Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins believes his athletic journey could have taken a very different path, one that led to the NBA instead of the NFL.
During a recent appearance on “The Sitdown Podcast” with Malik Wright, Higgins reflected on his basketball background and his belief that, had he focused on the sport, he might have reached professional heights on the hardwood.
Tee Higgins is fully confident he could’ve been in the NBA if not for football.
“I feel like I would have had a good chance, you know what I mean? Especially if I would have worked on my skills like I did with football, I feel like I would have,” Higgins said when asked if he could have made it to the NBA had he not pursued football.
Higgins was a standout basketball player in high school. He didn’t hesitate to back up his confidence. When challenged to a one-on-one game or a three-point contest by Wright, Higgins dismissed the idea that he could be beaten, adding, “I’m a good shooter. I can shoot. Not at all, we can go do this after we’re done with the show. I’m down, I’m down. Listen, that’s space and opportunity.”
Standing 6-foot-4, Higgins’ size and athleticism have made him a key target for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. But according to Higgins, those same attributes could have translated to success on the basketball court if he had chosen that path.
Higgins is coming off a season in which he recorded 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, despite missing five games due to injury. Now healthy and focused on the upcoming NFL season, he remains a vital part of Cincinnati’s offensive plans.
But as his comments suggest, the star receiver hasn’t forgotten his basketball roots—or the possibilities that might have been. “I would have had a good chance,” Higgins reiterated, underscoring the confidence that has fueled his rise in professional sports.
Higgins enters the 2025 NFL season with elevated expectations following a four-year, $115 million contract extension with the Bengals, making him the highest-paid WR2 in league history. He has had his fair share of recurring lower-body issues, making him one of the riskiest top receivers in terms of injury probability heading into this season.
With injuries hopefully behind him and a new contract in place, Higgins is expected to be a consistent and impactful weapon for the Bengals in 2025, with the potential for a career-best season if he stays healthy and the offense clicks as expected.
