtics, who has earned nicknames ranging from “The Ox” to “Muscle Jesus.” Not only is he strong, but he has impressive lateral quickness, even among NBA players, meaning he’ll have no trouble ranging sideline to sideline. Woe to the lead blocker who must deal with “The Man Made Of Granite” on a sweep. Ojeleye is 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds.

Eric Bledsoe | Bucks | Running back

When you look at the NBA for running backs, you want a player who has speed and toughness, but also someone who isn’t too tall. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Bledsoe has the compact frame to play running back and the speed to baffle defenders in the open field. If he really did want to pursue a dual-sport career, he could always call up his good friend Drew Bledsoe for advice.

Chris Paul | Thunder | Quarterback

If you’re looking for a smart signal-caller who’d also drive everyone crazy, Paul (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) is your dude. He’s a great passer and fierce competitor who goes for every possible edge. So expect CP3 to bark at the referees or his own teammates on every play, dominate in the two-minute drill, and develop a deceptive hard count that draws the defense offsides in key situations. And on QB scrambles, Paul’s uncanny ability to stop on a dime would buy him time and send pass rushers flying past him.

Kawhi Leonard | Clippers | Safety

While ideally suited to a team with a lot of depth in the secondary –- there’s no way he is suiting up for 17 games -– Leonard (6-foot-7, 230 pounds) would be a devastating safety. His size and length are one thing, but what really makes The Claw stand out are his massive hands. Yes, he could also be a giant-sized tight end or wideout, but Kawhi’s ball-hawking instincts and defensive mentality seem like a better fit for a free safety. 

Boban Marjanovic | Mavericks | Special Teams

Could Marjanovic (7-foot-4, 290 pounds) be an every-down player in the NFL? Probably not. But could Boban be the most disruptive player on kicking plays in the whole NFL? Undoubtedly yes. Putting an immovable, giant in the middle of the line on a field goal would give kickers nightmares, as he wouldn’t even have to get penetration to alter kicks. And there’s no lineman who could possibly intimidate him -– he fought John Wick!

Bam Adebayo | Heat | Defensive end

Though he gave it up when it became clear that he was a five-star recruit and a future NBA star, Adebayo was a defensive end through his sophomore year of high school. He credits football for giving him his vaunted toughness, though it’s the speed and versatility that make us think he has the stuff to be a pass rusher. If he can guard point guards just as comfortably as he defends centers, then this is a guy who could drop into coverage just as easily as he rushed the passer. In fact, Adebayo feels like the type who could line up anywhere on the field; quarterbacks would be intimidated to throw at a 6-foot-9, 250-pounder even if he was covering a slot receiver.

Jimmy Butler | Heat | Wide receiver

Who says Butler could be a star wide receiver? Jimmy Butler, who says he could be better than Demaryius Thomas and Antonio Brown. He’s certainly tall enough (6-foot-7, 250 pounds), and given the above statement, he clearly has the confidence and arrogance that all big-time wideouts need. And you don’t have to worry about his effort level in practice, unless you’re worried about him playing so hard he destroys his teammates’ confidence.

BONUS: Kyrie Irving | Nets| Offensive coordinator

Running an NFL offense requires out-of-the-box thinking to outsmart opponents, and no one thinks farther outside the box than Irving (6-foot-2, 195 pounds). He’s already an extremely creative ballhandler and finisher, but as a coach, he’d be willing to use formations and play calls that the mainstream media and the government don’t want you to know about, man. Is there a risk that he’d call a flea flicker every play or force a trade to a different team’s coaching staff mid-season? Absolutely. But he’s worth it for his offensive genius and for the wildly entertaining news conference.