It isn’t typically that you simply’d hear Travis Kelce admit that he was nervous. However the 10-time Professional Bowl tight finish and two-time Tremendous Bowl champ confessed to feeling butterflies at first of his podcast Wednesday.
“I am nervous however fairly pumped,” Travis informed his brother Jason within the newest version of “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.”
That is as a result of their featured visitor was somebody who had “been a very long time coming”: the one and solely LeBron James.
Because of profitable soccer careers and their hit podcast, the Kelce brothers are two of essentially the most well-known athletes — retired, in Jason’s case — on the earth proper now. However the Cleveland natives cannot even declare to be essentially the most well-known athletes from northeast Ohio. That distinction belongs to, after all, Akron’s personal “King James.”
In between reminiscing about Cleveland-area basketball, the three Ohioans mentioned LeBron’s nearly NFL profession, debated the NBA vs. NFL, and talked about LeBron’s largest accomplishment.LeBron reveals when he thought of enjoying within the NFL
LeBron James enjoying within the NFL has at all times been a enjoyable matter for sports activities followers alike, however has it ever come near being a actuality? Nicely, James revealed one time that he gave honest thought to stepping foot on the gridiron.
“The one time I’ve actually taken it super-duper significantly was in 2011 once we had the NBA lockout,” James stated. “And I did not know once we have been going to make the cope with the house owners and get our league again going, so I truly considered it a bit of bit again then.
“I used to be nonetheless younger sufficient to get on the market with y’all, however that is the one time I’ve truly significantly thought of it.”
The 2011-12 NBA season did not start till Christmas Day as a result of lockout in what turned a 66-game common season that mockingly ended with James profitable his first NBA championship with the Miami Heat. James, who was 26 on the outset of the season, disclosed in 2021 that the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks supplied him an NFL contract.
LeBron weighs in on whether or not the NFL vs. NBA is “simpler”
As one of many uncommon super-athletes who may have performed each skilled soccer and basketball, LeBron was the right particular person to ask a hotly debated matter.
“What is less complicated to do: An NFL participant going to the NBA, or an NBA participant going to the NFL?” Jason requested LeBron.
After a deep breath, LeBron braced himself to settle the argument as soon as and for all (?).
“I wish to say, I feel it is simpler for a basketball participant to strive NFL over the NFL participant attempting to get into the NBA.”
LeBron gave a shout-out to Payments receiver Keon Coleman and Ravens receiver Zay Flowers — whose basketball highlights have gone viral — earlier than backing up his stance.
“Sure, it should take a transition interval [going from the NBA to NFL],” he stated, particularly mentioning having to get used to getting hit once more. “When you get right into a groove, it is like driving a motorbike.
“Soccer going to basketball, it is such extra coordination and working and leaping and it is, like, constant,” he defined, as basketball gamers do not get as many timeouts between the motion.
LeBron additionally revealed he thought Russell Westbrook or Anthony Edwards could be the opposite NBA gamers who may make the “cleanest transition” to the NFL.
“Russ could be an unbelievable sturdy security or free security,” he stated. “He is attempting to hit any individual.LeBron admits the NFL dominated the NBA on Christmas
The NBA has been enjoying Christmas Day video games since 1947. The NFL solely not too long ago turned it into an annual custom, holding no less than one Dec. 25 sport in every of the final 5 seasons.
This yr, regardless of Christmas falling on a Wednesday, the NFL scheduled two matchups and neither ended up being shut. Travis Kelce’s Chiefs dominated the Steelers in a 29-10 win, whereas the Ravens routed the Texans 31-2.
Even so, followers tuned in, setting Netflix viewership records for Christmas Day. It additionally helped, after all, that world celebrity Beyoncé headlined the halftime show in Houston.
In the meantime, the NBA’s four-game Christmas slate was extra aggressive, highlighted by LeBron’s Lakers sneaking past Steph Curry and the Warriors in a down-to-the-wire finish. After the win, LeBron told ESPN, “I really like the NFL. However Christmas is our day.”
Quick-forward just a few weeks later, and LeBron took a barely completely different tone when Jason requested him “Who owns Christmas?”
“From a viewership standpoint, y’all kicked our ass,” LeBron admitted. “The video games weren’t as nice as they need to have been, however you had f—ing Beyoncé.”
Nonetheless, LeBron stated, “I needed to arise for the NBA.” And to be truthful, the NBA did have its best Christmas viewership in five years.
LeBron gushes over enjoying with Bronny
One of the crucial talked-about tales of the NBA offseason and the early portion of the common season was James enjoying alongside his eldest son, Bronny James. The Lakers chosen Bronny with the No. 55 decide within the 2024 NBA Draft, and the father-son duo made history after they shared a court docket within the season opener.
James gave his perspective on being teammates together with his son.
“In the case of the titles, that is one separate factor,” the elder James stated. “However to have the ability to be on this league and play on this league and likewise having the ability do it alongside Bronny proper now, like that is one of many largest accomplishments — and doubtless the No. 1 accomplishment I’ve ever been capable of do.”
He went on to develop on what makes it so particular.
“To see him every single day grinding, and going by the method of attempting to change into who he desires to change into whereas I am sitting there simply watching him and doing the issues he desires to do and having the ability to take all of it in, it helps me get a few of the minutes and hours and years again that I did not have with him as a result of I used to be enjoying a lot,” James stated.
After Travis praised Bronny for dealing with all of the scrutiny that comes with following in his legendary dad’s footsteps, LeBron acted just like the proud father he’s.
“Bronny does not should play basketball in any respect. It isn’t like he wants the cash. He can do no matter he desires to do,” LeBron informed the Kelces. “He is like, ‘That is my profession, that is my objectives, that is my aspirations, and I wish to play ball. That is one thing that I really like.’
“I really like that child. He is superior.”
Bronny James has been up and down with the Lakers and their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, this season. He has appeared in 9 NBA video games however has been unable to get constant enjoying time.
The 40-year-old James, a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and 20-time All-NBA honoree, is averaging 23.7 factors, 8.8 assists and seven.6 rebounds per sport whereas capturing 50.9/39.1/76.2 for the Los Angeles Lakers, who’re the seventh seed within the Western Convention this season at 20-17.
In the meantime, Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs are the No. 1 seed within the AFC playoffs and host the Houston Texans within the divisional spherical on Saturday.
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