Austin Rivers stirred a debate this week on "The Pat McAfee Show."
Could NFL players play in the NBA? Could NBA players play in the NFL? Rivers put his name on it with numbers.
"I can take 30 players right now from the NBA and throw them in the NFL," Rivers said. "You cannot take 30 NFL players and put them in the NBA."
Retired NFL legend J.J. Watt – who starred in football and basketball at Pewaukee (Wisc.) High School – was among the NFL stars who pushed back on Rivers' claim. Watt did offer a confession for his chances in the NBA.
for the record, I could absolutely not play in the NBA.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 7, 2024
6 hard fouls is about all I could give you and call it a day.
There have been college basketball players who emerged as NFL stars – a list that includes Antonio Gates, Donovan McNabb, Jimmy Graham, Julius Peppers, Tony Gonzalez and Terrell Owens. Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward played for the New York Knicks in the NBA – so this argument isn't exactly new.
But 30 names is a lot. Does the current NFL have 30 players who would at least take their shot at the NBA? Here is a list of candidates – which includes several former basketball stars – and a few players we'd just like to see on the court for a few minutes.
MORE: 30 NBA players we'd like to see play in the NFL
NFL players who played college basketball
Three current NFL players played college basketball. Those players would be at the top of our list.
Mo Alie-Cox, TE, Colts
The 6-foot-5, 276-pound tight end averaged 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds as a forward at VCU from 2013-17.
Keon Coleman, WR, Bills
The 6-foot-4 big-play receiver played sparingly as a forward at Michigan State before focusing on football full time in college with the Spartans and at Florida State.
Mason Pline, TE, 49ers
The 49ers signed the undrafted 6-foot-7 tight end from Furman. He played three seasons of basketball at Ferris State before transferring to Furman, where he had 32 catches for 287 yards and four TDs last season.
NFL players we'd like to see play basketball
That leaves 27 other players to make our 30. A look at the rest of that roster.
Bobby Wagner, LB, Seahawks
Wagner led the NFL in tackles last season. He gave up high school basketball to pursue a college football career. If this team needs a hard foul, then this is the guy.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
McCaffrey is arguably the best all-around athlete in the NFL. He had an offer to play football and basketball at Northern Colorado after a three-sport career at Valor Christian (Highland Ranch, Colo.).
C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans
The 6-3 quarterback was a two-sport star at Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High School and scored 31 points in this year's Celebrity All-Star Game in Indianapolis.
Cooper DeJean, CB, Eagles
The Eagles' first-round cornerback has an impressive highlight tape from OA-BCIG High School in Ida Grove, Iowa, where he scored 1,832 points.
Cooper DeJean’s HS basketball highlight film: pic.twitter.com/kvnvdUmbnR
— Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) February 8, 2024
Dan Skipper, T, Lions
The 6-foot-10, 330-pounder is the tallest player in the NFL. He was a three-sport star at Ralston Valley (Arvada, Colo.) High School. Basketball coaches always say, "You can't teach height."
Davante Adams, WR, Raiders
Adams was a 6-1, 215-pound two-sport star at Palo Alto (Calif.) High School and a two-sport star that could have played college basketball.
Dawand Jones, T, Browns
The 6-8, 375-pound two-sport star at Ben Davis (Indianapolis High School) had Division I basketball offers – and he still had NBA dreams leading up to his NFL Combine interviews.
DeForrest Buckner, DT, Colts
Buckner was the Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year in Hawaii after he averaged 12.8 points and 10.1 rebounds as a senior at Punahou (Honolulu) High School.
Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
Maye's brothers Luke and Beau played at North Carolina. Drake averaged a double-double at Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) as a junior.
Drake Maye highlights pic.twitter.com/dFmSDxhypY
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 26, 2024
Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets
The high-flying Jets receiver has some impressive basketball highlights from his time as a point guard at Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) High School.
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Panthers
Clowney's high-school football highlight reel remains impressive, and he was a power forward on the basketball team at South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) High School.
Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals
Chase – at 6-foot – originally went to Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.) High School to play basketball before developing into one of the best high-school receivers in the country.
Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
Need a shooter? Burrow averaged 20 points as a senior and was a first-team All-State basketball player at Athens (Ohio) High School.
Keenan Allen, WR, Bears
Allen was a three-sports star at Northern Guilford (Greensboro, N.C.) High School, where he played football, basketball and track.
Maxx Crosby, DE, Raiders
Crosby was a 6-5, 255-pound forward at Colleyville (Texas) Heritage High School and would bring intensity to the floor.
Micah Parsons, LB, Cowboys
Parsons was a 6-3, 245-pound center at Harrisonburg (Pa.) High School and was a physical presence under the basket.
Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
The 6-5, 231-pound receiver averaged 18.3 points and 5.2 assists as a senior at Ball (Galveston, Texas) High School.
Myles Garrett, DE, Browns
The 6-4, 272-pound edge rusher and reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year is a huge basketball fan who was a standout at Martin (Arlington, Texas) High School.
Nick Foles, QB, Free agent
We're signing Foles to this team. He was a star basketball player at Westlake (Austin, Texas) High School and drew several Division I offers.
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
Mahomes averaged 19.9 points per game as a junior at Whitehouse (Texas) High School, where he was a three-sport star before becoming a three-time Super Bowl champion.
Puka Nacua, WR, Rams
Nacua was another standout in this year's NBA Celebrity All-Star Game and was a standout at Orem (Utah) High School.
Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets
Gardner is the best cover cornerback in the NFL. Could he be converted into a lock-down defender on the perimeter in the NBA?
Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants
According to Cleveland.com, Barkley was a forward who specialized on roaming the baseline as a defender for Whitehall (Pa.) High School.
Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals
Higgins was a star shooting guard at Oak Ridge (Tenn.) High School and had offers from Louisville, Tennessee and Auburn.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings
Hockenson – a 6-5, 248-pounder, scored 1,890 points at Chariton (Iowa) High School with a game that would have translated to the college level.
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
The 6-5, 250-pounder played basketball at Cleveland Heights High School and had dreams of playing in both the NFL and NBA. Would he be the best trash talker on the floor?
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
Remember when Lawrence pushed that guy in an intramural basketball game? Is that enough to make this team?
