LeBron James, often hailed as the best NBA player of his generation, recently responded to Ohio State football coach Ryan Day comments about him potentially playing for the Buckeyes though in a very different sport.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show following Ohio State’s national title win, Jimmy Kimmel showed a tweet from James in which he jokingly asked about his college eligibility if he wanted to switch sports and play football. James, a long-time Ohio State fan, has always been vocal about his love for the Buckeyes, and his physical build, even at 40 years old, might make him a formidable presence on the football field, particularly as a tight end.
In response to the tweet, Day quickly quashed any notion that James would receive special treatment, saying,LeBron is a huge fan of Ohio State, and he’s been a great supporter. But that being said, he’d be right in line with the freshman in the back of the room. He’d have to work his way up. He doesn’t get any special treatment.
James took to social media to repost the clip of Day’s comments, stating that he didn’t mind one bit, clearly showing he wasn’t offended by the coach’s response.
While James was simply engaging in a hypothetical conversation, it turns out that, under NCAA rules, he could return to college and play for Day team just not in the sport of basketball. While professional athletes are not permitted to return to college in the sport they turned pro in, they can join a different sport, much like how LeBron’s former NBA teammate, Deion Sanders, played both football and baseball professionally.
James, once the top high school football recruit in Ohio, may not be headed back to the gridiron anytime soon, but his playful exchange with Ryan Day is sure to keep fans of both Ohio State and the NBA entertained.
