The big man shares his thoughts on playing football

Minnesota Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns, Footballs in background

There’s been an ongoing debate about NBA players transitioning to the NFL and vice versa — and it’s all because of Austin Rivers. The former NBA guard went viral days ago when he made his bold “30 NBA players” claim. This drew a variety of reactions, with plenty of backlash from the football community. Amid all the discussions, Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns joined in to share his thoughts. While he didn’t agree or disagree with Rivers, Towns opened up on how he’d play on the football field.

“I’ma tell you right now, if I was handed the ball and saw Ray Lewis in the gap, I may not run into that gap,” Towns said, during a call on The Rich Eisen Show.

“You would not take that charge?” Rich Eisen then asked.

“Listen,” Towns continued. “All that tough stuff, all that tough talk and everything, you’re going to see me take a Peyton Manning slide…It’s all good. We’ll get the next one buddy.”

Understandable, since being tackled by Ray Lewis is an experience no sane person would want to go through. Additionally, Karl-Anthony Towns is seven feet tall, so standing out among his peers would arguably make it easier for Lewis to identify him on the field.

More context on Rivers’ comments

For more context on the debate, Austin Rivers specifically mentioned that he’d be able to “take 30 NBA players” and put them in the NFL, while adding that it wouldn’t be possible if it were the other way around. To make things more interesting, he stated this on none other than the Pat McAfee Show — which is hosted by a former NFL punter.

It led to a friendly back-and-forth between him and McAfee, and the NFL community took notice. Many football players, past and present, criticized Rivers’ take. As for the basketball world, the topic was discussed by Charles Barkley and Co. during an episode of Inside the NBA.

“I gotta call out Austin Rivers,” Barkley said. “Austin Rivers, you know I love you, (but) we can’t play football.”

“Yeah we can!” Shaquille O’Neal retorted.

As O’Neal continued objecting to Barkley’s take, Sir Charles continued on.

“To say that we got 30, 40 NBA players who can go play in the NFL…” Barkley added, while shaking his head in disagreement. (per NBA on TNT)

So far, no athlete has ever garnered success in both leagues. It isn’t surprising, considering how both sports require different skillsets. Besides that, the conditioning and physical demands of each vary as well. And most importantly, the competition is at the highest level. Many pros were multi-sport athletes growing up, but to be on an elite level in two different crafts is hardly ever heard of in the sporting world.

Until the day comes when that once-in-a-generation talent makes a jump from one league to the other, the debate will continue.