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Football Hall Of Famer Envisions LeBron James' Tight End Career

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated 9/12/23

Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA small forward LeBron James has flirted with exploring a football career at various instances during his NBA one. It's unclear exactly how close he came to actually signing with the Dallas Cowboys, but he did get some level of contract offer from Jerry Jones during the 2011 NBA strike.

The 6'9" superstar was also a standout wide receiver through part of his high school days in Akron, Ohio, before transitioning to full-time, year-round basketball.

Hall of Fame former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson knows a thing or two about assessing football talent.

Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson spoke with Johnson on his program The Scoop B Radio Podcast about just how James' play would translate to the tight end position, probably a better fit for James given his size and strength.

"Well it depends. I mean, if LeBron come like nowadays, like… in the last 10 years, he could’ve been GREAT," Johnson told Robinson. "Now if would’ve came in like maybe 20 years ago when that tight end position exactly wasn’t that hybrid/receiver position, he might’ve been a buck at tight end [laughs]... but there are a few guys that can make the transition and just off the way that LeBron is built maybe he can make that transition but, a lot of guys ain’t built to get up and down off the ground and get hit like that all the time. "

This article first appeared on FanNation All Lakers and was syndicated with permission.

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