LeBron James once struggled ‘hard’ to name NFL tight ends, and had to resort to reading a list
LeBron James, a passionate football fan, seemed to stumble while recollecting the top tight ends and resorted to a light searching.
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LeBron James (Images via WGME/X)
LeBron James has never been shy about his love for football and the NFL. Before committing to basketball, he was a standout high school football player. Even now, he remains invested in the NFL, frequently attending games and sharing his thoughts on social media.
On October 22, 2023, the basketball maestro had yet another funny encounter with the sport. In the video posted via his Instagram, he sent a shoutout to tight ends across the league in honor of National Tight Ends’ Day.
LeBron’s tribute, however, was met with some skepticism. Despite showing off that he wasn’t reading off a list, he delivered a rapid-fire roll call of the league’s top tight ends with uncanny accuracy.
Happy Tight Ends Day. Yes sir. Shout out to all my Tight Ends out there man. Beautiful Thing. Travis Kelce, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, that’s just to name a few. So many out there, man. Mark Andrews, stud. Just to name a few, Dawson Knox. I can keep going on and on about some of the greats, Kyle Pitts.
LeBron James was heard saying in the video
The delivery raised eyebrows. LeBron James‘s (almost) flawless recall had many wondering if he was, in fact, reading from a list. The video made its rounds on social media, drawing mixed reactions. Some fans appreciated the recognition, while others found his supposedly impromptu remarks too polished to be genuine.
Le Tight End #NationalTightEndsDay
— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023
(via @KingJames) pic.twitter.com/koiQpOB3i0
The annual celebration, which originated in 2019, was inspired by a moment in Week 2 of that year. Former 49ers tight end Garrett Celek caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from the 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo against the Detroit Lions, powering through two defenders into the end zone.
The quarterback was heard in one of the clips asking George Kittle about the need for a day honoring the tight ends. It initially developed as a fun idea in the San Francisco 49ers locker rooms before the NFL took it up as a league-wide structure. In a short span, it has become a poignant day in the calendar for the football league.
LeBron James had an almost-in with the National Football League
LeBron James, one of basketball’s greatest players, once seriously considered switching from the NBA to the NFL. During the 2011 NBA lockout, when the league’s future was uncertain, James admitted he “absolutely” thought about pursuing professional football.
Speaking on the “New Heights” podcast with NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce, James revealed his deep connection to football. A passionate fan of the sport, he played as a wide receiver in high school, earning First Team All-State honors as a sophomore. He was even recruited by top college football programs, including Ohio State and Notre Dame.
The only time I’ve really taken it super-duper seriously was in 2011 when we had the NBA lockout. And I didn’t know when we were going to make the deal with the owners and get our league back going, so I actually thought about it a little bit back then. I was still young enough to get out there with y’all, but that’s the only time I’ve seriously considered it.
LeBron James opened up on the New Heights podcast earlier this year
James described recurring dreams of playing in the NFL but noted that in those dreams, the game never actually starts—perhaps a sign he was destined for basketball. Had he made the switch, James said he envisioned himself as a hybrid of NFL greats Rob Gronkowski, Randy Moss, and Calvin Johnson due to his size and athleticism.
Ultimately, James stuck with basketball, forging a legendary career that includes four NBA championships and multiple MVP awards. However, his football skills still leave many wondering what could have been.
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