SUMMARY
- Austin Rivers claims NBA player would find it easier to transition into the NFL.
- JJ Watt and Ryan Clark took major offense to Rivers' comments and slammed him on social media.
Austin Rivers has had a couple of serious takes on sports that have gone viral before. The veteran guard hasn’t played in the league in over a year as he last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Recently, he made an appearance on Pat McAfee’s podcast and stated that NBA players are athletically superior to other sportspersons, specifically NFL players.
He said, “I can take 30 players right now in the NBA and throw them in the NFL. You cannot take 30 NFL players and put them in the NBA.” Rivers added, “There’s a reason why Hip Hop artists, when they rap, they compare themselves to ballers. They’re not talking about footballers. They’re talking about basketball players. There’s a reason why all the girls that we didn’t get down with, the NFL players usually end up dating them later. They come to us first, bro. We set the culture.”
“I’m knocking every hooper out.”
Former #NFL S @Realrclark25 responds to Austin Rivers, who said “I can take 30 players right now in the NBA and throw them in the NFL.” pic.twitter.com/XZWCvml4Zv
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) May 8, 2024
Former NFL star and Super Bowl XLIII Champion Ryan Clark responded to Rivers’ comments saying, “Man!! I’m knocking every hooper out. I’m talking straight to sleep. You flopping from pushes but you gonna rob your skinny 6’6 azz through the middle of the field? Please!” Clark was one of many NFL athletes who took their chance to slam Rivers over his outrageous comparison.
JJ Watt took major offense to Austin Rivers’ comments
Right after Austin Rivers’ comments surfaced, JJ Watt quickly brought up the fact that the guard doesn’t have an active contract with any team in the NBA. Watt said, “You don’t got a job in either right now, go head and try it.” He added, “For the record, I could absolutely not play in the NBA. 6 hard fouls is about all I could give you and call it a day.”
for the record, I could absolutely not play in the NBA.
6 hard fouls is about all I could give you and call it a day.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 7, 2024
Pat McAfee himself called out Rivers for what he said right after it happened. It is true that NBA players, who are much taller than NFL athletes can easily take over certain positions in football. However, that does not mean NFL players do not possess the required physical attributes or skills to transition into the NBA. It solely depends on how knowledgeable the athlete is regarding a sport.
Austin Rivers shares the same opinion with a 9x All-Star LA Clippers veteran
Surprisingly, Austin Rivers isn’t the first NBA player to claim that basketball athletes can easily transition into the NFL. Paul George addressed the same topic during an episode of Podcast P. “I don’t think any football player could cross over to the NBA, our game is completely skilled. I think for an NFL guy to be able to play in the league, they gotta be a hell of a shooter because otherwise we’re not gonna guard you, you can’t shoot. That athleticism, that strength, that means nothing if you can’t shoot the ball in our league.”
LeBron & Westbrook woulda been COLD in the NFL!!
Not sure about those football guys in the NBA though, @newheightshow 😂🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/mq8UXdsTtv
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) April 13, 2023
George’s take made more sense as it was based solely on skill. Many NBA players could have successful NFL careers while a few already have a background in football, like LeBron James. Similarly, Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals was one football star who had the potential to become a successful NBA athlete. Higgins competed on Oak Ridge High School’s basketball team and he was offered to play in college as well. However, he turned to football and became a massive prospect eventually.