“I want to say that I think it’s easier for a basketball player to try NFL over the NFL player trying to get in the NBA.” Those were LeBron James’ thoughts on a long-running debate that it’s easier for basketball players to enter the football realm than the other way around. So, the question is, can Colin Granger make LeBron’s claim come true? His transition from hardwood to gridiron will be closely watched not just by the NFL but also by the whole basketball world.

On Monday, the Panthers announced they are signing Coastal Carolina power forward Colin Granger as a tight end. This will be Granger’s first foray into football after spending his whole campus life playing basketball. The 6-foot-9, 225-pounder will tower over his teammates as he tries his hands at football.

Granger’s college basketball career started at Ohio University back in 2020. There, the power forward got 25 games under his belt, averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per contest. After spending two seasons with the Bobcats, Granger moved to Western Carolina in 2022. There, he burst onto the college basketball scene, logging in 64 games. His averages also went up with 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds.

His last year of eligibility saw Granger spend a single season at Coastal Carolina. Getting 11 starts over 31 games, Granger finished last season with 7.2 points and 4.4 boards on average. Having already proven himself as a top-tier basketball player, Granger probably thought about taking on a new challenge. Instead of going the traditional route to the NBA, Granger will be part of Bryce Young’s offense in 2025. He might not have played a single snap in college. But the Panthers saw something in Granger that urged them to sign him. He will now get a chance to break into the active roster before the new season commences.

Granger will join a TE room that already has Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews, James Mitchell, and Dominique Dafney. The 6-foot-9 TE will have to hone his skills with a football before even thinking about breaking into that bloated tight room. Now, as Granger changes his destiny from hardwood to gridiron. He is not the only one to do so. Many before him have switched to football and had insane success to talk about later.

Can Colin Granger join the elite group of Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham, and more?

Antonio Gates remains by far the biggest name to ever transition from basketball to football. Gates once led Kent State to the Elite Eight in 2002 and then went to an average 20 points per game a season after that. Once Gates left basketball for football, he never looked back on his career-changing decision. Gates played 12 seasons in the NFL, primarily as a Charger, and had 87 TDs for 9,274 yards. He also made 8 trips to the Pro Bowl. And is also a Hall of Famer. So, Gates remains the ultimate ceiling for Granger to touch as he takes baby steps into the NFL.

Other than Gates, there is also Jimmy Graham. Graham appeared for over 120 games for the Miami Hurricanes. But once his college basketball eligibility was over. Jimmy spent his final season in college playing football for the Canes. He then went on to get drafted by the Saints in the 2010 NFL draft. By the end of his NFL career, Graham had made 5 Pro Bowls and was also a First Team All-Pro TE.

Yet another legendary tight end who you probably didn’t know played basketball in college was Tony Gonzalez. Before Gonzalez turned into a Kansas City legend, Gonzalez was a two-sport athlete at Cal. He was an All-American TE and also a forward for Cal’s basketball team. Gonzalez was the Chiefs’ all-time reception leader leading up to 2024. But that crown now belongs to Travis Kelce after the conclusion of last season.

So, these are some of the greatest names Granger could try and reach in his football journey. Obviously, the Panthers will be expecting something special from him. But it all depends on his flexibility to turn those baskets into TDs from this season.