It's part of the territory for athletes to brag about their skills and merits. A common narrative that exists is about which NBA and NFL players are good enough to crossover into the other sport and still be great.
That's a fun conversation for the most part, but realistically, Alex Caruso believes many factors are in play that would have made the jump unlikely. For the Oklahoma City Thunder guard, the physical demands of both basketball and football create a wall few athletes could ever climb.
"That's the thing. For a football player to come to basketball, you have to play both ways," AC said on "Pardon My Take," guesting on the show alongside Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. "For the guys that say, 'I could play in the NBA'... You gotta guard and you got to be able to remember what the hell's going on and doing this. It's a little tricky."
It's the same concept for NBA players who think they could make it in the NFL.
"For the basketball guys that wanna play football, you're gonna hit in your mouth a lot. You think that's, 'Ah, I could handle that,' until it happens and you're like, 'I don't know if I like that so much,'" Caruso continued.
Caruso's message was simple: Natural athletic talent alone does not automatically bridge the gap between the two sports. Each one demands a level of physical and mental discipline that outsiders underestimate.
Basketball requires nonstop movement from offense to defense (and vice versa) and the capacity to process the plays in real time. Football, on the other hand, hits players with a level of contact most hoopers (and the rest of mortal men) aren't built to absorb.
Nonetheless, there could be a special few from both leagues that could have made the switch.
"LeBron could've, Anthony Edwards could, Lou Dort could. Draymond could probably play O-line, he just have to put on weight. Great screen-setter, smart. One of the Thompson twins (Ausar and Amen). That kind of athlete you can find a spot," added Caruso.
Although Mayfield admitted he couldn't have crossed over because he sucked at basketball, there are a couple of NFL names thrown around that might have. He mentioned his teammate, Mike Evans the Buccaneers' wide receiver; Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.
Besides the obvious question of skill, these guys' heights pose the biggest problem. Evans is the tallest at 6'5", while Garrett is only 6'4" and weighs the same as Zion Williamson. Meanwhile, Barkley and Brown are about 6'1" and would need to shed at least 20 pounds to function as point guards.
While acknowledging special types of athletes from both sports, AC cut through the noise with a reminder that the leap is not something you can fake with confidence or swagger. Basketball players are just not built for the physicality of football. In contrast, football players may struggle with the continuous play on both ends featured in basketball.
Still, imagining LeBron catching a pass at the end zone or Garrett bulldozing somebody in the post will always spark curiosity. That's the fun part about these discussions. Just don't confuse possibility with probability.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
