J.J. Watt and others destroy Austin Rivers over NBA/NFL take
from Sai Mohan, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
Austin Rivers went there. The former NBA player opened the Pandora’s box by suggesting that more athletes from his league could play in the NFL over footballers transitioning to pro basketball.
On “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rivers took issue with Pat McAfee for calling basketball “a soft sport” as they discussed Pat Riley labeling Tyler Herro “fragile” for being constantly hurt.
“We’ve got to get you out of the football lane, man,” Rivers told McAfee. “To [the NBA] where the guaranteed contracts are, where the best athletes in the world are — that’s us. 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.”
In response, McAfee asked Rivers to slow his roll, arguing that only Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Zion Williamson possess the body types to thrive on a football field.
Rivers doubled down on why the NBA requires more athleticism and skill.
“You guys get a break [after] every play, all you gotta do is catch the ball and run north or south. It ain’t complex.”
As expected, Rivers’ controversial take drew the ire of several retired NFL players. Former Texans defensive end J.J. Watt had the most savage response of all.
J.J. Watt calls out Austin Rivers after NBA/NFL comments ?
(via @PatMcAfeeShow, @JJWatt) pic.twitter.com/cNKwpSIAUj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 7, 2024
To Watt’s credit, he admitted that he wouldn’t be able to play in the NBA. “Six hard fouls is about all I could give you and call it a day,” tweeted the three-time NFL DPOY.
Several others chimed in as well.
Somebody tell Austin Rivers: Football drills make Basketball players, not the other way around. https://t.co/NuDutgvqum pic.twitter.com/8fLIaomWkR
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) May 8, 2024
NBA players wouldn’t last a training camp in the NFL
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) May 7, 2024
Dan Orlovsky even listed 30 current NFL players he reckons can play in the NBA.
Elsewhere, two-time Super Bowl winner Chris Long suggested that NBA players are too coddled.
“We had three massage therapists for a team of 53,” Long said recalling his years in the NFL. “Y’all would lose your [explicit] minds, dude.”
NFL Training Camps are the main reason that NBA players don’t cross over https://t.co/Z2UNZvTHsM pic.twitter.com/hw5ZvQHISM
— chris long (@JOEL9ONE) May 8, 2024