Courts to TV Sets: Basketball Players Who Have Appeared On Reality TV

Basketball players can have long, legendary careers on the court. Often, they retire within the basketball world, taking on jobs as coaches or pundits.

Meanwhile, some ballers like to try their hand at reality TV shows. It’s an interesting twist, and it has led to some amazing appearances by basketball stars on reality shows. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. Victor Oladipo: The Masked Singer

Shooting guard Victor Oladipo has played for the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, and Miami Heat.

Surprising many, Victor Oladipo made a deep run in The Masked Singer season 2 as the “Thingamajig.” Judges praised his vocal chops and were shocked when judge Ken Jeong correctly guessed Oladipo’s identity before he was unmasked.

Oladipo placed fifth in The Masked Singer. Wayne Brady took home the crown at the end of the season, revealing he was the “Fox” all along.

2. Cliff Robinson (RIP): Survivor

Cliff Robinson’s NBA career began in 1989. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers until 1997. He had stints with the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Golden DState Warriors, and New Jersey Nets before they moved to Brooklyn. Robinson retired after the 2007 season.

In 2014, Cliff Robinson returned to the public eye when he appeared on Survivor. He was on the Brawn tribe, pitted against the Brain and Beauty tribes.

Robinson’s run on the show was cut short. He was eliminated fifth by eventual winner Tony Vlachos and his alliance member, Trish.

3. Crissa Jackson, The Circle

The Circle is sort of like a sequestered, social media version of Survivor. The Netflix series pits players against one another, but they can only communicate using social media profiles. Players can choose to play as themselves or create a fake “catfish” profile.

Crissa Jackson, a Harlem Globetrotter, competed on the show in season four. She played as herself. She formed a few crucial alliances but was booted from the show by her fellow contestants in episode seven.

4. Scot Pollard, Survivor

Survivor is no stranger to celebrity appearances. A few seasons after Cliff Robinson appeared on the show, NBA player Scot Pollard gave it a go.

Pollard played in the NBA from 1997 through 2008 for the Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.

Koah Rong was the 32nd season of Survivor, and the second to use the “Brains, Brawn, Beauty” theme. Scot was on the Brawn tribe. He quickly cemented himself as a cutthroat player, forming an alliance with Kyle Jason, a bounty hunter.

Scot’s hubris proved to be his undoing. He tried to pressure a fellow alliance member into playing an idol to his advantage, but the “ally” refused. Scot went home in 8th place.

5. Cedric Ceballos and Shawn Marion, The Amazing Race

Cedric Ceballos played for the Phoenix Suns from 1990 to 1994 before moving to the Lakers, Suns, Mavericks, Pistons, and Heat over the next seven years. He went on to play for the Globetrotters and various international teams.

Marion, meanwhile, played for the Phoenix suns from 1999 to 2008, then for the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Marion and Ceballos teamed up for The Amazing Race 30.

The two put up a solid effort, but Ceballos struggled at a few challenges, setting the pair back. Eventually they were eliminated in the fourth leg of the race, ending their time in 9th place.