2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Deron Williams names the two NBA players who could transition to the NFL
Deron Williams has given his thoughts on the unending debate about NBA players taking their athletic prowess to the NFL and vice versa. The discussion peaked in May this year when Austin Rivers said 30 from basketball could make it to football. Several current and former gridiron stars pushed back against the ESPN analyst’s hot take.
Williams is a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and a three-time All-Star who dabbled in boxing. He has the qualifications to comment about jumping from one sport to another.
Here’s what the former Utah Jazz star had to say about the NBA-NFL debate on the “No Media Show:”
“A 100% true [NBA players going to the NFL]. 30? No [and] it’s not even cool. I think you can take somebody like LeBron [James] or Matt Barnes who played football, was All-State tight end, and you could drop them in their prime and they might, MIGHT be a little successful.”
Most fans and some sports analysts have been convinced for years that LeBron James could have played in the NFL. He was a star receiver in high school before concentrating on basketball. Putting James in the discussion isn’t something new.
Deron Williams’ comment about Matt Barnes hasn’t been mentioned in many NBA-NFL discussions. Barnes was an All-American receiver for Del Campo High before eventually focusing on basketball like James.
Regardless of the names put forward, the debate will never be settled unless someone from one league crosses over to the other.
Nick Young hilariously gave the upper hand to NBA players over NFL athletes because of Deron Williams
Nick Young, another former NBA player, waded into the social media storm created by Austin Rivers’ hot take. Unlike other current and former athletes who gave their thoughts about the topic, Young added some hilarity to the discussions.
Here’s what the former Laker had to say about the issue:
“All that soft stuff these football players saying about nba players …last time I check deron williams beat up frank gore we 1-0”
That the NBA is “soft” is often the biggest point NFL supporters consistently throw into the equation. They say that basketball players can’t possibly succeed in a sport that is more physically demanding than hooping.
Young’s point was quite hilarious due to his reference. Deron Williams beat Frank Gore via split decision in a four-round boxing match in December 2021. Leading into the fight, promoters used the NBA vs NFL theme to hype up the showdown.
It would have been interesting if Williams had been asked to say something about Nick Young’s comments about him.