Did Terrell Owens Play Basketball? Exploring NFL Legend’s College Stats
Terrell Owens, the NFL Hall of Famer, will participate in the upcoming NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, showcasing his past as a college basketball player at Chattanooga. Owens played three seasons at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1993 to 1996, contributing to the team’s NCAA Tournament appearances. Known for his athleticism, Owens excelled in basketball before committing fully to football, where he later achieved significant success. His versatility in sports highlights his competitive nature and commitment to excellence.
Fans will likely see Terrell Owens leveraging his athletic background in basketball during the All-Star Celebrity Game, potentially rekindling his love for the sport. This participation may open doors for more celebrity matchups in the future, showcasing the crossover appeal between sports.
Terrell Owens’ appearance in the NBA Celebrity Game serves as a reminder of his multifaceted athletic abilities, emphasizing that his sports career extends beyond football. This highlights the importance of versatility and adaptability in sports, which continues to resonate with fans.
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Terrell Owens Returns to the Court for NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game always delivers entertainment, but this year, an unexpected name is set to take the spotlight—Terrell Owens. The Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver will swap his cleats for sneakers on Friday night, joining a star-studded lineup that includes Kai Cenat, Walker Hayes, and more.
While many know T.O. for his legendary 14-year NFL career, fewer are aware of his basketball background. So, how will he fare in the Celebrity Game? Let’s take a look.
Before Owens became one of the most dominant receivers in NFL history, he was a multi-sport athlete in high school, playing football, basketball, and track in Alexander City, Alabama.
Owens continued his basketball career at Chattanooga, where he played three seasons (1993-96) as a forward. During his time with the Mocs, he helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament twice, appearing in 38 total games.
While Owens ultimately chose football—graduating as Chattanooga’s all-time leader in receiving yards (2,320)—his former basketball coach, Mack McCarthy, praised his defensive versatility and effort:
“He could guard any position. His effort was unbelievable. You didn’t want to be embarrassed by him.”
Interestingly, Owens almost quit football in high school because of his love for basketball. His high school coach, Steve Savarese, had to challenge him to take football more seriously:
“Basketball was his first love, and I told him he wasn’t putting any effort into football. All of a sudden, he took my challenge. He’s a competitor, and you just saw his body change and develop.”
Owens stands 6-foot-3 and 224 pounds, giving him a size and athleticism advantage over most Celebrity Game participants. His build is similar to NBA stars Donovan Mitchell, Bronny James, and Marcus Smart—a good sign that he can still hold his own on the court.
While Owens’ college stats weren’t eye-popping, his athleticism and defensive intensity made him a valuable asset. At 50 years old, he may not be as explosive as he once was, but expect him to bring physicality, hustle, and competitiveness to the Celebrity Game.
With his size, strength, and experience as a former college player, Owens could be one of the most impactful players on the floor. Whether he throws down a highlight dunk or locks in on defense, his competitive nature will make him a player to watch.
Terrell Owens’ Basketball Background
How Tall Is Terrell Owens?
Owens’ College Basketball Stats at Chattanooga
Will T.O. Shine Under the Lights?
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| Season | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| 1994-95 | 6.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.1 |
| 1995-96 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
Did Terrell Owens play basketball? Revisiting NFL legend’s stats and career at Chattanooga
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A number of big names are expected to attend and play in Friday’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, including Kai Cenat, Walker Hayes and Terrell Owens.
Yes, T.O. will be trading in his cleats to suit up for this one.
You’re probably wondering why the Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver is suiting up to play a celebrity basketball game. Owens actually played basketball for three seasons in college before playing in the NFL for 14 seasons.
Let’s take a look at T.O.’s basketball career to see how he might do on Friday night.
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Yes, he did! In high school in Alexander City, Ala., Owens played football, basketball and ran track. He played three years at Chattanooga as well.
During his three seasons with the Mocs between 1993 and 1996, Owens helped Chattanooga make the NCAA Tournament twice. He was a forward and played a total of 38 games.
Although Owens had more impressive accolades in football, leaving Chattanooga as the leader in receiving yards (2,320) and receptions (144) with 19 career TD catches, his ability to play both sports highlights his versatility.
“He was a great, great teammate,” T.O.’s Chattanooga head coach Mack McCarthy said. “He really cared about competing and winning. He positively made us better. He could guard any position. His effort was unbelievable. You didn’t want to be embarrassed by him.”
Interestingly enough, Owens’ high school coach says he almost quit playing football in high school since he liked playing basketball more.
“He was about to quit football, and I had a little talk with him and basically challenged him,” T.O.’s high school basketball coach Steve Savarese said. “I told him and his mom that he hadn’t worked hard enough. Basketball was his first love and I told him he wasn’t putting any effort into football.
“All of a sudden he took my challenge. He’s a competitor, and he started working out twice a day. You just saw his body change and develop, but the finer points of football took longer to develop.”
Owens didn’t play basketball his senior year at Chattanooga to turn his focus to football.
MORE: Terrell Owens-Deion Sanders relationship, explained
Owens is 6-3 and 224 pounds. He has similar measurements to Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, Lakers rookie Bronny James and Wizards guard Marcus Smart.
Season
MP
PTS
TRB
AST
1993-94
1.7
0.7
0.7
0.0
1994-95
6.1
1.3
1.2
0.1
1995-96
7.3
1.9
1.6
0.2
Although there isn’t a ton of footage from his Chattanooga playing days, there are some nuggets showing off what Owens can do on a basketball court.
Over the years T.O. has also played in a number of charity basketball games.
MORE: Terrell Owens-Tom Brady beef, explained
Owens’ net worth is $500,000, per Celebrity Net Worth.
Despite his successful NFL career, Owens says he made some poor financial decisions due to his trust in others to manage and invest his money.
Morgan Moriarty joined The Sporting News as a content producer in the fall of 2024. Her sports journalism career started at the University of Florida in 2012, where she graduated in 2015. She has covered college football and basketball, the NFL and numerous other major sports for outlets like the Tampa Bay Times, Saturday Down South, UPROXX Sports and SB Nation. She also covers college football for Bleacher Report, and is a featured guest on various CNN programs.
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|
Season |
MP |
PTS |
TRB |
AST |
|
1993-94 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
|
1994-95 |
6.1 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
0.1 |
|
1995-96 |
7.3 |
1.9 |
1.6 |
0.2 |
