Sep 8, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett shakes hands with Miami Heat guard LeBron James before the game against the New York Giants at AT
LeBron James is on top of the world, coming off back to back NBA championships, back to back NBA Finals MVP’s, and back to back NBA regular season MVP’s. What hasn’t he done?
Just a few years ago many of his critics believed LeBron James just didn’t have it in him, he wasn’t clutch and couldn’t win a championship. Well LeBron has proved that theory to be false, and then some. Throughout the past two Miami Heat playoff runs, not only did LeBron show that he is in fact clutch, but he just dominated the game, and for a large majority of the playoffs he singlehandedly led the Miami Heat to victory.
LeBron has established the fact that he is the best basketball player alive on planet Earth today, and one of the best of all time. Although that is very impressive, many people, including myself, believe that basketball isn’t the only sport LeBron James would be successful at.
Back in the day when LeBron was in high school at St.Vincent-St. Mary, basketball wasn’t the only sport James was a star in, as he was also on the football team.
When you take into consideration how awesome of an athlete LeBron James is, it doesn’t really matter what position he may have played, he was going to be successful. But for a majority of his high school career in football, he played receiver. His most notable season statistically came in his junior year, as he racked up 57 receptions, 1,160 yards to go with 16 touchdowns. Those are some pretty stellar numbers, which led to him being named an All-State receiver. It’s hard not to feel sorry for the opposing defensive back assigned to cover LeBron James. At 6 foot 8, around 260 pounds, and add in amazing athletic ability and quickness; then you have an All-Pro wide receiver.
When I think of LeBron playing WR, Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson comes to mind, as he is 6’5, which is about the same as LeBron. Calvin has the edge over James since he has been playing for a lot longer. Saying that LeBron wouldn’t be as good as Calvin Johnson is no insult at all, as there arguably isn’t a WR in the entire NFL who can say he is better than Megatron.
I think we all believe that if James had stuck with football, specifically a wide receiver, he would’ve been dominant. But lets say if he didn’t play as a receiver, what would he have been?
Tight End would be another great option, as LeBron definitely has the size to be one, but a position that came to my mind was Outside Linebacker/Defensive End. When you take LeBron’s stature and body frame into consideration, he would be a great defensive lineman or outside linebacker.
A player that plays this position reminded me of LeBron, and that was South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. I shouldn’t need to discuss how dominant Clowney can be, as we all remember his hit against Michigan last season in the Outback Bowl. I fully believe that if LeBron James had the training like Clowney did, he could’ve been just as good. As big of a body Jadeveon Clowney has, LeBron is bigger. Clowney is listed at 6’6 250 pounds, as LeBron is about 6’8 260 pounds.
An argument could be made that LeBron would be a great QB, but its hard to just jump into such a role, as he was predominantly a receiver in high school.
Today it seems LeBron made the right decision to play basketball, as he is arguably the best player in the entire world, and one of the best to ever play the game of basketball.
What position do you think LeBron James would’ve played in football had he stuck with it? Let your voice be heard in the comment section below.