Nate Robinson: ‘I Might Go Play’ in the NFL

by Tzvi Twersky | @ttwersky

Nate Robinson marches to the beat of his own drum. That’s why his unique lockout plans aren’t so surprising.

Whereas many NBA players talk of heading overseas to play internationally if the lockout lingers, Robinson has other ideas.

“I might go play football,” Robinson told SLAM on the phone. “Do something that nobody’s tried to do.”

More than a publicity stunt—see: Chad Ochocinco and soccer—there’s no doubting the 27-year-old’s pigskin pedigree.

The son of a college football player, Robinson initially attended the University of Washington on a football scholarship. The 5-9 Seattle, WA, native blossomed into a first round NBA Draft pick, but not before playing one stellar collegiate season at cornerback for the Huskies.

“If I can, I would love to play football a little bit,” says Robinson less than half-jokingly. “I’ve been doing a little bit of training.”

Though the NFL’s own lockout isn’t quite over, Robinson, who has a year remaining on his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, believes that he’d have no trouble finding his way into some team’s training camp.

“Why wouldn’t you want to have an NBA player that can play football try out? That’s a lot of publicity for your organization.”

In the odd case that the NFL lockout wipes out the entire 2011-12 season, Robinson does have a more run of the mill backup plan.

“If their lockout (the NFL) goes the whole season, then I’m gonna go play basketball overseas.”


112288