Although several athletes transition from collegiate basketball to the NFL early in their careers, no one has managed to do so after entering the NBA. Furthermore, given the perceived ‘soft’ nature of today’s NBA game, it appears daunting for players to adapt to the physical demands of football. However, Kendrick Perkins believes that there are five players capable of making that transition, citing their unique strengths.

Perkins picks LeBron, Westbrook, and Edwards among two more

During an episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, Big Perk unveiled his elite list, emphasizing that the first three choices were based on the players’ athleticism, tenacity, and grit & grind mentality to excel in a hard-playing sport.

“Marcus Smart – damn it. If you see him in a fight with a Bear, help the Bear. We know his mentality, we know what he’s bringing… Anthony Edwards, guess what when he play football, he play running back, cornerback, and quarterback and he’s a 6’4″ specimen,” Perkins said. “No. 3 – Russell Westbrook, arguably the most athletic point guard to have ever played the game of basketball. We know, there’s dawn mentality.”

For his final two selections, the 2008 NBA Champion named LeBron James and Jalen Suggs, highlighting their success in high school football. During his sophomore and junior years at St. Vincent-St. Mary, LeBron recorded 23 receiving touchdowns, 103 catches, and 2,065 yards. Similarly, the Orlando Magic guard excelled as a star quarterback in high school, earning recognition for his elite passing skills and even being named Minnesota Mr. Football in 2019. Perkins mentioned that Suggs was offered a football scholarship at Ohio State at one point.

Moreover, considering that Jalen is the cousin of former NFL DPOY Terrell Suggs, football runs deep in his family lineage.

Not everyone shares the same take as Perkins

While Shaquille O’Neal, much like Perkins, believed that NBA players could excel in the NFL, Charles Barkley offered a different perspective, stating that, though he hates to admit it, NBA players simply cannot endure the physical toll of such a sport.

“We can’t play football,“ Barkley laughed. “Football is a grown man’s sport – real solid.”

Perkins stirred the pot with his unexpected choices, sparking lively debates among NBA fans. While he lauded the athleticism and toughness of his selections, skeptics caution about the complexities of transitioning to a different sport professionally. Still, the idea of NBA stars trying their hand at the NFL adds an intriguing layer to sports conversations, igniting both enthusiasm and skepticism within the fan community.