Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made NBA history last night.
He broke the record for most points scored of all-time, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 38,387.
But, what if LeBron stopped playing basketball years ago?
What if he pursued a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys during the NBA lockout in 2011?
All of those options were on the table for James back in 2011.
He was offered by Jerry Jones and the Cowboys a chance to try out for their team.
nba stars @KingJames nearly tried out for #Cowboys of the NFL during the basketball lockout in 2011, according to @TheAthletic
“Bron seriously considered an offer to try out for the Dallas Cowboys.”
LeBron said: “I would have made the team.” pic.twitter.com/tss15v0XYz
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 7, 2023
James was a standout high school football player in Ohio.
He played two seasons in high school and had several big-name programs trying to recruit him.
According to Sporting News, in those two years, James caught 103 passes for 2,065 yards and 23 touchdowns.
People that saw him compared him to a “workshop, slower version of Randy Moss.”
Ultimately, it is hard to argue with his decision to stay committed to basketball.
Joining the NFL would have been a terrible idea, especially for his body.
There is no way he would still be able to play at an elite level in the NFL like he is in the NBA at age 38.
It would have been cool to see James play in the NFL for just one season.
But, once the lockout was settled in 2011, he returned to the sport he was best at.
Now as James takes the crown as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, he is one of the most accomplished players in the league’s history.
Somehow he is still an elite player and has shown no sign of slowing down because of his age.
James could even be compared to Tom Brady for the similar longevities of their careers.
All of the “what ifs” can be put to bed about James and the NFL, as it is clear he chose the right sport all along.
