This topic contains 75 replies, has 28 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar Mkadoza 15 years, 9 months ago.

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  • #22196
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    McWinning
    Participant

    Who do you think could.

    Dwight Howard i think is basically a taller Mario Williams.

    Rajon Rondo i think would be a shutdown corner, he has the combination of speed, size, athletacism, wingspan, hands, and instincts that i think would make him the best corner in the game right.

    Ryan Hollins should play in the nfl, hes 7-1 but he ran track in the nfl, very athletic ”40+ inch vertical 7-7 wingspan to push off block. Hes be one of the best ends in the game.

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  • #410308
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    lakano
    Participant

    Nate Robinson @ RB or DB (played DB at UW)

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  • #410310
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    esperanzafleet69
    Participant

    lebron…

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  • #410311
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    lakano
    Participant

    Dwight would get tossed trying to play DE hes way too thin …. I know he looks muscluar but its still on a skinny frame… AND hes too tall to get any leverage on the line

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  • #410312
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    torontoraptors10
    Participant

     ben wallace

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  • #410313
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    Mr. 19134
    Participant

    Dude Ryan Hollins is too tall and thin to play any position in the NFL but Wide Reciever which would be interesting because I think he could play Wide Receiver if he can catch.  But not defensive end he would get aten alive by an NFL O LINE.  

    And DH is way more athletic then Mario Williams. I bet Howard would run a 4.45 40 yard dash. But I do think he could play OLB in a 3-4 scheme rushing the passer.  

    Nate Robinson could def play corner or RB.  

    I think Derrick Rose would make a terriffic RB, along with Ray Felton.

     Eric Gordon and Sonny Weems would probably run to the 2 fastest 40 yard dashes in the league.  Along with Rose, Russ, and Wall.

    Deron Williams is built like a full back.

    Also Wide Receivers: Lebron was a beast wideout in HS.  Would of def went pro in football is he never played basketball and would or probably wound up as a tight end in the Vernon Davis mold.  Westbrook and Iggy could both play WR too I think.

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  • #410315
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    McWinning
    Participant

    I was thinking either tight end for Hollins. I remember watching i think it was Nazy and they had this 6-10 tight end who was mismatch.

    Dont underestimate Williams athletaism.

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    • #410319
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      hiphopismylife
      Participant

      Bobster thats funny before I even saw what you wrote my first thought was of Rondo as a corner lol.

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  • #410318
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    joecheck88
    Participant

    matt barnes was a good wide receiver i believe. glen davis could play on the d line. dajuan blai im sure could have played somewhere. point is nba has probably the best athletes in the world.

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  • #410320
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    hiphopismylife
    Participant

    Bron is a foregone coclusion at receiver or tight end. Id also take Drose in the backfield for that combination of start/stop speed and physicality he shows in the league.

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  • #410323
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    andxxx
    Participant

    Put Wade at receiver he’d be like Randy moss.

    On a side note any body notice how 6-3 to 6-4 receivers look tall compared to everybody else and in basketball its just average

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  • #410327
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    BasterdInABasket
    Participant

    Shaq at fullback
    Steve Nash at punter

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  • #410333
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    stanford hoops

    O one. It’s harder to make it in the NFL then

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  • #410335
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    Steroid
    Participant

    Just because the NBA has the best athletes doesn’t mean they would make good football players. Football is a much more physically demanding sport than basketball.

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  • #410344
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    sacphil_08
    Participant

    True football is much more physically demanding. I think dwade would be one of those receivers to play like 6-8 games in a season with amazing stats but get hurt every year. Lebron physically could play TE or WR. I wonder how coordinated he’d be when it comes to running routes. Dejuan blair could easily be a huge fullback or O lineman. I think the main difference between NFL and NBA players is that NFL players arent always coordinated or very smart for that matter making them basically run and jump players when it comes to playing basketball. NFL players for the most part wouldnt be able to dribble all too well and their reactions to things on the court would be late if there was any reaction at all. Also NFL players are way bulkier for sustaining hits (obviously) where as NBA players want to have a slim yet muscular body to sustain the wear and tear of a season while not being held back from being too bulky

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  • #410346
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    NYCrealdeal
    Participant

    ai but hes not in nba anymore but dude was crazy at footballl 2

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  • #410385
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    mikeyvthedon
    Participant

    Supposedly was a really good OT/DT in HS. Of course Nate and LeBron are guys I think could have played pro football. But, I think on the whole, very few football players have NBA type bodies and vice versa. It is a different type of preparation for each, so while both have players with incredible athleticism, it is usually best used in their particular sport. I think certain NFL players could play in the NBA, and certain NBA guys can play in the NFL, but under the current circumstances in which these players trained, I do not think any would be truly dominant. LeBron of course has amazing athleticism and strength, and looks like he runs like a Deer, but do we actually know if he has 4.4-4.5 speed? I know I don’t. He can jump out of the gym, we know that, but we also know that at 6’8, those knees are a big, bad target. I think LeBron chose the right sport. I honestly believe that with Nate’s combo of athleticism, speed and strength, he might have been the most successful NBA player right now who could have played in the NFL, but I think he too picked the right sport. The money on average is better for NBA players, as is the length of career. Football is indeed the most physically demanding and devestating game, and you need special skills to succeed in it. As much as NBA athletes could post some mind boggling combine numbers, mainly at the skill positions or corner (do not know many NBA players I would want playing DE or linebacker), most are I believe much better off playing basketball, which is physically demanding, but not as brutal on the body as football.

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  • #410389
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    JoeWolf1

     Have you ever watched football?  A 7 foot player playing wide receiver would get his legs destroyed.  The tallest players in the NFL to my knowledge were 6’9” and played either tackle or defensive end. 

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  • #410390
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    McWinning
    Participant

    I said tight end. hed match up against Linebackers more.

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  • #410391
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    llperez

    i would like a 7 foot wide reciever for 3rd and short and red zone situations. Its not like dwight/ryan hollins or a javele mcgee are uncordinated and couldnt run basic routes. Throw it high and let them get it.

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  • #410394
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    JoeWolf1

     I think for a 7 foot player to have the strength and bulk to survive an NFL schedule they’d have to be at least 275 lbs.  

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  • #410396
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    llperez

    wide recievers in the nfl are not close to 275. Im saying use them as a te or slot reciever in certain situations. I think their lack of strength wouldnt standout as much. Im curious to see how those guys would do in the nfl if they had a full off-season of practice. Ryan hollins was a track star at ucla and did the high jump and something else i believe.

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  • #410397
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    McWinning
    Participant

    The reason players thos size dont play is because their either too stiff, or they play basketball.

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  • #410398
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    JoeWolf1

     No they aren’t, because they are like 6′- 6’5” on average, from a proportional standpoint I think Hollins would have to pack on about 30-50lbs of muscle.  I mean, Randy Moss is a lean guy, but he’s 6’4” 210 so I don’t think 7′ 230 is a good build for an NFL player.  Like you said, maybe with a year of weight training and practice he could be better, but I wouldn’t think a 7′ TE or Receiver especially without an NFL build we be anything more than a wild card who you bring in on those kind of situations, maybe once or twice a game if even.

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  • #410409
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    creepingdef
    Participant

    Kevin Love at QB with that cannon like arm, his outlet passes from the post are pretty accurate.

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  • #410414
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    creepingdef
    Participant

    Oh and Matt Barnes could’ve possibly made it to the NFL as a WR. He was a letterman at High School and All-American honoree.

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  • #410426
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    Mr. Jewboy
    Participant

     Steve Nash has excellent court vision and is an excellent passer, so i could see him being a good QB, especially when guys like manning and brady are so good without being too athletic.

    also i think Will Bynum could make a heck of RB-about 5-11, strong as a bull and quick and coordinated as a cat-he’s real similar to a lot of other RB’s

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  • #410434
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    M-DYMES
    Participant

    Matt Barnes = WR

    DeJuan Blair = TE

    Allen Iverson = QB/KR/WR

    LBJ- WR/TE

    Nate Robinson- HB/KR/CB

    Glen Davis- FB/RB

    Steve Nash- K

    D-Wade- WR

    Kobe- WR

    Josh Smith- TE

    Rondo- CB/KR

    Derrick Rose- CB/KR

    John Wall- CB/KR

    David Noel- TE/WR

    Iguodala- TE/WR

     

     

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  • #410435
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    M-DYMES
    Participant

    You guys do know that just because a guy can chuck a basketball accurately down the court doesn’t mean they would make a good QB.  Throwing a football is an entirely different concept. 

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  • #410436
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    WizardofOz
    Participant

    I think John Wall would be a great WR. Has great size at 6’4", is super fast, and would be elusive after the catch and would have the ability to make people miss in the open field. He ha the same build as Randy Moss, which is perfect for a WR, and he would be able to make those specatacular catches because of his height and long arms.

    Glen Davis would be a good fullback. He is big so he would be able to make those key blocks, but he is also mobile enough to gain yards on the run and catch, and truck people.

    And you know I can’t leave off Shaq. He would make a great O-Lineman. He has all the physical attributes you would want in your O-Lineman. Great strength, very athletic for his size, very tall, and has long arms. I think he would be an All-Pro.

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  • #410448
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    M-DYMES
    Participant

    You know "very tall" isnt exactly something you really want for a OL.  For 1 their height can affect the QB’s vision and secondly there is this concept called leverage.  There is a reason why there aren’t any 7 footers in the NFL. 

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  • #410451
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    Mr.Knick 32
    Participant

    LeBron James was touted as the best WR out of Ohio when he played FB and he wouldn’t be on this list? Come on now.

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  • #410456
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    McWinning
    Participant

    Yeah a 7 footer could never play center too high of a center of gravity, plus you dont wanna have to reach down to grad their jerseys.

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  • #410457
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    McWinning
    Participant

    I think Dejuan Blair If he bulked up a little more could possibly play offensive tackle.

     

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  • #410468
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    mkoba24
    Participant

    He could play cause he got mad hops and he got good size, but its way harder 2 show all there skill in pads

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  • #410472
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    Mr. 19134
    Participant

    You guys are forgetting a few things.  First the NBA takes wingspan and Sneakers into account when listing measurements because the taller you are the more valuable.  The oppossitte is true in football.  If Randy Moss played basketball he would probably be listed at 6’6 they would give him two inches.  So in Football D Wade would be a 6’3 WR.  And D Rose would be a 6’2 RB in the Adrien Peterson mold.  These guys are both world class athlete so if they wanted to play football they could.  I don’t know how good they would be but football is always looking for warm bodies, and world class athlete warm bodies are a plus.

    And If I hear one more person say Dejaun Blair or Glen Davis could play full back I’m gonna scream.

    Do you know the average size of an NFL FB is like 5’11?  Why?  Because all a full back is, is the lead blocker they get low and blow linebackers up at the point of impact because of their leverage.  There are hardly any Fullbacks in the league over 6’2.  Most of them are 5’10, 5’11 and 6′ and have a nice compact build.  

    Glen Davis and Blair could both play DE tho.  Blair would be a 6’5 270 DE which is about right.  And there are alot of 6’6 DE’s in the league.  Look at Manny Lawson he is 6’6 and super athletic, he would be a small forward or power forward in basketball probably listed around 6’8 like Thad Young.

    And does anybody remember last years Final’s game when Paul Pierce dove out and thru the loose ball back in bounds where Rondo in Mid Air reached back and grab it wit one arm.  That’s a WR play right there.

    And the tallest player in the NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles at Offensive Tackle and it’s King Dunlap he’s 6’9 330

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  • #410477
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    NYCrealdeal
    Participant

    you can allways have eddy curry and john bryant anchor the oline

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  • #410480
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    McWinning
    Participant

    D tackle is the only position you can have fat seven footers, more as goal line players though.

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  • #410505
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    Malik-Universal
    Participant

    lol…. actually a really good topic

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  • #410511
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    WizardofOz
    Participant

     Nate Robinson would play CB/RB.

    At RB, he has a lot of speed and quickness, is very atheletic, and is very strong for his size, which would enable him to blcok well and break through arm tackles. But on the downside, at RB, his size would be a legitimate concern. Because of his size, I don’t think that he would be able to carry the load at RB for a team and be an every-down back. If he played RB, he would probably only be a 3rd-down back, like Darren Sproles.

    I think the best position for him to play would be CB. CB is the only position he could play where his size wouldn’t be a liability. He has good speed and quickness and is very strong for his size, so he should be a good tackler. His strength would also allow him to be good in press coverage, because he would have good jamming ability.

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  • #410520
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    gregoden08
    Participant

    Dwight Howard would not run a 4.45. That’s BS.

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  • #410523
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    joecheck88
    Participant

    matt barnes, allen iverson, glen davis, and lebron had serious college interest.

    alot of nba players have the necessary attributes to play pro football(speed, strength, leaping, etc). that meaning if they chose football over basketball the could have careers. the one guy was right with blair and davis playing fullback. that is ridiculous. and the person that said john wall at wide receiver deserves points from everyone. thats about as good an example as there is. wall would probably be listed at like 6 foot 3 and like 205 and would be a serious deep threat ala randy moss.

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  • #410525
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    gregoden08
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    He could obviously play in the NFL, but he is way too tall and skinny and would get destroyed and probably would suffer multiple injuries. There’s a reason why there’s no 7 foot te’s, and the super tall ones are a beefy 265.

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  • #410527
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    Steroid
    Participant

    But the thing is, the guys who you say could play a skill position, do they actually have ball skills? It takes more than just speed and leaping ability to be a good wide receiver. Saying John Wall could be like Randy Moss is an insult to the other skills Moss has outside of jumping and speed. There are A LOT of fast, high jumping receivers in the NFL, but they aren’t reliable and below par route runners. LeBron James and Matt Barnes are the only exception because they are the only basketball players who could actually play a skill position in the NFL. LeBron would be a good tight end, and Matt probably wouldn’t start, but he would get reasonable play time as a 3rd receiver at best. Nate could play in the NFL, but I doubt he could be anything other than a nickel corner and special teams player. I mean if some of these NBA players actually grew up playing football like they have basketball, then yeah, but I doubt very, very few NBA players could make an immediate jump and end up on a team.

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  • #410530
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    Hale
    Participant

    Some of you guys are delusional. Dwight Howard a bigger Mario Williams? Mariowould toss Dwight like a rag doll, intangibles matter and I guarantee Williams is immeasurably stronger.The NBA has the best athletes in the world? You do realize that Tim Tebow has the same vert as John Wall right? Plus NFL players having 40 inch verts is extremely common. The NFL has hands down by far the best athletes on the planet. Wade like Moss? Weems running the fastest 40 in the league? You can’t be serious. Also Rondo being the best corner in the NFL may be the dumbest statement I have heard about him. Heard of Darrelle Revis? Boy from Oakland whos name I can’t spell? Seriously dropped the ball on this one.

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  • #410531
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    Michael.S.
    Participant

    Stop overreacting just because you play football. We know your defending your sport and all but athleicism in football and in basketball are totally different. The NFLs best athlete would not be in the same class as others if he was playing NBA basketball and likewise for an NBA player in the NFL.

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  • #410532
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    Hale
    Participant

    I play(ed) basketball too, it’s not like I haven’t seen both in action. Do you agree with any of the comparisons I shot down?

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  • #410534
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    Michael.S.
    Participant

    Im not one for comparisons at all, let alone from one sport to another.

    Listen- get the top 5 athletes in football and tell them to run a fullcourt scrimmage against the top 5 athletes in the NBA and whatdo you think the outcome will be? A blowout. Likewise if they were to play a football game.

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  • #410535
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    Hale
    Participant

    That doesn’t say anything about who is more athletic than the other. From playing both, I would have to personally say strictly football athletes vs strictly basketball athletes leads to football on top, the strength difference is probably the widest gap if that counts as athleticism.

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  • #410536
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    Michael.S.
    Participant

    "That doesn’t say anything about who is more athletic than the other"

    Yes, and you just disproved your own statement. Football players are much stronger as a whole, while basketball players are more agile and have better explosiveness vertically. Speed/quickness-wise I think they are about even.

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  • #410551
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    gregoden08
    Participant

    I agree with your first post completely. Not sure who has the best athletes though. Tough one to call.

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  • #410553
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    Kinguy11
    Participant

    LeBron was a GREAT Wide Receiver in High School and lots of people thought he could play in the NFL.

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  • #410604
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    Hale
    Participant

    I don’t believe basketball players are more agile or more explosive vertically, NFL always produces higher verts the NBA, even average NFL athletes get mid 30 verts (not most lineman, skill positions), and RB’s and CB’s are the most agile positions in sports imo.

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  • #410653
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    Grandmama
    Participant

    DeJuan Blair at tight end? He’d be the slowest tight end in NFL history.

    Lebron at WR and Nate Robinson at RB or CB would be the obvious choices.  They were both stars playing high school football.

    Obviously Iverson is too old to play now, but 10 years ago he could have played.  He also was a stud at football in high school.

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  • #410662
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    joecheck88
    Participant

    im not knocking football. obviously football players will be better at football and basketball players will be better at basketball. its really just a fun topic to talk about, its not if nate robinson decided today to be a football player he would be the best. to me it is what if a basketball player decided in hs to try to be a pro football player, how good could he have been with the physical tools we know he has.

    and how come we dont hear about football players playing in the nba. brandon marshall said if there is a lockout next year he WILL play for the miami heat. he said he will, not try but will play in the league. and he is a big receiver but at like 6 foot 5 230 he would be an average sized shooting guard(height wise). and he is a great athlete but does anyone really think he could play in the nba next year? i dont but if he decided to be a basketball player in hs and worked on his game through college he could have been a nba player.

    so im not saying any nba player could walk into the nfl tomorrow and play but only there are nba players that have the physical gifts necessary to maybe be a nfl player.

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  • #410779
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    Mkadoza
    Participant

     Yup Yup, I think your underestimating the strength of some NBA players. On a weight to strength ratio, are yuo saying a 235 pound Ben Wallace isnt as strong as NFL players of the same weight? The height/leverage difference and teh nature of the games are what seperates the athleticism. Football players train to use 100% of their explosive muscles for 5-7 second intervals. Basketball players are trained to go ~85% for minutes at a time.

    But if we’re talking individual athletes versus individual athletes, I think the success of Antonio Gates and rookie TE Jimmy Graham shows athletes can crossover if they are talented enough.

    The 169 pound Rondo for example would get blown up on the regular. I think its the marginal NBA players, college standouts that would succeed in the NFL. Paul Harris for Syracuse, Sherron Collins for Kansas, players who are to short/slow for their position but have advanced strength.

    My Player in the NBA who could crossover would be JR Smith. He was a top WR prospect before being a first round pick out of NJ.

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  • #410795
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    Mkadoza
    Participant

      I can also see Ron Ron bulking back up to 275, 280 for a DE.

    He’re my all NBA fooball team.

    QB- Charlie Ward/Allen Iverson/Lebron James(to see over the linemen)

    RB1- Eric Gordon/Kyle Lowry

    RB2- Nate Robinson/Will Bynum

    LT- Charles Oakley

    LG-Robert Traylor

    C-Charley Barkley

    RG-Dejuan Blair

    RT-Willis Reed

    TE1-Wes Unseld

    TE2- Karl Malone

    WR1-Lebron James/Joe Alexander

    WR2- JR Smith/ David Noel

    DT1- Shaq O’Neal

    DT2-Oliver Miller

    DE1- Ron Artest/ Trevor Booker

    DE2- JP Batista/Reggie Evans

    (These players would have to put on serious weight to play LB but…)

    ROLB- Joey Graham

    MLB- Ben Wallace

    LOLB- Maurice Evans

    SS- Matt Barnes/Russell Carter

    FS-Jason Kidd/Gary Payton

    CB1- Russell Westbrook

    CB2- Toney Douglas..

     

    Just my opinion tho…

     

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  • #410809
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    JoeWolf1

     I think your average 225 lb NFL player is stronger than your average 225 lb NBA player because of training routines and the duration of time they have been on such routines.  NFL football players are the athletes benching 400-500 lbs, squatting 500-700 lbs and deadlifting and power cleaning absurd amounts of weight.  It’s not that a guy like Ben Wallace doesn’t have the kind of athletic potential, its just a 235 lb NFL linebacker has a 10 year head start on training for pure strength.  An NBA player isn’t lifting like that because when you put on too much bulk you lose some leaping ability, and the strength needs of the two sports are very different.  There are exceptions, Blake Griffin, Shaq, Wallace and other NBA players are extremely strong, but there is a reason the NFL’s combine bench is 40 lbs heavier than the NBA’s and theres no such thing as an NFL player only doing it 2 or 3 times like the NBA.  There is a training mentality that NFL players have, that NBA guys don’t.  Throw Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook on an NFL routine and they’d get huge, but it’d take a while for an NBA guy to catch up to an NFL player of the same size in strength, just because of the way they train.

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  • #410812
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    Hale
    Participant

    JoeWolf said it perfect, football players lift much more often than basketball players. And no, Ben Wallace is not as strong as most 235 pound NFL players.

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  • #410816
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    JoeWolf1

    Agreed, yupyup, I took a gander at the NFL combine and you had 180-200 lb defensive backs repping 225lbs 20-25 times.  If you think that a ripped NBA player is as strong as an NFL player of the same weight or if Lebron or Ron Artest is as strong as an NFL tight end, just take a look at the guys who are 22 and 23 years old and entering the league doing 225 lbs.  20-30 times at body weights ranging from 225-260 lbs. 

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  • #410817
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    Hale
    Participant

    While still getting a vertical near or above 40 inches for those DB’s I am guessing.

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  • #410818
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    JoeWolf1

     Yeah, I know there are more NFL players that do the combine compared to the NBA, but there were at least 10-15 players that I saw that had verts over 40”.  I noticed Eric Berry had 43”

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  • #410819
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    Hale
    Participant

    Calvin Johnson a few years ago reportedly had 47-48 inch. The measurement thing they had only went up to 45 inches and he went a few inches above it. In the combine he got a 43 I believe.

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  • #410820
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    andxxx
    Participant

    I hear basketball players converting to football players and being able to play in the NFL you don’t see that the other way around

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  • #410821
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    JoeWolf1

    You hear in forums like this and guys’ tweeting and stuff like that, but how many basketball players have actually done it?

    You actually have NFL players that played college basketball, Julius Peppers and UNC, Tony Gonzalez at Cal, and Antonion Gates for Kent State.

    It’s not like I’m saying NBA players arent’ good athletes, but they are more specialized.  You need to be tall, long, and agile to play in the NBA or be so skilled you can get away without meeting those specifactions.

    In the NFL you have to be strong, fast, and aggressive or be so skilled you can get away without meeting those specifications.  

    I just don’t see like 10-15 guys in the NBA I think could do it, maybe 4 or 5 tops.

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  • #410822
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    JoeWolf1

     Sports and athletic training is SO specialized these days you can get a guy who’s 7′ tall with a 7’5” wingspan and a 40” vert playing basketball and training like a basketball player his whole life and a guy who’s been playing football since he was in pee wees who’s 6′ 230 lbs and runs a 4.3 40 meter dash and can bench press 400 lbs.  I think it’s kind of insulting to the skill level of NBA and NFL players to think anyone who kind of meets the similar physical qualifications can play with the elite of another sport.  I’m stronger than most NBA players who do bench in the combine, but there is NO WAY i could hold my own battling for a rebound against someone of that caliber.  I think your average NFL player laughs when people talk about Dwight Howard playing D-End just like your average NBA player probably laughs when someone talks about Mike Vick being an NBA point guard.

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  • #410852
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    Mkadoza
    Participant

    There’s only on player in the league who possible matches your profile and thats Patrick Willis. The fact of the matter is, we have no idea how good NBA players would be in the NFL because we dont know how good their natural skills are. Also, the average height of an NFL player would be point guard/ shooting guard height, so the interesection of players who could legitimately played both is smaller than say, football and baseball.

    I’ll just say, Charlie Ward could definitely have played in the NFL, Nate, JR and Bron maybe. 

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  • #410853
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    Hale
    Participant

    Ward was undersized and skinny for a QB, and was only projected to be a mid rounder anyway.

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  • #410855
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    Mkadoza
    Participant

     But he was accurate and very agile, and avoided big hits well. If Pennington played, Ward could have. And undersized? He’s taller than Brees. If you can pass, which he could, he could play.

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  • #410857
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    JoeWolf1

    It was a hypothetical ideal.  My point was that players are trained and specialized (in most cases) since they first start to excel at a sport ( in most cases a very young age).  It would be an improbable transition for someone to cross sports like that.  IMO, it would be a 2 or 3 year transition of training styles and learning the ins and outs of playing at the highest level of a professional sport from elite trainers and insiders for it to even be possible.

    Could a few guys either way do it? probably, but not during an off-season due to a lockout or a next challenge in their mid 30’s after they retire from their respective sport.

    I’ll just say, Charlie Ward won the Heisman trophy, of course he could have played at some level in the NFL, but I don’t think he would have had as good of a career as he didn in the NBA.  

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  • #410858
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    Hale
    Participant

    Brees is an exception, you should know that. Ward’s accuracy doesn’t compare. Also Pennington and Brees went 1st and 2nd round respectively.

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  • #410870
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    joecheck88
    Participant

    i agree with joewolf and yup yup. the way i look at the question is, what nba players could have played in the nfl, if they chose football instead of basketball during their senior year in hs? in that case i think there are a number of nba players that have the speed, strength, and other physical tools to have played in the nfl. of course these guys made the right choice by playing their respective sports and no nba player could transition to the nfl overnight. it would take a few years and even then we just dont know.

    i think its just a fun what if topic. i try not to take topics like this to literally. but nfl combine numbers are disgusting. i dont know how some guys are so big and strong but can jimp and move. its ridiculous. i mean there are 265lbs linebackers with like 38 inch verticals and bench 225 like 30 times. has anyone here actually benched 225? its crazy heavy.

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  • #410875
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    Michael.S.
    Participant

    What everyone has falied to mention is that combine numbers mean 0 and all you guys are using it as if it is the ultimate factor. It is nothing.

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  • #410887
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    JoeWolf1

    I think its an accurate gauge when comparing the strength of NBA athletes to NFL athletes.  My main arguement was the skill level and experience training and playing a sport at the highest level, but if your major lifts are 100 lbs less than everyone else playing that sport it’s going to play a part.

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  • #410900
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    Steroid
    Participant

    I agree. Pound for pound, average NFL football players are much stronger than the average NBA basketball player. I went to high school with some guys on the football team who were 185-200 pounds, and their bench max was close to 350-400 pounds,  and  NBA players focus more on lean muscle than the kind of muscle mass that NFL players put on. There are very few who could make that jump, and the ones who actually could would play far from the line of scrimmage… It goes both ways though. Most football players are too short and bulky to play basketball. Most of the guys who have basketball athleticism are WRs… Regardless of athleticism and the physical ability to play either sport, it still takes ball skills and other type of skills that are just as important or more important than athletic ability. Now, if we are imagining that if a certain guy trained his whole life to play the opposite sport, then we would be having a different debate..

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  • #410914
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    Mkadoza
    Participant

     I find this topic fascinating, because I believe world class athleticism would translate regardless of the discipline one chooses. Its just hard to compete with athletes thats spend 100% of their effort for the vast majority of their lives honing their abilities in one sport. But when you see people like Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and Jim Brown, it’s hard not to see some world class, one sport athletes play other sports… Say Steve Nash- football (soccer..)?? I also think its a testiment to the difficulty and specialization of being a NBA player, given the lack of players that play basketball and something else at a truly high level.

    Me personally thinks that, if your a pro basketball player, why would you want to play any other sport? 

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