LeBron James settled the NBA vs NFL debate by naming the hardest sport to learn as a pro

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James says it would be easier for an NBA player to try NFL than the other way around.

James was a super-athlete when he was growing up, having played both basketball and American football.

He was a standout at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School along with being the best basketball player in the country for his age.

Of course, James never played in the NFL after forging a legendary basketball career, where he plies his trade in the NBA with the Lakers.

But he weighed in on the NBA vs. NFL debate, claiming it's easier for a basketball player to try American football.

"I think it's easier for a basketball player to try NFL over the NFL player trying to get into the NBA," he told Jason Kelce on the New Heights podcast.

LeBron James in action for the Los Angeles Lakers. Image: Getty

James added: "Yes, it's going to take a transition period; for me, it would have been like getting used to being hit again. I remember, like in high school, I was to go from summertime playing basketball, playing AAU ball, then going to the fall; I had to get used to getting hit again.

"Once you put on the shoulder pads and the helmets, like getting hit again is the most important thing and the like getting the cadence back, getting your routes back, and all that, but once you get into a groove, you're like okay now I got it. It's like riding a bike."

Comparing the two sports, James referenced the quick nature of basketball compared to American football.

"With football, when you say hike, you know whatever your cadence is, boom, just quick, quick, twitch. And then settle back, reset, quick twitch, settle back, reset, six seconds at a time," he explained.

"In basketball, you can go on for four or five straight minutes with no timeouts, no breaks. You got to keep your mind fresh. You gotta breathe."

Jason Kelce spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Image: Getty

The argument was also discussed on ESPN's First Take as former NBA star Kendrick Perkins clashed with ex-NFL player Shannon Sharpe.

Perkins denied the suggestion that NBA players are 'too soft' to make it into the NFL to which Sharpe replied: "Shooting a basketball is a skillset and basketball players are more skilled. I will concede that.

"But you see the difference between football and basketball is the mentality. We go out there every Sunday and we try to move a man against his will. We ain't tryna run around people, we're trying to run through people. Your mindset ain't built like that Perk."