Puka Nacua is one of the brightest young stars in the NFL after his breakout rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams. However, the Clippers and Lakers might want to consider him as a two-sport athlete!
The 22-year-old wide receiver is also an extremely talented basketball player.
At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Nacua is the ideal size for a combo guard in the NBA. He hasn’t hooped in a competitive setting since high school, but the second-team All-Pro loves to get in the gym whenever possible.
Los Angeles’ star pass-catcher received a last-minute invitation to play in the Celebrity Game at NBA All-Star weekend and put on a show. Nacua scored 17 points, second only to Micah Parsons, and threw down a few highlight dunks that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
That was a few months ago and the offseason was still young.
Now that we are slowly inching closer and closer to training camp, Rams fans had a moment of panic when a new video hit social media over the weekend. L.A.-based model Maddie Murray happened to catch Puka Nacua running fives at the Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.
She had her camera out as he made a ridiculously athletic layup.
Nacua crossed up his man at the top of the arc and split the defense. A much larger defender was waiting for him in the paint, but that was no issue. He went up and under for an acrobatic finish with his right hand. It was incredible!
Definitely Air Puka!! 🔥👌🏽 pic.twitter.com/jbudNLYWmT
— Rams_Chick07 (@Rams_Chick07) April 27, 2024
As impressive as it was, panic was very real among the Rams fanbase— just check the replies! They would prefer if Nacua did not go so hard on the hardwood to ensure that he won’t suffer a freak injury while playing basketball that would prevent him from getting back on the field.
Some NFL players have a clause in their contracts that don’t allow them to hoop on the side. Fans in Los Angeles would prefer that the team gets one in Nacua’s next deal, even though his highlights are awesome.