Around this time of year, the speculation usually picks up about possible two-sport athletes and whether top pros from one sport could hack it in the NBA, with the NBA Finals set to begin.
There’s one NFL quarterback that can make a very compelling case: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Richardson was an elite multi-sport athlete in high school, averaging 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a junior while shooting 53% from the floor. And in his mind, there’s no doubt he could hoop it up in the NBA.
“Oh man I could definitely be in the NBA,” Richardson said on a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
The McAfee Show crew was intrigued and pelted him with a smattering of questions, including how many points Richardson thinks he’d average in the NBA.
“I would probably say 11,” the former Florida stand out said.
But where he’d really make his money, Richardson said, is playing defense. With his athleticism, he could be a nightmare hanging in the hip pocket of opposing ball-handlers. The McAfee crew wondered if he’d be the demonstrative type.
“Probably not smacking the floor, because that’s bad luck,” Richardson said. “You get crossed.”
In any case, the NBA talk is a pure hypothetical. Richardson is set to get back on the field for the Colts this fall after suffering a season-ending AC joint sprain in 2023.
Anthony Richardson getting back to normal
In terms of his recovery, Richardson revealed on the Pat McAfee Show that his routine has completely returned to normal.
“I’m not going to lie, my offseason has been the same as it’s always been,” Richardson said. “Just training and just getting right. My injury kind of took away my offseason a little bit, but I’m not mad at it. I love training, I love grinding and that’s what I do. So this is just a normal offseason for me again.”
Richardson was off to a pretty solid start to his rookie season, too. He had a 59.5% completion percentage and had thrown for three touchdowns against just one interception. Meanwhile, he had also logged 136 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the ground, though he did fumble twice.
He showed he can be an explosive playmaker from the position, one of the things that has many wondering if the NBA dreams couldn’t have some reality to them if he wanted.
In any case, Richardson is settling into being an NFL starter.
“Know a lot more. I feel just like I’m settled in the NFL now instead of trying to make a name for myself or whatever,” he said. “I feel like people know about me and I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing.”
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