{"id":135064,"date":"2025-09-05T16:44:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T16:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/135064\/"},"modified":"2025-09-05T16:44:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T16:44:09","slug":"i-cant-go-on-the-football-field-nba-champ-shai-gilgeous-alexander-says-theres-no-chance-he-plays-in-the-nfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/135064\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I Can\u2019t Go on the Football Field\u2019 \u2013 NBA Champ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Says There\u2019s \u2018No Chance\u2019 He Plays in the NFL"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has conquered the basketball world. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar captured an NBA<\/a> championship, Finals MVP, and NBA MVP award all in one historic 2024-25 season. But when it comes to trading his sneakers for cleats, the 27-year-old\u00a0draws a hard line in the turf.<\/p>\n

Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Ever Make the Jump to the NFL?<\/p>\n

During his appearance on \u201cThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,\u201d the host couldn\u2019t resist asking Gilgeous-Alexander about a potential NFL<\/a> career switch.<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander shut down the idea immediately, saying<\/a>: \u201cNo chance, no chance\u2026I wouldn\u2019t disrespect them like that, nah.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Fallon pressed him again, the Thunder star stood firm with his reasoning:<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander: \u201cJust like how they can\u2019t come on the basketball court, I can\u2019t go on the football field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fallon: \u201cYou can\u2019t go on there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander: \u201cJust stay in our lanes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three-time NBA All-Star revealed his brief football history when Fallon asked about his playing experience. \u201cI did a little bit, yeah. I quit very quickly\u2026I\u2013 like, I played running back, so I got hit a lot. And I, like, fell on the ball when I got tackled a couple times.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE: Charles Barkley Reveals 1 Reason Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is More Like LeBron James, and Not Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan<\/a><\/p>\n

Things got interesting when Fallon surprised everyone by pulling out a photo of young Gilgeous-Alexander in his football gear. The Thunder star laughed and playfully asked Fallon not to show it to the studio audience.<\/p>\n

His football career ended quickly for a simple reason: getting the wind knocked out of him. \u201cI fell on the football and got the wind knocked out of me. And I didn\u2019t like that at all, so I quit right away,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander explained.<\/p>\n

Later in the same interview, Fallon asked if Gilgeous-Alexander ever imagined achieving all his accolades in a single season. The NBA star remained humble in his response, calling the experience \u2018amazing.\u2019<\/p>\n

How Did Gilgeous-Alexander Get His Closest Taste of Football Action?<\/p>\n

While Gilgeous-Alexander may never play in the NFL, he does have a connection to Canadian football. Following his NBA championship victory, the Hamilton native was honored at an August 2025\u00a0CFL game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and B.C. Lions.<\/p>\n

Returning to the Hamilton stadium as a champion, Gilgeous-Alexander was honored by<\/a> starting the second quarter of the game.<\/p>\n

QBShai has a nice ring to it. \ud83c\udfc8@NBA<\/a> | @NBACanada<\/a>@Ticats<\/a> | @okcthunder<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Iwsy34TLe6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CFL (@CFL) August 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

During his CFL interview, Gilgeous-Alexander revealed that if he did play football, he\u2019d want to be a quarterback. True to form, he repeated his stance from the Fallon show, making it clear that he doesn\u2019t enjoy getting hit on the field.<\/p>\n

Now months removed from his championship celebration, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are preparing for another NBA campaign. While other teams are building their rosters for a title run, the reigning MVP\u00a0and his Thunder squad have their sights set on a potential repeat championship.<\/p>\n