OKC’s Nate Robinson eyeing NFL if NBA lockout disrupts the next season – NBA News
The NBA lockout is in its preliminary stages and the uneasy silence that has prevailed after the CBA deadline expired on June 30, is a clear indication that the lockout is here to stay.
The people who have been the most affected by this scenario are the ones who actually run the show – the players. Over the course of the past few weeks, many players in the league, including superstars like Deron Williams, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade have expressed their desire to play outside the country and this seems to be the general trend that the player fraternity is following.
However, Oklahoma City Thunder’s point guard has come up with a brand new idea.
Robinson, who was acquired by Oklahoma City Thunder in the mid season trade with Boston Celtics during February, is considering to make a switch to the National Football League (NFL) if the NBA lockout disrupts the upcoming season.
“I might go play football. Do something that nobody’s tried to do. If I can, I would love to play football a little bit. I’ve been doing a little bit of training.” Robinson said.
Apparently, Nate’s plan is to offer himself a different ball game.
Robinson is extremely serious about taking his talents to the football league and has preparing himself to try out at a NFL team’s training camp. It’s not completely irrational to think that Nate can impress the franchises, keeping in mind that he carries a football background.
As a freshman in the University of Washington, Robinson played football at the cornerback position. Nate’s most memorable game was during the 2002 Apple Cup, when he intercepted a pass in the final minutes of regulation against the third ranked Washington State Cougars and guided his team towards victory in triple overtime. In the long run, Robinson favoured basketball, but there is certainly no shortage of talent as far as football is concerned.
If Robinson does join a franchise, he will definitely take its popularity to a brand new level. And he knows it. “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.”
Even though the NFL is also experiencing a lockout at the moment, however the league has made some significant progress in the last couple of weeks and is expected to get back to business pretty soon.
On the other hand, the representatives of the NBA owners and the players’ union are not even at a common platform to negotiate, which puts a big question mark on the beginning of the next season.
In case NFL fails to make a settlement before the next season, Nate will go with his second option of playing overseas.
“If their lockout (the NFL) goes the whole season, then I’m gonna go play basketball overseas.”
At the moment, Robinson is prepared to try out for NFL and has officially handed out the proposal. Now it’s up to the NFL team to take the chance and have a work out session with the NBA player.
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