Which sport’s players are the best athletes?
Some might say that soccer players have a stamina that no other sport can match. Others might say that NFL players can balance size, speed, and strength in a way others couldn’t. And others still say that NBA players are the most agile and athletic athletes in the world.
ESPN NBA analyst Austin Rivers certainly feels like NBA players are the best athletes. In fact, he thinks that while plenty of NBA players could hack it in the NFL, he doesn’t think football players would be able to deal with pro basketball.
“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,” said Rivers during a Tuesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
When McAfee, a former NFL player, scoffed at that notion, Rivers pushed even harder.
“That’s cause you get a break every play,” said Rivers. “All you gotta do is catch the ball and run north or south. It ain’t complex.”
McAfee didn’t buy the claim but Rivers wasn’t done taking shots at NFL players.
“There’s a reason why hip-hop artists, when they rap, they compare themselves to ballers. They’re not talking about footballers, they’re talking about basketball players.”
McAfee adamantly tried to defend football players and their toughness. However, it’s worth noting that Jason and Travis Kelce recently discussed how they agreed that NFL players couldn’t handle the NBA.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.