Rams’ Puka Nacua on NBA Celebrity Game, NFL vs. NBA Debate

Puka Nacua can do more than just catch footballs. He’s also a skilled basketball player. And he’s here to tell you a lot of other NFL players are, too.

The Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver scored 16 points during February’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. The Pro Bowler and former high school basketball star from Orem, Utah, spoke about his hardwood experience sitting alongside teammates Kobie Turner and Steve Avila during Variety and Sportico’s Sports and Entertainment Summit in Los Angeles on Friday.

“I was trying to get a 10-day contract,” Nacua said laughingly. “I thought, if this is my opportunity, I need to take full advantage of it.”

Nacua wasn’t the only NFL player to perform well during that star-studded contest, as Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons scored 37 points and won the game’s MVP award. Nacua, a big fan of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, said it was blessing to meet some of his favorite basketball players in Indianapolis while comparing himself and other NFLers to the size of NBA players.

“As a football player, I get to hang around guys like Steve and Kobie, and we have guys like Big Rob [Rob Havenstein] on our team who is 6’9”, 300-plus pounds,” Nacua said. “These guys are not small human beings, but then you see LeBron or Jayson Tatum, and everybody seems like they’re 7-feet. I’m like, I’m 6’2”. I shouldn’t feel this small right now.”

Nacua’s comments added to the ongoing hypothetical debate about how many NBA players could compete in the NFL and vice versa. This conversation has been had by NFL and NBA players alike (including Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes), with both groups defending the finesse and durability it takes to play their respective sports at the highest levels.

Nacua was also asked on stage about NBA guard Austin Rivers’ statement that NBA players are the best athletes in the world. Rivers claimed he knew 30 players who could suit up for an NFL game today, while saying 30 NFL players could not do the same.

“Automatic side-eye,” the receiver said in response.