Mbappe wants to sign a '10-day contract' with an American team

Kylian Mbappe drew attention by posting a humorous joke on social media about shifting his career path with a 10-day NBA contract.

Kylian Mbappe might have a future on the basketball court based on his recent social media performance. After France's 3-1 victory over Colombia at Northwest Stadium, the Real Madrid forward stirred up the sports world by humorously "offering" himself to the NBA.

“A 10-day contract?”, Mbappe wrote on his official account, tagging the NBA after posting a viral video where he impressively kicked a ball into a hoop.

Although the French captain only played 12 minutes in the match and nearly scored a fourth goal before being called offside, his exceptional basketball shooting ability after the game was what truly caught attention. The playful reference to the NBA's 10-day contract rule sparked curiosity about whether the world's top striker possesses the "shooting touch" of a genuine shooter.

In the NBA, the 10-day contract is a familiar tool for teams to bolster their roster due to injuries or to test potential players during the intense season. In theory, any team could sign such a contract with an athlete, but Mbappe appearing in a basketball jersey soon is highly unlikely.

Although his ball-throwing moment was impressive, the 27-year-old star's basketball playing record remains quite limited. A viral online moment might not be enough to convince sports directors to risk a roster spot for a short-term experiment, but in the era of entertainment sports, nothing is entirely impossible.

If Mbappe ever truly switches from soccer shoes to basketball sneakers, the superstar born in 1998 would become a rare elite athlete successfully transitioning from football to the NBA. Although such cases are rare, these two sports have had some intersections.

NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon didn't play basketball until age 15, having previously been a goalkeeper in Nigeria. Similarly, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid grew up in Cameroon with volleyball and soccer, often mentioning soccer as his first passion before his exceptional height led him to basketball.