The fame of Travis and Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast continues to grow, and this time they’re gaining new NBA followers with LeBron James as their latest guest. LeBron was very cooperative and friendly in his answers on a variety of topics, from his pickup game at age 16 with Michael Jordan to the time he turned down $10 million from Reebok as a high school senior. They even called him out on his Christmas Day comment about how the NBA “owns” Christmas Day instead of the NFL. While the ratings clearly showed that the NFL dominated television that day, LeBron explained why he made that statement at the time.
LeBron James Surprises Kelce Brothers with NFL Answer
One of the most intriguing questions that surprised the Kelce brothers was when they asked him who else in the NBA could play in the NFL besides him. While the NBA and NFL are completely different sports, one thing they have in common is how incredibly competitive both leagues are. There are hundreds of thousands of prospects coming out of college, but only a small number are selected in the draft, and even fewer make it through free agency. Another similarity is the physical conditioning and athleticism required – both leagues demand an extraordinary level of fitness.
LeBron didn’t hesitate to name Russell Westbrook, who he said would be a great defensive player, and Anthony Edwards, who he said would be perfect for contact sports. He also compared their style of play to that of Derwin James, the Chargers’ star safety. Personally, I think Zion Williamson could be a great defensive end or linebacker if he got in better shape, and Draymond Green could have been a solid tight end if he had pursued football. As for LeBron, he seems like he could have been a successful wide receiver or tight end, and while his NFL career might not have matched his NBA success, he probably would have had a stellar run in football as well.
An NBA-like business venture for LeBron?
While LeBron, now 40, will continue to play in the NBA, his dream of owning a team won’t be possible until he retires. That probably won’t happen this year, or maybe even next year, as LeBron will surely want a farewell tour similar to Michael Jordan’s or Kobe Bryant’s when he decides to step away. But while he’s still active, he can work alongside his business partner Maverick Carter, who is reportedly spearheading a project to create an international basketball league.
According to several reports, Carter is looking to raise a modest $5 billion to promote basketball worldwide. I think this is an incredible and innovative idea. It could even benefit the NBA, because this league wouldn’t steal its talent or threaten its ratings. Instead, the NBA could use it as a pipeline to bring in new players from outside the United States. The NBA is already very international – consider that of the last seven MVPs, only one (James Harden) was born in the U.S. Right now, it’s just a rumor, but as the saying goes, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
