Everyone knows Rob Gronkowski for his exploits with the New England Patriots, his Super Bowl rings and his all-around Gronk persona. But few know that the Patriots tight end was once a prolific basketball player who tore down backboards with dunks, set records for technical fouls and nearly played alongside Jarryd Bayless, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger for the Arizona Wildcats when he was in college in 2007.
If Lute Olson had his way, it would have happened.
With Rob an incoming freshman on the Arizona football squad, he and big brother Chris headed to the school’s rec center to play some hoops. Rob matched up with a current Wildcats forward (exact player is unconfirmed but it was either J.P. Prince or Mohamed Tangara), setting up a low-post battle between two top-flight athletes. The showdown quickly got heated — but it was a one-sided affair.
Rob “just dominated,” Chris Gronkowski recalled of the pickup game.
“It was a tough battle…they were going all out,” Chris said. “It was the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen Rob do athletically, outside of football.”
Coach Olson caught wind of the encounter because he later asked Rob to join the basketball team as a walk-on.
“Lute was all about it,” Chris said.
Both athletes were four-star recruits. The difference, of course, was that Rob was in Tucson for his skill on the football field. His success in the pickup game led to him seriously considering Olson’s offer.
“But it was just too hard to go out there and really focus on two completely different sports, so he never followed through on it,” said Chris.
Arizona’s basketball team that year was talented (20-11, NCAA Tournament bid), but the Wildcats were guard-heavy and probably could have used Gronk. Rob, who has compared his game to Blake Griffin’s, was a dominant force on the court in high school.
In 2006, at Buffalo’s Williamsville North, he averaged 21 points and 18 rebounds. His college bio says he was “one of the top centers in Western New York.”
Unsurprisingly, size, explosiveness and power were the strength of his hoops game. He once tore down the hoop at rival Williamsville South, infuriating his opponents, who tried to make him pay to replace it.
“His game was really aggressive,” Chris said with a laugh. “He has the high school’s record for most technicals. It was super frustrating for him because people would blatantly foul him. It was never called because he was so much bigger than them. He’d start lowering his shoulder and running through guys. Coach would have to call a timeout and take him out of the game and calm him down.”
Rob liked contact — shocker — but he wasn’t merely a bruiser. He was a surprisingly good ball-handler and shooter, Chris remembers.
Aside from Gronk’s achievements on the court, he always knew football gave him the best opportunity to go pro. He played a pivotal role on Mike Stoops’ squad in his first collegiate season, qualifying for The Sporting News’ freshman All-American team. The next year, he caught 47 passes for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns and earned third-team All-American recognition.
Rob missed his junior year because of a back injury (perhaps kickstarting a history of back issues). For that reason, he fell into the lap of the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 draft — one of the biggest steals in NFL history.
Despite years of NFL wear and tear, the 29-year-old Gronk can still throw down 360-degree dunks today, according to his brother. He also still has his deft touch from beyond the arc.
There is a long list of former college basketball players who have blossomed as NFL tight ends: Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham and Tony Gonzalez are foremost among the crowd. College hoops forwards with limited pro basketball prospects often pursue a career in the NFL — like, in recent years, the Cowboys’ Rico Gathers (who played basketball at Baylor), Colts’ Mo Alie-Cox (VCU) and Panthers’ Chris Manhertz (Canisius).
The parallels between the positions are clear. Jockeying for a fade in the end zone is much like soaring in a crowd for a rebound. Blocking is similar to setting a screen. Strength, soft hands and agility are paramount — Gronk has all three.
“You see a lot of guys with great talent that come from basketball and dominate in football, but weren’t necessarily the greatest basketball players — they were a little undersized,” Chris explained. “But they make great tight ends, and I think that’s kind of Rob. He would have been a great college player.”
serious #preptalkflashback: @RobGronkowski left, new Timon coach @CoachRandall5 right (2005) http://t.co/nXFOuPfl8c pic.twitter.com/r3nTCCpei3
— Keith McShea (@ByKeithMcShea) April 3, 2015
Chris stops short of saying Rob could have played in the NBA. Indeed, a player of Gronk’s skill set would be undersized at the next level. At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, he’s shorter and bulkier than LeBron James, who is 6-foot-8 and 250 (and, of course, was once a promising wide receiver). Griffin, Rob’s self-proclaimed NBA equivalent, is 6-foot-10, 250.
Gronk has qualified for five Pro Bowls, won two Super Bowls and hauled in 77 career touchdowns, forming one of the most prolific NFL passing duos of all-time with Tom Brady. He’s put up stats guaranteeing first-ballot Hall-of-Fame status despite defenders routinely mauling him like opposing high school basketball players once did.
Gronk may have made the right decision when he opted against joining Olson’s squad, but that does not mean his hoops days are necessarily behind him.
Ice Cube says his BIG3 basketball league is for retired NBA players only, and foreigners are not welcome.
Maybe he’ll consider an exception once Gronk decides to hang up his cleats and put on some sneakers.
The ball’s in your court, Cube.
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