Austin Rivers recently went viral when he made a declaration that it would be easier for NBA players to transition to the NFL than if it were the other way around. Specifically, the Rivers claimed that he ā€œcan take 30 players in the NBA and throw them in the NFL,ā€ while adding that he ā€œcannot take 30 NFL players and put them in the NBA.ā€ This drew plenty of reactions, and one former football player wasn't buying it. JJ Watt, a dominant defensive end during his heyday, had this to say to Rivers.

ā€œYou don't got a job in either one (NBA or NFL) right now,ā€ Watt said, per Yahoo Sports. ā€œGo ā€˜head and try it.ā€

Rivers made his bold ā€œ30 playersā€ statement while appearing on the Pat McAfee show. Adding more fuel to the fire, the former NBA guard followed it up with a comment that alludes to the simplicity of football compared to basketball.

ā€œAll you gotta do is catch the ball and run north or south. It ain't complex,ā€ Rivers claimed.

Pat McAfee wasn't having it though. The former NFL punter turned sports analyst retorted back, claiming that football is the better sport, while throwing a bit of jabs here and there.

ā€œListen, our sport's better,ā€ McAfee responded. ā€œBecause we would just create a position for one of you 5-2, 40 (yard)-running, 6-foot-10 guys, and just put themā€¦you know, can't get hit much, fragile, a little thin, very tallā€¦we would just create a position because we got big brains.ā€

Despite the continuous back-and-forth banter between the two, McAfee eased the tension by praising NBA players as a whole.

ā€œNonetheless, you guys are great athletes man,ā€ McAfee said at one point.

On the other end, Rivers acknowledged the difficulty of the quarterback position.

ā€œI think the quarterback's the hardest position in sports,ā€ Rivers claimed. ā€œā€¦You have to be looking through a visor; you keep having people trying to rip your head off. (You need to be) knowing a thousand plays, where everyone's supposed to be. I have a lot of respect for quarterbacks. I don't know how they do it.ā€

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Other football names react to Austin Rivers' bold take

Besides JJ Watt, others also chimed in on the topic. Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho spoke about how the physicality of football ā€œmadeā€ basketball players.

Pro-Bowler Patrick Queen also gave a piece of his mind. While the linebacker didn't exactly debate Rivers' take, he sent out a reminder of what could possibly happen to any NBA player who switches to football.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson wasn't sold on the idea as well, bringing up the way NBA players ā€œcry about fouls.ā€

Throughout history, no athlete has ever flourished in both the NBA and the NFL, so it's expected that the debate will continue until someone accomplishes a successful switch.