LeBron James has revealed he was offered contracts to play in the NFL in 2011.
The four-time NBA champion has put together one of the greatest-ever basketball careers, breaking numerous records and taking the game to new heights.
But now the superstar has revealed he almost gave the sport up a decade ago.
The opportunity to swap sneakers for cleats came during the NBA lockout in 2011, when the league’s previous collective bargaining agreement expired.
A chaotic period of six months saw the season suspended and players unable to sign contracts or even access their teams’ training facilities.
The 2011 season saw LeBron reach his first NBA finals but he was denied his first ring by the Dallas Mavericks.
During ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage, James revealed he had been approached by the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
“Jerry Jones offered me a contract, and actually Pete Carroll in Seattle did as well during our lockout time,” the Los Angeles Lakers star said.
American Football is a sport close to the 36-year-old’s heart and he flirted with the chance of mixing up with the likes of legend Tom Brady.
“Definitely got my blood flowing again, got my mind racing again about the game of football, being out there on Sundays,” he added.
“We was able to get a deal done in the NBA and I was back on the court in no time, but I definitely thought about it.”
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James played American Football during his college days and revealed his favourite position.
“I still got the jerseys, too, that Jerry and Pete Carroll sent me from 2011.
"I wanted to be a red-zone specialist like Gronk,” he said, referring to Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end and four-time Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski.
James is gearing up for the new NBA season next month, which will be his 19th as a professional.
