While watching NBA games, my friends and I almost always end up on the same topic: Which NBA players would make good NFL players?
With former basketball players like Antonio Gates starring in the NFL and NBA rejects trying out for teams every year, the question more or less asks itself.
Excluding linemen—because there just aren't enough fat guys in the NBA—here is my ultimate NFL lineup of NBA players:
QUARTERBACK: Jason Kidd
Of course I thought about putting Steve Nash here—but give Kidd's size, I had no choice. While Nash has been the NBA's best point guard for the past three years, Kidd was the best for the 10 before that. His leadership and vision and experience make him the best candidate under center.
Backups: Steve Nash; Kirk Hinrich
RUNNING BACK: Chauncey Billups
At 6'3", Billups a little tall for your typical NFL running back, but his combination of speed and power is too rare to pass up. He's known for his physical dominance of other NBA guards, as well as his on-court intelligence and overall craftiness. This would translate well in the NFL, where I'd see him as an Eddie George-type runner.
Backups: Jameer Nelson; Monta Ellis
WIDE RECEIVER: Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker
Dwyane is the Terrell Owens of basketball—he has the height, athleticism, and heart to dominate. Like his commercial says, you can knock him down, but he'll get right back up. Wade is your deep threat, and the guy who'ss going to make that catch on third and long in the fourth quarter. There may be more talented players on your team, but this guy is the heart and soul.
As for Tony—he wasn't the first person to come to mind, but I chose him because he's considered one of the fastest players in the NBA, and his exceptional body control would allow him to make acrobatic catches in traffic.
Kevin Garnett also deserves mention here. While he couldn't be an every-down receiver, he'd be an unstoppable goal-line threat. Imagine throwing a fade to KG in the back of the end zone. With his height and his heart, you know he'd bring that ball down every time.
Backups: Josh Howard, for his freakishly long arms; Richard Hamilton, a possession receiver who'd go over the middle; Matt Barnes, who has publicly said he almost left the NBA to play receiver in the NFL
TIGHT END: LeBron James, Matt Harpring.
LeBron James is the NBA's alpha male (think Vernon Davis in the NFL). At 6'8", and with athleticism to boot, he'd be unstoppable as a tight end. His hands are so big he could probably catch the ball with one while waving hello to a hot girl in the first row, or counting his money, or signing an endorsement contract, or all three.
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