NBA Stars Who Might Have Chosen a Different Path: The Unfulfilled Football Prospects of Basketball Players

In a fascinating new series by Ballislife, we delve into the intriguing ties between football and basketball, and the potential NFL careers of college basketball players with minimal college football experience.

The series kicks off with a focus on the successful NFL careers that could have been for some of the biggest names in basketball, had they chosen football over the hardwood.

One such name is Matt Barnes, a two-sport All-American at Del Campo High School. Barnes' prep career was so prolific that it earned him an induction into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame and a jersey retirement at his alma mater in both sports. In his senior season, Barnes tallied an impressive 58 receptions for 1,112 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Another name that resonates in the annals of basketball history is Allen Iverson. Iverson's 1992-93 season was a testament to his versatility, as he recorded 1,483 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air and 781 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Iverson's athleticism and determination earned him Virginia Associated Press High School Player of the Year honors in both football and basketball.

John Havlicek, another NBA legend and fellow Ohioan, gained similar hype as a two-sport wonder before focusing on basketball at Ohio State. The Cleveland Browns selected Havlicek with a flyer pick in the seventh round of the 1962 NFL Draft while he was still completing his senior basketball season with the Buckeyes. While Havlicek attended training camp with the Browns and played in an exhibition game, he was too inexperienced to keep on the roster. However, a game account from 1962 reveals that Havlicek laid a key block that sprung Hall of Fame fullback Jim Brown for a 45-yard run against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

The series also explores the hypothetical football careers of modern-day basketball stars. Mark Murphy, former Green Bay Packers executive, believes that LeBron James could have been among the greatest wide receivers of all time had he stuck with football. Jalen Suggs, a highly touted basketball prospect, was also a three-star football prospect and won the Minnesota 4A state championship as a junior. Suggs received offers to play football for Georgia, Iowa, and Michigan State.

However, it seems that James' football career remained unrealized. There are no records or credible sources indicating that any NFL teams made offers to James to join their football teams for the 2011 season. James was offered contracts by the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks during the 2011 NBA lockout, but he did not pursue a career in football. Murphy suggests that James was so talented that college may not have been necessary for his development as a football player.

The second installment of the series looks at what could have been for some of the biggest NBA stars had they chosen football over basketball. As we delve deeper into the world of these dual-sport athletes, we can't help but wonder what might have been if these basketball legends had chosen to take the gridiron instead. Stay tuned for more insights in the upcoming episodes of this intriguing series.