LeBron James was the last in an era to jump straight from high school to the NBA. After making the jump, the NBA said players must play in college or elsewhere for at least a year before declaring themselves for its draft.
James did not play basketball in college and his professional stature prohibits him from playing in college. However, he could still play sports in college.
The NBA megastar tweeted on Saturday that he might be interested in playing college sports and wondered if he was eligible. Although he didn’t ask what sport he might play, his tweet came on a fun day of college football. Here is what James wrote.
“Do I have college eligibility if I went to play a sport other than basketball? How does this rule work?”
Do I have college eligibility if I went to play a sport other than basketball? How does this rule work?
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 24, 2022
NCAA eligibility rules are clear and simple. If you’ve played a sport professionally, you can’t play that same sport in college. Several college football players in the past played professional baseball before returning to college, including Ricky Williams, who won a 1998 Heisman Trophy at the University of Texas. Williams played minor league baseball before enrolling in Texas.
Former professional athletes are also eligible for financial aid if they return to earn a college degree as a student-athlete. With the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) endorsement for athletes, someone like James could additionally go on to earn millions and millions of dollars while competing in college. .
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
LeBron James was considered one of the best high school football players in Ohio before declaring himself for the NBA Draft after his senior year. With his height and athleticism, he may have been an excellent wide receiver or tight end at the college and professional levels.
James, 37, has a net worth of over $1 billion. He led teams to 10 NBA Finals, winning four championships between the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers. He was a four-time Finals MVP, an 18-time NBA All-Star and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He was picked in the first round by the Cavaliers in 2003.
If James ever decided to go back to school, he wouldn’t be the first NBA player to do so. Heck, he wouldn’t even be the first Los Angeles Lakers player to do so in 18 months. Former player JR Smith became an extra on the North Carolina A&T men’s golf team last year. Smith not only did well on the golf course, but was also rewarded for his work in the classroom.
