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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

A little less-known fact about LeBron James is that he was a football player back in high school. And he was pretty damn good too. He eventually chose basketball, but he recently started revisiting the conversation on Twitter. And NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal opened up on what his future beyond the NBA could be.

James was a wide receiver at the St.Vincent-St.Mary’s football team. He was being scouted by some of the best programs in the country. And he was named first-team all-state during his sophomore year. However, he suffered an injury in high school and he did not play in his senior year. And his mom banned him from playing football after that.

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And years later, he enquired about college eligibility for other sports. Many speculated that he was talking about playing in the NFL. For a long time, analysts have speculated that ‘The King’ could have played in the NFL. The NFL even replied to James’ tweet too. 

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal reacts to LeBron James wanting to play other sports

Shaq was doing his podcast when his co-host Nischelle Turner bought up LeBron’s tweet about wanting to play other sports. Then Spice Admas asked the panel what other sports they think LeBron James could be great at, and they answered football.

Tuner said that he could also be a good tennis player and maybe a good volleyball player. But Shaq was not impressed, and he said, ” Football. There is only one answer, football. Stop it.”

READ MORE: “I Can’t Deal With It”: 37-Year-Old LeBron James Gets Emotional as Millionaire Son Bronny Celebrates 18th Birthday

Then Shaq hilariously made a voice and mocked Turner. He said, “‘He’d be a good badminton player. He’d be a good table tennis player’. Football, stop it” 

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This is not the first time LeBron James has been linked to the NFL. During the 2011 NBA lockout, James said last year that the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks had offered him NFL contracts. And he was seriously considering it as well. But he eventually decided against it and stuck to basketball.

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Entering one of the most physical and grueling sports at the age of 37 may not be the best of ideas for most people. But LeBron James certainly isn’t like most people. However, he likely still has some time left in basketball, having stated previously his hopes to play alongside his sons Bronny and Bryce one day in the NBA. But Shaquille O’Neal definitely believes that LeBron would have been great at football.

Do you think there is any possibility we could see LeBron James in the NFL one day? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.