A lot of athletes like to think that they could excel at multiple sports at a professional level, but in reality, very few have been able to truly pull of this feat. Aside from freaks of nature Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, the physical toll and time restraints of one professional sport are just too overwhelming for even the most athletic specimens. Not even Michael Jordan, who was notoriously mediocre in Minor League play for the MLB, could pull off the elusive dual-star athlete label. Could other NBA players, some of the most physically gifted athletes in the world, make it in the NFL, or is it just wishful thinking?
With Super Bowl LII around the corner, The Lead has hunted the NBA up and down to assemble an oversized, 22 man football roster that would quite possibly wreak havoc on much of the NFL.
Offense
QB- DeMarcus Cousins, Pelicans
Think Cam Newton–with an addition of 6 inches and nearly 40 pounds. DeMarcus Cousins at quarterback would be downright frightening for opposing defenses. Not only would his massive frame make him nearly un-sackable, but he could easily see even over even the largest of linemen. And as you can see from the video above, arm strength wouldn’t be a problem for the 3 time all-star.
WR- Matt Barnes, Free Agent
YouTubeBefore even pursuing basketball, Barnes was an All-American wide receiver at Del Campo High School in California. He even had multiple offers from NFL teams to try out for their squads, but Barnes decided to take his talents to the NBA. His 6-7 frame and fearless nature would prove valuable if Barnes ever strapped on the pads. While his football days seem to be behind him, he still hosts a charity football game with Snoop Dogg that arguably provides more entertainment than your average NFL Sunday.
WR- Kevin Durant, Warriors
KD and LeBron had a flag football game so popular that it was broadcasted on national television, and the whole nation got a peek of Durant’s hidden talent. Although he would be a complete liability on running plays with his slim reaper frame, its not hard to imagine him winning every jump ball at almost 7 feet tall. Durant would tower over corners that could only helplessly watch him snag everything thrown in the general vicinity of him, not to mention he would be an absolute force on Hail Mary’s.
RB- Russell Westbrook, Thunder
atbnews.comI bet you saw this coming. No one in the league fits the Running Back position better than Westbrook, who some nights already resembles an NFL running back with his tenacity, quickness, and explosiveness. If you think Russ is a terror in the open court, just picture him catching a screen with a set of blockers in front of him. His strength and shiftiness make him a complete package at the halfback position, and its not hard to imagine Westbrook taking one to the house if a hole developed in front of him.
TE- LeBron James, Cavaliers
cavsnation.comThere really isn’t much to say here. Anyone who adheres to the belief that James isn’t cut out for the NFL is borderline delirious at this point. He has the combination of athleticism, size, and strength that we may never see again, and the question isn’t if these skills would translate–but to what position they would translate. While most see him as a tight end, its easy to picture him as a receiver, a defensive end, a linebacker, a quarterback, and maybe even a return man. James was an All-State wideout in high school and one of the top ranked high school recruits in the nation, so its easy to seem him as a dominant force in the NFL as well. James would be gargantuan at the TE spot and would certainly draw Gronk comparisons, not to mention his flopping ability would come up clutch in selling the 15 yard interference penalty.
Offensive Line
Left Tackle- Hassan Whiteside, Heat
Left Guard- Andre Drummond, Pistons
Center- Andrew Bogut, Free Agent
Right Guard- Zach Randolph, Kings
Right Tackle- DeAndre Jordan, Clippers
Fox SportsWhen it comes to the offensive line, its all about size, and this group is the biggest the NBA has to offer. The strategy here was pretty simple: brawny and muscular in the middle while having bulky and quick players at the tackle positions. Even with some the NBA’s biggest bodies, though, this line would still weigh 230 pounds less than the average NFL offensive line. But what this unit doesn’t have in girth it will up for in athleticism. Whiteside and Jordan’s ridiculous wingspans of 7’6 and 7’7 would prove advantageous over any defensive line, as these massive reaches would give DeMarcus Cousins plenty of time to get off a throw. Whiteside’s rim protecting instincts will prove invaluable as the left tackle, as he will hold down the blind side at all costs, while Randolph, Bogut, and Drummond have all the grit necessary to hold it down in the trenches.
Defense
Defensive Line
ClutchPoints
Defensive End: Serge Ibaka, Raptors
Defensive End: Blake Griffin, Pistons
Defensive Tackle: Dwight Howard, Hornets
Defensive Tackle: Zaza Pachulia, Warriors
For the 4-3 defensive scheme, the theme up front is muscle and explosiveness. With two former dunk contest champions in Howard and Griffin, offensive lines are getting an absolute nightmare of strength and tenacity. Take Blake Griffin’s dunk-over-a-car athleticism and put it in a three-point stance and you instantly generate a quarterback’s biggest fear. Meanwhile, Serge Ibaka’s knack for blocking shots will translate into a tip-ball party on the turf. Don’t forget Zaza’s punishing demeanor and notoriety for hurting the opposition *cough* Kawhi *cough*. Think Ndamukong Suh without the contract disputes on the regular.
Linebackers
ClutchPointsOLB- Marcus Smart, Celtics
OLB- Eric Bledsoe, Bucks
ILB- Kenneth Faried, Nuggets
This linebacker crew is chock-full of the stocky, robust builds that is essential to every locker rooms LB core. Bledsoe and Smart have the speed and solid frames to get off the edge and blow up plays as they are still developing. Smart would use his tenacity to bull rush the quarterback, while Bledsoe would hit the gaps with the same quick, methodical technique that he uses to penetrate a defense and get to the rim. At the same time, Kenneth Faried’s esoteric athleticism would eat up the inside run game all day. This linebacker corps has just as much heart as it does athleticism, and the thought of these guys on a blitz pushes the intimidation factor over the top.
CB- Tony Allen, Bulls
ESPN.comTony Allen has made an NBA career for himself solely due to defensive ability, an ability that we would treasure on the All-Gridiron team. Throughout his tenure, he has been able to guard guys that are a half foot taller than him, and this versatility will no doubt translate onto the field. With a love for shutting people down and the ability to recover on defense if he gives up too much ground, Allen is as perfect as it gets for the gridiron.
CB- Patrick Beverly, Clippers
He’s pesky, he’s feisty, and he’s the perfect blend of aggression and ability to play cornerback for this squad. He’s able to get under the skin of even elite players (Russell Westbrook), but doesn’t let it become a liability to his team. The 2017 All-Defensive First-Teamer had no ejections or flagrant fouls last year, which shows he knows how to dominate without drawing penalty flags left and right. Beverly carries a chip on his shoulder that is a near necessity if you want to play the cornerback position, and that type of attitude will be greatly beneficial to this team.
Strong Safety- Lance Stephenson, Pacers
Sporting NewsYou have to be a tad crazy to play safety, and just by looking at his eyes, you can tell Stephenson encompasses the edge needed to fly downhill on a slant and take a receiver right of his feet. Between his ear-blowing shenanigans and erratic behavior, Stephenson would love nothing more than to get in the head of opposing receivers. Stephenson is the rare hybrid of quick with great size and a ferocious attitude, and little will stop him from terrorizing any receiver that dares to come down the middle.
Free Safety- Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
Sports IllustratedJust looking at Kawhi’s hand size, length, and ability, it may seem obvious to put him on the other side of the ball at wide receiver. But putting Leonard at wideout would fail to utilize his best asset–defensive ability. As one of the best defenders in the entire league, Leonard would be a hawk at free safety, swooping in for interceptions like he snatches ill-advises passes on the perimeter. He sticks to his offender like glue, and in cohesion with his off-the-charts basketball IQ, Leonard could dominate as the last line of defense.
Special Teams
Kicker/Punter- Draymond Green, Warriors
USA TodayThis is a joke–kind of. Green has built up a reputation over the years for kicking opponents, most notably a groin shot on Steven Adams that left Adams keeled over in visible pain. Why not channel Green’s foot power into something more productive and make him the kicker/punter for this team. Although a football is slightly different than Adam’s crotch, Green seems like the best candidate to be knocking the pigskin through the uprights.
Special Teams Guru- Giannis Antetokounmpo
There is simply nothing that Giannis can’t do. Since we couldn’t narrow down the extraterrestrial being to just one position, the Greek Freak will be an all-around phenom for the squad. He will be on kickoff, and kick return. He will block field goals. He will be in the nickel and dime packages. He might even take a few snaps behind center. No tool will serve better on special teams than his gargantuan strides, which when combined with his menacing euro-step, could spell nightmares for kickers.
Punt/Kick Return- John Wall, Wizards
Who better to return kicks than one of the quickest NBA players to ever take the court. In the same way he goes coast to coast in a nanosecond, Wall could leave defenders in the dust with his unprecedented shiftiness. He can take the ball from baseline to baseline in 4 seconds, so just imagine what he could do with 100 yard of real estate. It would only take a few return TD’s from the All-Star until the Devin Hester comparisons would start to roll in.
