Niners Nation
49ers superstar Fred Warner had another iconic Bay Area athlete on his podcast.
Last week, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner hosted Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green on his podcast, The Warner Podcast, and the duo of Bay Area superstars discussed the ongoing debate surrounding multi-sport athletes. Or, more specifically, whether it would be easier for NBA players to play in the NFL than the other way around. Unsurprisingly, given Green’s promising post-playing career prospects as a commentator, he gave an interesting and well-rounded answer.
“Listen, I’ll be 100% honest with you,” Green said. “As you know, I am known as one of the guys in the NBA who will mix it up. I’ll mix it up. I’m in everything. That’s who I am. I’ll be honest with you, I’m not tough enough to play in the NFL. I’m just not. I sit there and I watch you every Sunday, and I’m like, ‘Yo, do you understand? This dude just mentally got his mind ready to run into somebody.”
However, Green went beyond his own personal limitations.
“I don’t think people fully understand what they are saying they can do when they say, ‘Yo, I can go play in the NFL,’” Green continued. “No you can’t. No you cannot. I’m sorry. Anthony Edwards.. probably has the athleticism to play in the NFL for sure. The overall athleticism. But does he have the quick twitch muscles to get in and out of a break to play receiver?”
“It’s no knock to these guys who think they can do. I just know enough to know that there is not one single player in the NBA that can play in the NFL. Now are there guys who are athletic enough to play in the NFL? Yes. But guess what, your athletic and athleticism is different than Anthony Edwards.”
Green was equally critical of players making the opposite claim as well.
“I saw Puka Nacua that he said something about ‘If I had 3-6 months I could play in the NBA.’ Brother, no you can’t. I promise you that you cannot do that. I’m just here to tell you. I will not respect you football guys… I don’t think there’s a single guy in the NFL who could come into the NBA and play in the NBA, and vice versa.”
Warner for his part in the discussion deferred to Green. Warner largely stayed out of making any statement and openly said he knew he would not be able to be a pro basketball player. He even mentioned that he played basketball as a kid, but never really clicked with the sport.
