When passing through the streets of Paris, NFL great Tom Brady was put to the test. He had to form an NFL lineup, but the pool only included players from the Team USA basketball team. It was a head-scratcher, but the triumphant QB has a reputation for being a problem-fixer. And so, he named his ideal five, headlined by LeBron James being a wide receiver. But were there any misses? According to Kendrick Perkins, the seven-time Super Bowl champion overlooked a ‘jack of all trades’.
After debating the Lakers on NBA Today, Perkins was fielded to assess Brady’s unique NFL lineup. The former Celtics center didn’t have a lot to condemn about the Patriots icon’s list. However, he did admit his pick of Devin Booker caught him off guard. Perk felt the better alternative would be another Celtic.
.@TomBrady's football squad made up of @usabasketball players is 🔥https://t.co/FKfqojMbah pic.twitter.com/UovYApSJUG
— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2024
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“I’m surprised by Devin Booker being in there. I think I would take him out and probably put in Jrue Holiday. Think Jrue Holiday is like Jack of all trades. Could pretty much any position offensively and especially the receiver in the slot. That’s the only thing I would critique about the great Tom Brady” Perk explained to ESPN.
Not to diminish Book’s football credentials (which Tom Brady claims to have witnessed) but Holiday has some striking tangibles. Considered one of the best all-ball defenders, not only does he have supreme projection skills, but he also possesses quick feet. Both qualities favor the wide receivers who primarily have to beat their defender and weave a route to the end zone.
Maybe Perkins has studied the conversation deeply. But it’s not nearly as astounding as his opinion on championships.
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Kendrick Perkins once claimed NBA championships are harder to win than NFL championships
As much as the NBA and NFL find ways to merge and mingle, there is also a contentious conversation. One of the popular ones is which is harder to attain, a Super Bowl title or an NBA title. During an ESPN segment, Perkins made his opinion about the conversation very clear. He feels the NBA’s rigorous schedules and longer post-season give it an edge over the one-and-done system of the NFL.
“Luck does play a part and health does play a part. Then on top of that, when you are dealing with a seven-game series, it’s not like the NFL when you fly in or wherever you’re going if you’re on the road the week before. And you’re there the whole week. You’re talking about traveling from different cities every other day and getting there two or three in the morning and you have to take into accountability,” he told the panel.
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The NBA’s framework largely differs from that of the NFL. In a seven-game series, not only is beating the same opposition tougher, but it also wears out the athletes. But at the same time, in the NFL, there is no space for error. One misplaced pass or fumble could result in elimination. Football is also a brutally physical sport that involves knocking people down to the ground on every play call.
Both sides have their arguments. Nonetheless, athletes will most likely defend their sport. The bottom line though is that no matter the NFL or the NBA, winning a championship is among the hardest challenges.
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