Tyreek Hill is one of the most captivating wide receivers in the entire NFL.
The Miami Dolphins wideout has had six 1,000-plus yard NFL seasons in his nine year career, including eclipsing 1,700 yards back-to-back in 2022-23.
But, the 31-year-old – who was recently seen getting mossed by a 12-year-old at one of his football camps – believes he has what it takes to be an NBA star too.
Fielding some questions and posts from fans in a recent interview with GQ, one fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to joke about Hill’s numbers in pick-up runs.
There, it was suggested that he could be a future Los Angeles Laker after stats had 84 points, 49 rebounds, 19 steals and shot 42-51 from the field for 82.4 percent through a 5-0 record.
In response, Hill said: “I’m loving the sound of that, man. I see Bronny James getting minutes so I really think I got a chance to get some minutes too.
“I can be a defensive man. I can be like a Tony Allen. Lock down your best player.”
Tony Allen spent 14 years in the NBA, in which he played for the Boston Celtics before solidifying himself as a core starter for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2010s.
Though not known for his scoring ability, averaging just 8.1 points per contest on 47.5 percent shooting from the field, during his prime Allen was regarded as one of the league’s better defenders, especially from the perimeter.
His defensive rating showcased this, in which he averaged a 101.7 rating across his entire career, and was also named an All-Defensive selection on six occasions.
Thus, he deservedly earnt the nickname of ‘The Grindfather.’
The late Kobe Bryant even named Allen the toughest defender he ever faced in his career.
“It was Tony Allen. He was the only one that wasn’t crying for help, he was never crying for help, saying, ‘Hey, help down here, I need help, double, double,'” Bryant said back in 2018.
“Tony Allen would play you straight up, I could score 10 straight on him, and he’s not blinking. He’s still there, he’s still playing defense, he’s still being physical, he’s not backing down.
“I would used to finish playing against Tony Allen and I had scratch marks everywhere and I loved it.”
Despite standing at just 5-foot-10, there is no doubting that Hill is the better athlete between he and Allen, with his sheer explosiveness likely enough to chase opponents around on the court and guard them.
Referencing Bronny James – son of superstar LeBron – is interesting, though, with the Lakers having drafted the former USC guard with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 draft, leading to some believing that it was an act of nepotism from Los Angeles‘ front-office to keep their $101 million star happy.
When asked whether he considered himself to be the best hooper in the NFL, Hill was adamant that he was.
“Of course,” Hill added. “I can dunk, I can shoot, I can play defense. And plus can’t nobody guard me.”
‘Cheetah’ has been the subject of much speculation of late, being a key instigator in one of the most dysfunctional squads in the NFL.
Having missed team sessions, as well as publicly stating at the end of last season that he could be exploring a move away from the Dolphins, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was even forced to speak out on his teammate.
With tension at an all-time high, Hill’s future with the team is still very much up in the air, but with the veteran receiver not getting any younger and his pace will begin to slow down, his antics may not be over yet.
Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for news, exclusive interviews and more.