Incredible unseen footage emerges of LeBron James playing FOOTBALL as a wide receiver in Ohio high school football game - as clip goes viral on social media
- The 38-year-old is set to embark on his 21st season in the NBA with the LA Lakers
- He considered playing for the Cowboys & Seahawks during the 2011 NBA lockout
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Unseen footage of LeBron James playing high school football has emerged on social media, as it shows the NBA's all-time leading scorer dominating in a different sports back in the day.
A video from the early 2000s that was shared by Bally Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows the 38-year-old NBA star as a wide receiver for the St. Vincent-St. Mary football team in Akron, Ohio.
James is spotted receiving several passes, including for a touchdown, and tackling opponents in the never-seen-before highlights.
He was also seen chatting with referees and taking off his helmet as he left the field for the bench.
James was recruited by several Division I programs, including Notre Dame, before embarking on a journey to become a professional basketball player.
![LeBron James played as a wideout for St. Vincent-St. Mary in high school in the early 2000s](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/11/15/76430001-12619093-LeBron_James_played_as_a_wideout_for_St_Vincent_St_Mary_in_high_-a-17_1697034005776.jpg)
LeBron James played as a wideout for St. Vincent-St. Mary in high school in the early 2000s
![James was recruited by several Division I program, including Notre Dame, while in high school](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/11/15/76429999-12619093-James_was_recruited_by_several_Division_I_program_including_Notr-a-18_1697034012602.jpg)
James was recruited by several Division I program, including Notre Dame, while in high school
![James, now 38, has gone on to win four NBA championships with the Lakers, Cavaliers & Heat](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/11/15/76430109-12619093-image-m-9_1697033140043.jpg)
James, now 38, has gone on to win four NBA championships with the Lakers, Cavaliers & Heat
At the conclusion of his second year, he was named first team all-state, and as a junior, he helped lead the Fighting Irish to the state semifinals.
He did not play during his senior years because of a wrist injury that he sustained in a Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball game.
Some sports analysts, football critics, high school coaches, former and current players have speculated that James could have played in the NFL.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, James received contract offers to play professional football from the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, which he gave serious consideration to and even began training with in mind.
![If it weren't for basketball, then James wouldn't have surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA's leading scorer title](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/11/15/76430285-12619093-image-a-12_1697033342000.jpg)
If it weren't for basketball, then James wouldn't have surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA's leading scorer title
'The thoughts came into my mind,' James said at the time. 'But never having the ability to finish my high school career of playing like my senior year, I have dreams all the time about playing football.
'It's crazy, because I actually never run on the field in my dreams. It always gets to the point where I'm either in the locker room or getting dressed or talking about it or seeing the fans. As soon as I am about to run onto the field, something else happens in my dream. Something always happens like that.'
It's fair to say that James' alternative choice to become an NBA player worked out for him, as he's won four championships, Finals MVP, and regular-season MVPs.
James has also gone onto become a 19-time All-Star and 13-time All-NBA First Team regular among accomplishments in his 20-year career.
In February, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the leading scorer in league history.