Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James plays catch with the Ohio State Buckeyes team before the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Michigan at Ohio State
You remember the motto; you learn something new every day? Well, that certainty applies for this story.
In a recent interview with the Athletic, Lebron James said during the 2011 NBA lockout, he had an offer to try out for the Dallas Cowboys.
“I always think about it,” James said of a potential football career. The 26-year-old (at the time) also said that the Seattle Seahawks sent him a jersey with an offer to work out.
“I would have made the team,” he said. “I would have tried out, but I would have made the team. One thing about it, I don’t mind working for something, so if I would have had to try out for the Cowboys or the Seahawks, or if I’d have stayed home and went back home to Cleveland, I’d have tried (out), but I would have made the team. I just know what I’m capable of doing on the football field. Especially at that age.”
We’ll give the 6’9 freakish athlete the benefit of the doubt on this one.
You’ll have to go all the way to Lebron’s junior year of high school to find the last time he played a snap of football. While it was evidently clear the Ohio Native was going to play in the NBA, colleges such as Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Florida still all recruited James as a receiver.
It’s fair to say the now 38-year-old made the right decision. James, who has since gone on to win four NBA titles, is now just 36 points away from becoming the NBA’s All-Time scoring leader.
Not too shabby.
Despite his countless accomplishments, it seems the love for football will never go away.
“Before I had aspirations of owning an NBA team, I always talked about how cool it would be to be a high school football coach,” James said. “Be it a head coach or an offensive coordinator. Some Andy Reid-type s— where I’m making crazy plays. I just love the sport. I watch it all the time. It’s just in me. It’s how I grew up.”
For now, James will have to settle on breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s scoring record.
