For fans of the NBA, LeBron James is unarguably one of the greatest players to ever play the sport. But had destiny not intervened, LeBron might have found himself playing on the hybrid turfs of the NFL instead of the hardwood courts of the NBA. As a teenager, James was a multi-discipline athlete who excelled in both basketball and football. So why didn’t King James play in the NFL? The answer is his mother, Gloria Marie James.

In a recent episode of the Barbershop Podcast, LeBron James revealed that his mother was the one who prevented him from playing football. He said, “I played football my whole life until my senior year in high school. My mama saw the vision. She’s like ‘boy, we in the slums. I love coming to football games but we one year removed from going to the draft. So stop playing this.’ I was like ‘okay. Alright.’” James further added, “She wanted to stop me in my junior year. I snuck and played my junior year, and didn’t tell her for the first two weeks of the junior season.”

In hindsight, LeBron James would thank his mother for stopping him, as he has become a billionaire after playing 21 seasons in the NBA. However, James possessed all the necessary attributes to excel in the NFL, particularly as a wide receiver. His speed, athleticism, size, and strength would have seamlessly translated to success on the football field. But could LeBron James have attained the same level of success in the NFL as he did in the NBA?

LeBron James: The High School Football Star

LeBron James played football for, two seasons for St. Vincent – St. Mary before shifting his complete focus to basketball. But across those two seasons, LeBron managed to record more than 2,000 rushing yards, 100 catches, and 23 touchdowns. Due to his incredible performances, James was the No.1 ranked football prospect in Ohio. Many described him as a readymade NFL wide receiver, drawing comparisons to football legend and NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss.

LeBron James’ high school football coach Jay Brophy even stated that James had scholarship offers from D1 universities like Alabama, Ohio State, Miami and Notre Dame. Moreover, during the 2011 NBA lockout multiple NFL teams like the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks offered LeBron short-term contracts.

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Even LeBron James had little to no doubt that he would be hugely successful in the NFL. During an interview with the Athletic in 2021, James stated that he would have definitely made it in the NFL. He said, “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.” 

What are your thoughts? Would LeBron James be as successful in the NFL as he is in the NBA? Let us know in the comments below!