LeBron James, the 40-year-old NBA power forward and four-time champion, has revealed that he still occasionally dreams of playing in the NFL. Although he has achieved unparalleled success in basketball, having earned four NBA championships with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron admits that he often wonders what might have been had he chosen football instead.
As a teenager growing up in Akron, LeBron James was faced with two promising career paths: basketball and football. He showcased remarkable talent as a wide receiver for St. Vincent-St. Mary, earning first-team all-state honors and securing a commitment to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. However, despite the football opportunities, LeBron chose the basketball route, bypassing college entirely.
In high school, he averaged 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, which led to him being selected as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The rest of LeBron’s career, filled with four NBA titles, four Finals MVPs, and numerous other records, has solidified his place among the greatest basketball players of all time.
LeBron's NFL Dreams
Despite his monumental basketball success, LeBron revealed in a recent interview on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce that he continues to dream of a football career. "Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely. I've had serious dreams about this st," LeBron confessed. "All the time. All the time!"
In these vivid dreams, he imagines himself as a football player, running routes during warm-ups, but just as the game begins, the dream ends. "The ball is never kicked off... It's me in the warm-ups, it's me coming out, running my routes, and then right when the game starts I fking wake up," LeBron said, admitting that these dreams are a reminder that his true destiny lies in basketball, not football.
The 2011 NBA Lockout: Almost a Career Change
Though he’s now firmly entrenched in his basketball career, LeBron did seriously consider switching to the NFL at one point. He disclosed that during the 2011 NBA lockout, when negotiations between players and owners caused a five-month disruption to the season, he contemplated leaving the NBA.
"I didn't know when we were going to make the deal with our owners and get our league back going," LeBron explained. "So I actually thought about it a little bit back then. I was still young enough to get out there with y'all. That's the only time I've seriously considered it."
An NBA Legacy of Records and Success
Despite these fleeting football dreams, LeBron has far exceeded expectations in the NBA. Alongside his four championships, he has set numerous records, including being the all-time leading scorer with 48,177 points and the record-holder for most consecutive games scored (1,763). LeBron also ranks highly in various other categories, including fourth for triple-doubles, assists, and steals, second for made free throws, and many more.
Moreover, LeBron’s success has made him the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest athletes in history.
The Dream of the NFL: A Glimpse of What Could Have Been
Despite his remarkable achievements in the NBA, LeBron’s dreams of football serve as a reminder of what could have been. Nonetheless, his destiny seems to have been set long ago, and his legacy in basketball will likely never be matched. As LeBron continues to dominate the NBA, his brief flirtation with the NFL only adds another layer to his storied career.