Former NBA point guard and current ESPN analyst Austin Rivers caused a stir when he made lofty claims about how basketball players would adjust to the NFL and vice versa.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rivers said he believes you can hypothetically "take 30 players right now in the NBA and throw them in the NFL," whereas "You cannot take 30 NFL players and put them in the NBA." In addition to receiving pushback from the hosts of the podcast, Rivers also was called out by legendary defensive end J.J. Watt on social media:
JJ Watt @JJWattYou don't got a job in either right now, go head and try it… <a href="">
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA"I can take 30 players right now in the NBA and throw them in the NFL. You cannot take 30 NFL players and put them in the NBA." —<a href="">@AustinRivers25</a> <br><br>What NBA players could you see playing in the NFL? 👀 <a href="">@PatMcAfeeShow</a> <a href="">
Rivers' declaration may have been a little farfetched. While NBA players are some of the greatest athletes in the world, running and cutting on a football field presents a separate challenge. Basketball players would likely struggle to adjust to football in the same way their NFL counterparts would struggle if they stepped onto the court.
However, it is a fun switch-up that fans would enjoy imagining. Names like Russell Westbrook, Zion Williamson and Draymond Green were floated as potential players who would be able to quickly acclimate to football, and Rivers clearly believes that there are many more.
