Patrick Mahomes’ Endorsing Lu Dort’s NFL Prospects Adds Credence to Austin Rivers ‘Controversial’ NFL-NBA Comparison

The Chief’s superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany attended the second-round series game 3 of Thunder Vs Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Saturday afternoon. While at the game, he offered a surprise take on the ongoing debate about NFL VS NBA players. 

The game caller Dave Pasch stated, “In this crazy debate about NBA players playing in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes, unsolicited, just turned to Hubie and I and said, Lou Dort could play in the NFL. I don’t know if he was kidding or serious, but he said he could play linebacker.”

Mahomes and Brittany, both hailing from Dallas, are great fans of the Mavs. The fans cheered them on as they sat courtside. Their appearance was a lucky charm as Dallas took a 2-1 series lead with a 120-109 victory over OKC. Mahomes’ bold take arrived as the world witnessed Dort’s tough, physical brand of basketball. 

However, the QB’s statement fanned the flames of the debate started by Austin Rivers, the ex-Timberwolves player. Rivers on the Pat McAfee Show 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, you got to break every play all you gotta do is catch the ball and run north or south.” This expectedly made multiple NFL players angry, resulting in an ongoing NBA vs NFL debate.

Mahomes reignites the never-ending NBA vs NFL discussion

Even though Mahomes is a once-in-a-lifetime generational football player, he could have easily been a basketball player if the tide had gone the other way. His football game, appreciated and loved by many, is a testament to his basketball skills as told by his coach. Mahomes has said, “If I played basketball, I’d be just like Steph Curry. I’ve got the shot. I just got to get a couple little extra reps, a couple shots up, I’ll be shooting just like him. That’s who I’d be.”

This debate about NBA players vs NFL players has been around for ages and multiple players play both in college, choosing one depending on their interest and the contracts. Case in point Bill’s WR Keon Coleman. He played basketball and football at the college. It was the contract from the Bills that influenced his decision other than him being good at the sport.

Whether athletes can transition from NBA to NFL or vice versa is a debate with no resolution. One anomaly was when Michael Jordan retired in 1993 and started playing baseball for a minor league called Birmingham Barons. He played 127 games for them, only to return to the NBA in 1995. The only thing clear is when elite athletes play a sport at the pro level, they are bound to have some emotional attachment and pride, thus wanting their sport to be on the top.

But the debate goes on, with no end in sight for now. Do you think NFL players can transition to NBA and vice versa? Let us know your thoughts.