David Robinson

David Maurice Robinson, born on August 6, 1965, is renowned as one of the most accomplished and respected figures in basketball history. His illustrious career spanned from 1989 to 2003, during which he played for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. Robinson, affectionately known as "the Admiral," earned his nickname due to his service with the U.S. Navy before entering the NBA.
Throughout his career, Robinson amassed an impressive array of accolades and achievements. He was selected to the NBA All-Star Game a remarkable 10 times and was honored with the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1995. Additionally, Robinson secured two NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999 and 2003, cementing his legacy as one of the league's premier players.


Robinson's impact extended beyond the NBA court, as he also represented the United States in international competition. He achieved Olympic glory twice, winning gold medals with the U.S. men's basketball team in 1992 and 1996. For his contributions to the sport, Robinson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice, first in 2009 for his individual career and again in 2010 as a member of the iconic 1992 United States Olympic basketball team.
Furthermore, Robinson's remarkable achievements earned him recognition as one of the NBA's all-time greats. He was honored with selection to both the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, solidifying his status as a basketball legend.


Robinson's impact transcended the basketball court, as he was also known for his philanthropy and community service efforts. Throughout his career and beyond, he remained a role model and inspiration to countless fans and aspiring athletes around the world.
In both college basketball and the NBA, David Robinson's dominance as a center and his remarkable contributions to the game have firmly established him as one of the greatest players in basketball history.


David Robinson's upbringing was marked by the nomadic lifestyle typical of military families. Born in Key West, Florida, to Ambrose and Freda Robinson, he moved frequently due to his father's service in the U.S. Navy. Eventually, the family settled in Woodbridge, Virginia, where Robinson began to excel academically and athletically.
Despite his natural athleticism, Robinson initially struggled with basketball and did not play organized basketball until his senior year at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, Virginia. Standing at a mere 5 feet 9 inches tall during his junior year, Robinson experienced a significant growth spurt, reaching 6 feet 6 inches by his senior year. This sudden growth caught the attention of the school's basketball coach, who added Robinson to the team.


Despite his impressive performance on the court, Robinson received limited attention from college basketball coaches. Nevertheless, he graduated from Osbourn Park in 1983 with a notable SAT score of 1320. Opting to pursue both his academic and athletic ambitions, Robinson enrolled at the United States Naval Academy, where he majored in mathematics and joined the basketball team.
Upon entering the Naval Academy, Robinson's height posed a challenge due to the institution's height restriction of 6 feet 6 inches for midshipmen. However, with a waiver granted by the academy's superintendent, Robinson was able to continue his basketball career despite surpassing the height limit. Despite this initial allowance, Robinson continued to grow, ultimately reaching his adult height of 7 feet 0 inches by his second year at the academy. This impressive stature not only propelled his basketball career but also precluded him from serving on U.S. naval ships due to space constraints.


David Robinson's entry into the NBA was delayed due to his commitment to serve in the U.S. Navy. However, NBA regulations allowed him to reenter the draft after his naval service since he had not signed a contract. Despite speculation about his future, Robinson agreed to join the San Antonio Spurs for the 1989–90 season under special conditions. The Spurs agreed to pay him a salary equivalent to the average of the league's two highest-paid players each year or release him to free agency.
The Spurs, who had struggled in the years leading up to Robinson's arrival, experienced a remarkable turnaround in his rookie season. Under his leadership, they achieved the greatest single-season improvement in NBA history at the time, going from a 21–61 record to a 56–26 record. This turnaround propelled them to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Portland Trail Blazers.


Robinson's stellar performance earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award unanimously. His impact extended beyond his rookie season, as he led the Spurs to the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons. In the 1991–92 season, he led the league in blocks and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Robinson also represented the United States in the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, which won the gold medal in Barcelona.
During the 1993–94 season, Robinson engaged in a scoring title duel with Shaquille O'Neal, ultimately winning the title by scoring 71 points in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks that season, further solidifying his status as one of the premier players in the NBA.

References

1.  Men's Tournament of the Americas – 1992, USA Basketball. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
2. ^ "David Robinson Made so Much Money He Bought the Spurs". Sportscasting.com. April 6, 2020. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
3. ^ "1992 United States Olympic Team". Archived from the original on August 18, 2010.
4. ^ "NBA at 50: Top 50 Players | NBA.com". Nba.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
5. ^ "NBA 75". Nba.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
6. ^ "All-Time #NBArank: Kareem tops list of greatest centers ever". ESPN. January 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
7. ^ Bailey, Andy (September 25, 2019). "NBA All-Time Player Rankings: Top 10 Centers". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
8. ^ "20 greatest centers ever: The HoopsHype list". hoopshype.com. December 4, 2021. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
9. a b c d e Montville, Leigh (April 29, 1996). "Trials Of David San Antonio Spurs Center And Born Again Christian David Robinson Is Trying To Lead His Team To An NBA Title And Remain Pure In A World Beset By The Seven Deadly Sins". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
10. ^ According to the following article about the city of Annapolis, Robinson won the "Eastman Award" in 1987 and the award is in Lejeune Hall. Bailey, Steve (August 22, 2008). "In Annapolis, Md., the Past Is Always at Hand". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010. See also the footnote at United States Naval Academy#Halls and principal buildings (at "Lejeune Hall").
11. ^ Report to the Honorable Gordon J. Humphrey, U.S. Senate (September 1987). "Treatment of Prominent Athletes on Active Duty" (PDF). United States General Accounting Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
12. ^ "Information on Military to Civilian Transition Employment, Civilian Jobs for Veterans". G.I. Jobs. Archived from the original on March 10, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
13. ^ Anderson, Dave (May 18, 1987). "Sports of the Times; The Robinson Plot Thickens". The New York Times.
14. ^ Orsborn, Tom (May 20, 2007). "The Summer Our Ship Came In". San Antonio Express-News.
15. ^ "1988–89 Standings". NBA.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.