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Tom Brady used Team USA’s men’s basketball team to fill out a roster of NFL skill-position players featuring one quarterback, one running back, two wide receivers and one tight end.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion initially listed LeBron James as a tight end before shifting him to wide receiver with Devin Booker also on the outside, with Jayson Tatum at quarterback, Anthony Edwards at running back and Anthony Davis or Joel Embiid as his tight end.
Brady’s most controversial take is that Tatum would be the quarterback. James would seem like the most obvious pick for that position because passing, vision and on-court IQ are arguably his three best traits.
Of course, Tatum does have the Boston connection that might give him an advantage with someone like Brady. The New England Patriots legend may also have been trying to help out Tatum, whose Olympic run received more scrutiny because of how little he played than anything he did on the court.
Brady’s daughter, Vivian, chimed in to suggest Sabrina Ionescu at quarterback.
Edwards at running back is perfect because of his athletic build and, per NBA 2K25 ratings, he’s one of the fastest players in the NBA. Devin Booker is a shifty dribbler with a devastating crossover that he can use to shake off NFL defensive backs.
Davis and Embiid at tight end is simple to figure out. Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez were former college basketball players who entered the NFL as tight ends. They used their height and weight to outmuscle smaller defenders en route to catching a combined 227 touchdown passes.
If nothing else, Brady’s attempt to build an NFL team with NBA players is a fascinating experiment to think about because it can show how one thinks about each individual position on the football field and what skills you’re looking to take advantage of.