Clifford Robinson

Clifford Ralph Robinson, born on December 16, 1966, was a prominent American professional basketball player who enjoyed an illustrious career spanning 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Selected in the second round of the 1989 NBA draft, Robinson commenced his NBA journey with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent the first eight seasons of his career. He later embarked on stints with the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets.
Throughout his tenure in the NBA, Robinson garnered acclaim for his versatility and impactful contributions off the bench. His stellar performance earned him the prestigious NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1993, highlighting his ability to provide a crucial spark and make significant contributions coming off the bench. Additionally, Robinson's remarkable talent was recognized with his selection to the NBA All-Star team in 1994, showcasing his prowess and impact on the court.
Prior to his professional career, Robinson honed his skills playing college basketball for the UConn Huskies, where he showcased his talent and laid the foundation for his successful journey in the NBA. Robinson's impact and contributions to the sport earned him a lasting legacy in the basketball community, solidifying his status as one of the esteemed figures in the history of the game.


Robinson commenced his collegiate basketball career at the University of Connecticut in 1985, where he showcased his talent and made a significant impact over the course of four seasons. His tenure with the UConn Huskies culminated in the team's triumph in the 1988 National Invitation Tournament championship, a feat that solidified his legacy on the court. Robinson's outstanding performance during the tournament earned him recognition as he was named to the all-tournament team, further underscoring his instrumental role in the team's success.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to UConn's basketball program, Robinson was honored with a place on the prestigious UConn All-Century men's basketball team, a testament to his enduring impact and significance within the university's basketball history. Moreover, on February 5, 2007, Robinson received one of the highest honors as his jersey number "00" was retired at Gampel Pavilion during halftime of a UConn basketball game against Syracuse. This momentous occasion took place as part of the "Huskies of Honor" ceremony, which commemorated the remarkable achievements of 13 former players and 3 coaches. Robinson's jersey retirement symbolized his indelible mark on UConn basketball and served as a fitting tribute to his exemplary career and contributions to the sport.


Robinson's NBA journey commenced when he was selected as the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 1989 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He went on to spend eight remarkable seasons with the Trail Blazers, during which the team consistently made the playoffs each year of his tenure. Notably, Portland reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, showcasing Robinson's integral role in the team's success.


Robinson's exceptional performance during the 1992–93 season earned him the prestigious Sixth Man of the Year Award. He showcased his versatility and impact on the court by averaging impressive statistics of 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and a career-best 1.99 blocks per game. Additionally, Robinson received recognition as an All-Star with the Trail Blazers in 1994, underscoring his status as one of the league's top talents.


One of the defining moments of Robinson's career occurred after Game 4 of the 1992 Western Conference finals against the Utah Jazz when he performed a victory dance, later dubbed the "Uncle Cliffy," which became synonymous with his persona throughout his career.
Robinson's durability and consistency were further exemplified by his impressive ironman streak of consecutive games played since the start of his career. Unfortunately, this streak came to an end following a game against the Golden State Warriors on February 22, 1995. Nonetheless, his streak of 461 consecutive games remains a franchise record for the Trail Blazers, highlighting his resilience and enduring impact on the team.


Robinson's tenure with the Phoenix Suns began on August 25, 1997, when he signed with the team as a free agent. Over the course of four seasons with the Suns, Robinson left a lasting impact on the franchise. One notable highlight came on January 16, 2000, when he achieved a career milestone by scoring a career-best 50 points against the Denver Nuggets. Notably, this remarkable performance made Robinson the oldest player in NBA history to register his first 50-point game, accomplishing this feat at the age of 33 years and 2 months. This achievement stands as a testament to Robinson's enduring talent and prowess on the basketball court, solidifying his place in NBA history.

References

1.  "Clifford Robinson". sports-reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
2. a b c "Men's Basketball Huskies Of Honor Announced". uconnhuskies.com. December 26, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
3. ^ Rose, Matt. "Clifford Robinson: The NBA's New Ironman". nba.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
4. "Clifford Robinson Bio Page". nba.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
5. ^ Aldridge, David (June 12, 1992). "Dancing Robinson Shows Off Moves". The Washington Post.
6. ^ "24 seconds with Clifford Robinson". The Seattle Times. January 16, 2005. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
7. ^ "Clifford Robinson 1994-95 game log". basketball-reference.com.
8. ^ Quick, Jason (April 5, 2010). "Blazers Top 40: No. 9 Cliff Robinson". The Oregonian.
9. a b "Clifford Robinson". basketball-reference.com.
10. a b "Nets release Cliff Robinson". tsn.ca. Associated Press. July 13, 2007. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007.
11. ^ Eggers, Kerry (September 2, 2008). "After final buzzer, Oregons still home". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
12. ^ "Suns' Robinson legally intoxicated, tests show". CBC Sports. February 9, 2001.
13. ^ Eligon, John (May 13, 2006). "League Suspends Robinson 5 Games for Drug Violation". The New York Times. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
14. a b c Vorkunov, Mike (February 12, 2016). "Meet Uncle Spliffy: Cliff Robinson Ventures into the Weeds". Vice Sports. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
15. a b "Clifford Robinson 1989-90 game log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2020.