A while before this NFL season started, a debate raged on if NBA players can instantly put on cleats and play football. That debate started to die down when some NBA players made it clear that it is not easy on the gridiron. But that did not stop former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce from asking this question to NBA star Jalen Brunson.
The New York Knicks star is a bona fide Philadelphia Eagles fan. He turned up to their Monday Night encounter against the Atlanta Falcons wearing a Jalen Hurts jersey. As part of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown pregame program, Brunson was on the gridiron talking to the crew about the upcoming game. That’s when Kelce asked him if he felt the same about NBA players’ chances in the NFL.
It’s easier for NBA guy to play NFL. Not saying it’s easy, easier. Like if you were guarding the pick and roll…
Jalen Brunson replied
To this, Kelce said he will run through players if he was the center on the basketball court. But then host Scott Van Pelt reminded him that he can’t do that on a hardwood floor.
Kelce then made it clear that when he and his brother Travis Kelce were courtside to watch an NBA game, they were amazed at the athleticism. On the other hand, he resonated with what Jalen Brunson said that NFL players will find it difficult to adjust to the nuances of the NBA.
For NBA players, as the New York Knicks star said, some positions might be easier for them to exploit their athleticism. But even he acknowledged that it is difficult. After trying it when he was younger, he preferred to stick to basketball.
Jason Kelce is the epitome of what a dedicated football player can do. Not the freakishly athletic players who build a career based on just their physical attributes. Those players can actually play in the NBA, but where some shine differently is in how they use their bodies to great effect.
Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce’s career shows an NFL player is built differently (Image via Imago)Jason Kelce stands at 6′ 3″ and weighs just under 300 lbs. Not prototypical measurables for a center, but good enough to go. He was known for using his intelligence and swift ability to break down defenders to put the opposition at bay. By combining the physical aspects with those intangibles, he built a potential Hall of Fame career.
NBA players may have the intelligence. But to combine it with the physicality needed to be successful is a completely different story. Kelce’s last year manning the Philadelphia Eagles’ incredible ‘Tush Push’ is one such play where NBA stars might not have a chance.
