Patrick Mahomes says OKC Thunder guard Lu Dort could play in the NFL
Lu Dort is one of the more imposing players in the NBA.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Thunder guard is all muscle, and he regularly uses his blend of strength of speed to defend the other team's best player.
Dort's stature caught the attention of Kansas Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who attended Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals between OKC and Dallas on Saturday.
"There's been this crazy debate about NBA players in the NFL," ABC play-by-play commentator Dave Pasch said. "Patrick Mahomes, unsolicited, just turned to Hubie (Brown) and I and said, 'Lu Dort could play in the NFL.' I don't know if he was kidding or serious, but he said he could play linebacker or running back."
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The topic of NBA players making a hypothetical move to the NFL has created some heated discussions recently.
It began on Tuesday when Austin Rivers, an 11-year NBA pro who's now an ESPN analyst, made comments on The Pat McAfee Show about the talent of the two leagues.
"I can take 30 players right now in the NBA and throw them in the NFL," Rivers said. "You cannot take 30 NFL players and put them in the NBA."
Rivers' comments received backlash from numerous former NFL players, including five-time Pro-Bowl defensive end J.J. Watt.
"You don't got a job in either right now," Watt responded via X on Tuesday. "Go head and try it."
It's no small feat for Dort to receive a stamp of approval from Mahomes, who's a three-time Super Bowl champion and a two-time NFL MVP.
For now, it's in Dort's best interest to stick to basketball. The fifth-year guard is a key player for OKC, which is in the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2016.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Patrick Mahomes says OKC Thunder guard Lu Dort could play in NFL
