2016 NFL Draft Updates & Rumors: NBA’s Nate Robinson to Become a Professional Football Player?

By Carlo Monzon
Nate Robinson
Nate Robinson playing with the w:New York Knicks Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison

NBA veteran Nate Robinson, who is now a point guard in the Israel Basketball Premiere League, says he has always dreamed of playing in the NFL. But, it seems he is planning on turning this dream into reality by hoping to become the second professional basketball player to crossover to pro-football.

Robinson began his NBA career in 2005 after joining the New York Knicks. He stayed with the Knicks for five years before transferring to other teams including the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls.

His last game in the NBA was with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2015. After he was waived by the team last year, he transferred to the Israel Basketball Premiere League to play for the Hapoel Tel Aviv.

But now, as he nears the age of 32 in May, it seems Robinson wants to make a drastic career change by trying out for the NFL. According to Robinson, he plans to do this after returning home from Israel.

"It's a big-time dream," he said about joining the NFL according to ESPN. "Something I've always wanted to do, play both sports at the highest level. We'll see if I can be the first one to really do it."

Despite his rich basketball background, playing professional football probably still feel natural for Robinson. After all, before playing on the hardcourt, he was a football player during his freshman year at the University of Washington. He even got a scholarship for it and took on the cornerback position for the Washington Huskies.

If he managers to crossover to the professional American football league, he will be following in the footsteps of Bud Grant, who played for both the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers and the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles during the 1950s.

But, before making the transition to the NFL, Robinson knows that he has to prepare for it first through proper training.

"I need to get a little stronger, a little faster," he said. "Lifting weights and watching a lot of films. Work on my feet and hands and how to press [as a cornerback]. Basic stuff."

"I can catch pretty fast," he added. "Just learn some of the drills they'd have me do and start practicing and get ready for it."

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