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David Robinson (basketball)
Encyclopedia
David Maurice Robinson is a retired American
NBA
basketball
player, who played center
for the San Antonio Spurs
for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy
, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward
Tim Duncan
were nicknamed "The Twin Towers". Robinson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with Michael Jordan
, John Stockton
, Jerry Sloan
, and C. Vivian Stringer
on September 11, 2009. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
; the second child of Ambrose and Freda Robinson. Since Robinson's father was in the Navy, the family moved many times. After his father retired from the Navy, the family settled in Woodbridge, Virginia
, where Robinson excelled in school and in most sports except basketball. He was 5 feet, 9 inches tall in junior high school so he tried his hand at basketball, but soon quit. Robinson attended Osbourn Park High School
in Manassas, Virginia
, just outside of Washington, D.C.
, where Robinson's father was working as an engineer after retiring from the Navy. By his senior year in high school he was 6 feet, 7 inches tall, but he had not played organized basketball. When the coach added the tall senior to the basketball team, Robinson earned all-area and all-district honors but generated little interest among college basketball coaches. Robinson scored a 1320 on the SAT
, and he chose to go to the U.S. Naval Academy
, where he majored in mathematics
.
. By the time he took the court in his first basketball game for the Navy Midshipmen men's basketball team
, he had grown to 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), and over the course of his college basketball career he grew to 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m). In Robinson's final two years, he was a consensus All-America
and won college basketball's two most prestigious player awards, the Naismith
and Wooden Awards
as a Naval Academy first classman (senior). Robinson played his first three years for the Midshipmen under Paul Evans
(who left Navy to coach at Pitt) and under former University of Georgia
interim Head Coach Pete Herrmann
during his senior season. Upon graduation, he became eligible for the 1987 NBA Draft
and was selected by the San Antonio Spurs
with the first overall pick; however, the Spurs had to wait two years before he could join them because he had to fulfill two years of duty with the Navy.
At the Naval Academy, Robinson was an outstanding all-around athlete and chess
player; during the physical tests that the Academy gives all incoming plebes he scored higher in gymnastics
than anyone in his class. This was even more impressive due to his height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) at the time. To put this in perspective, virtually all male gymnasts are well under 6 ft (1.83 m) tall, and the service academies prohibit enrollment to anyone taller than 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m). However, the academies do not drop students who grow past this height limit after enrolling, which later benefited Robinson.
During his college basketball career, several teammates and peers gave him the little-used nickname of "The Howler", due to Robinson's shouting at opposing players during critical shots.
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Robinson became a civil engineering
officer at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
in Georgia
. The Navy excused him from three years of the normal five years of his military commitment following graduation from the Naval Academy. Nonetheless, Robinson continued to serve in a reserve role with the Navy and was regularly featured in recruiting materials for the service. Despite the nickname "Admiral", Robinson's actual rank upon fulfilling his service commitment was Lieutenant, Junior Grade
.
, and led the Spurs to the greatest single season turnaround in NBA history at the time (a record the Spurs themselves broke in 1997-98
, after drafting Tim Duncan
, which was then broken by the Boston Celtics
in the 2007–08 NBA season). The Spurs went from 21–61 in the 1988–89 season
to 56–26 in 1989–90, for a remarkable 35 game improvement. They advanced to the second round of the Western Conference
playoffs
where they lost in seven games to the eventual conference champion Portland Trail Blazers
. Following the 1989–90 season, he was unanimously named the NBA rookie of the year
, and subsequently Sega
produced a game featuring him entitled David Robinson's Supreme Court.
The Spurs made the playoffs seven more seasons in a row, but never advanced further than the Western Conference finals. Robinson also made the 1992 US Olympic Dream Team that won the gold medal in Barcelona
. During the 1993–94 season
, he became locked in a duel for the NBA scoring title with Shaquille O'Neal
, scoring 71 points (breaking George Gervin
's single-game franchise record of 63 on the final day of the 1977-78 NBA season
) against the Los Angeles Clippers
to win it.
Robinson went on to win the MVP
trophy in 1995, and in 1996 he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Still, from 1991 to 1996, Robinson was thwarted in his quest to claim the one prize that had eluded him: an NBA title. During that span the Spurs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Warriors, Suns (twice), Jazz (twice), and Rockets. The loss against the Rockets was particularly painful for Robinson because it occurred in the Western Conference Finals with Robinson playing head-to-head against his chief rival, Hakeem Olajuwon
. By his own admission, Robinson was outplayed by Olajuwon in the series, their only meetings in post-season play.
Early in the 1997 season, Robinson's dreams of becoming a champion seemed to vanish when he was seriously injured. Robinson hurt his back in the preseason. He did return to play, but six games later, suffered a broken foot in a home game against the Miami Heat, and ended up missing the rest of the regular season. As a result of the injury to Robinson and other key players, the Spurs finished the season with a dismal 20–62 record. However, his injury proved to be a blessing in disguise: due to their dismal record in 1997, the Spurs enjoyed the first pick in the next year's NBA draft, and with it they selected Tim Duncan
out of Wake Forest University
, who was, after a few years, the final key to Robinson's quest for an NBA title.
locked out the NBA Players' Association to force negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. This lockout lasted for 202 days, well into the regular NBA season, before an agreement was finally reached. Thus, the NBA season began late on February 5, 1999, making it literally the 1999 NBA season. After playing a truncated 50-game season, the Spurs finished with an NBA-best record of 37–13, giving them the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs
.
The Spurs blitzed through the first three rounds of the NBA playoffs, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves
, Los Angeles Lakers
, and Portland Trail Blazers
by a combined record of 11–1. In the NBA finals
, the combination of Robinson in the post and second-year, 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) Tim Duncan proved overpowering, the Spurs beat the underdog New York Knicks
in five games to become the NBA champions for the first time. Duncan was named Finals MVP.
On June 15, 2003, in the finale to Robinson's career, the Spurs sealed another NBA title with an 88–77 victory over the New Jersey Nets
in Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals
. Turning back the clock, Robinson scored 13 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in his final game for the Spurs. He and the year's regular season and NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan
shared Sports Illustrated
magazine's 2003 Sportsmen of the Year
award.
Robinson averaged 21.1 points per game, 10.7 rebounds
per game, 3 blocks per game, and 2.5 assists
per game over 987 games in his NBA career. Also, he is one of only a very small group of players to have scored over 20,000 career points in the NBA, as well as being one of only four players to have recorded a quadruple-double (with 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks against the Detroit Pistons
on February 17, 1994), and one of the only five players to record more than 70 points in a single game (with 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers
on April 24, 1994), only Elgin Baylor
(71 points), Wilt Chamberlain
(70, 72, 73 twice, 78, 100 points), David Thompson
(73 points), and Kobe Bryant
(81 points) have scored more than 70 points. Robinson is also noteworthy for his harmonious relationship with Tim Duncan. Sportswriter Chris Sheridan noted that it was rare for someone like Robinson to have welcomed and mentored Duncan as willingly as he did.
, the 1988 Summer Olympics
, 1992 Summer Olympics
, and the 1996 Summer Olympics
. He won the gold medal at all games except the 1988 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal.
Fourth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game: 71, at Los Angeles Clippers,
One of two players in NBA history to lead the league in scoring , rebounding and blocked shots during his career
Second player in NBA history to win Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player during his career
Only player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots and win awards for Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player during his career
Only player in NBA history to rank among top five players in the league in rebounding, blocks and steals in the same season:
One of three players in NBA history to rank among the top ten players in the league in five statistics in the same season:
Blocked shots, quarter: 5, third quarter, vs. Golden State Warriors,
Part of second trio of players in NBA history to score 30 or more points in the same game: San Antonio Spurs (130) vs. Golden State Warriors (121),
Blocked shots, quarter: 7, fourth quarter, vs. Minnesota Timberwolves,
Blocked shots by a rookie, season: 319
Highest average, blocked shots per game, by a rookie, season: 3.89 (319/82)
Steals by a center, career: 1,388
Seasons with 200 blocks and 100 steals: 7 (—)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, who played center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . The 6-foot 11-inch , 255-pound power forward/center is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year...
were nicknamed "The Twin Towers". Robinson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
, Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan
Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...
, and C. Vivian Stringer
C. Vivian Stringer
Charlaine Vivian Stringer is a prominent African American basketball coach, with one of the best records in the history of women's basketball...
on September 11, 2009. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
Early life
David Robinson was born August 6, 1965, in Key West, FloridaKey West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
; the second child of Ambrose and Freda Robinson. Since Robinson's father was in the Navy, the family moved many times. After his father retired from the Navy, the family settled in Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...
, where Robinson excelled in school and in most sports except basketball. He was 5 feet, 9 inches tall in junior high school so he tried his hand at basketball, but soon quit. Robinson attended Osbourn Park High School
Osbourn Park High School
Osbourn Park Senior High School is a public secondary school in unincorporated Prince William County, Virginia.Osbourn Park serves the mid-part of the county and is located between the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. The community consists of business, professional, U.S. Government and...
in Manassas, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...
, just outside of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where Robinson's father was working as an engineer after retiring from the Navy. By his senior year in high school he was 6 feet, 7 inches tall, but he had not played organized basketball. When the coach added the tall senior to the basketball team, Robinson earned all-area and all-district honors but generated little interest among college basketball coaches. Robinson scored a 1320 on the SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
, and he chose to go to the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, where he majored in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
College basketball career and military service
Robinson is widely considered to be the best basketball player in U.S. Naval Academy history. He chose the jersey number 50 after his idol Ralph SampsonRalph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
. By the time he took the court in his first basketball game for the Navy Midshipmen men's basketball team
Navy Midshipmen men's basketball
The Navy Midshipmen men's basketball team represents the United States Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Maryland, in NCAA Division I college basketball...
, he had grown to 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), and over the course of his college basketball career he grew to 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m). In Robinson's final two years, he was a consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
and won college basketball's two most prestigious player awards, the Naismith
Naismith College Player of the Year
The Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
and Wooden Awards
John R. Wooden Award
The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los...
as a Naval Academy first classman (senior). Robinson played his first three years for the Midshipmen under Paul Evans
Paul Evans (basketball coach)
Paul Evans is a former American head coach of men's college basketball.Paul Evans was noted for running a "power offense" with emphasis on distributing the ball through centers and power forwards...
(who left Navy to coach at Pitt) and under former University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
interim Head Coach Pete Herrmann
Pete Herrmann
-See also:*Navy Midshipmen men's basketball...
during his senior season. Upon graduation, he became eligible for the 1987 NBA Draft
1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
and was selected by the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
with the first overall pick; however, the Spurs had to wait two years before he could join them because he had to fulfill two years of duty with the Navy.
At the Naval Academy, Robinson was an outstanding all-around athlete and chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
player; during the physical tests that the Academy gives all incoming plebes he scored higher in gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
than anyone in his class. This was even more impressive due to his height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) at the time. To put this in perspective, virtually all male gymnasts are well under 6 ft (1.83 m) tall, and the service academies prohibit enrollment to anyone taller than 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m). However, the academies do not drop students who grow past this height limit after enrolling, which later benefited Robinson.
During his college basketball career, several teammates and peers gave him the little-used nickname of "The Howler", due to Robinson's shouting at opposing players during critical shots.
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Robinson became a civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
officer at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy located adjacent to the town of St. Marys in Camden County, Georgia, in southeastern Georgia, and not far from Jacksonville, Florida. The Submarine Base is the U.S. Atlantic Fleet's home port for U.S. Navy Fleet ballistic missile...
in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The Navy excused him from three years of the normal five years of his military commitment following graduation from the Naval Academy. Nonetheless, Robinson continued to serve in a reserve role with the Navy and was regularly featured in recruiting materials for the service. Despite the nickname "Admiral", Robinson's actual rank upon fulfilling his service commitment was Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
.
NBA career
Although there was speculation that Robinson might choose not to sign with the Spurs and to become a free agent once his Navy commitment ended, Robinson decided in the end to come to San Antonio. Robinson joined the Spurs for the 1989–90 season1989-90 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs*Defensive Player of the Year: Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons...
, and led the Spurs to the greatest single season turnaround in NBA history at the time (a record the Spurs themselves broke in 1997-98
1997-98 NBA season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls winning their third straight championship and sixth in the last eight years, beating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the 1998 NBA Finals...
, after drafting Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . The 6-foot 11-inch , 255-pound power forward/center is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year...
, which was then broken by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in the 2007–08 NBA season). The Spurs went from 21–61 in the 1988–89 season
1988-89 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Mitch Richmond, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz...
to 56–26 in 1989–90, for a remarkable 35 game improvement. They advanced to the second round of the Western Conference
Western Conference (NBA)
Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....
playoffs
1990 NBA Playoffs
The 1990 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1989-1990 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons successfully defending their championship by beating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers...
where they lost in seven games to the eventual conference champion Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. Following the 1989–90 season, he was unanimously named the NBA rookie of the year
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
, and subsequently Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
produced a game featuring him entitled David Robinson's Supreme Court.
The Spurs made the playoffs seven more seasons in a row, but never advanced further than the Western Conference finals. Robinson also made the 1992 US Olympic Dream Team that won the gold medal in Barcelona
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. During the 1993–94 season
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
, he became locked in a duel for the NBA scoring title with Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
, scoring 71 points (breaking George Gervin
George Gervin
George "The Iceman" Gervin is a retired American professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls...
's single-game franchise record of 63 on the final day of the 1977-78 NBA season
1977-78 NBA season
The 1977–78 NBA season was the 32nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Washington Bullets winning the NBA Championship, beating the Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
) against the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
to win it.
Robinson went on to win the MVP
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1955–56 NBA season. The winner receives the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which is named in honor of the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement...
trophy in 1995, and in 1996 he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Still, from 1991 to 1996, Robinson was thwarted in his quest to claim the one prize that had eluded him: an NBA title. During that span the Spurs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Warriors, Suns (twice), Jazz (twice), and Rockets. The loss against the Rockets was particularly painful for Robinson because it occurred in the Western Conference Finals with Robinson playing head-to-head against his chief rival, Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
. By his own admission, Robinson was outplayed by Olajuwon in the series, their only meetings in post-season play.
Early in the 1997 season, Robinson's dreams of becoming a champion seemed to vanish when he was seriously injured. Robinson hurt his back in the preseason. He did return to play, but six games later, suffered a broken foot in a home game against the Miami Heat, and ended up missing the rest of the regular season. As a result of the injury to Robinson and other key players, the Spurs finished the season with a dismal 20–62 record. However, his injury proved to be a blessing in disguise: due to their dismal record in 1997, the Spurs enjoyed the first pick in the next year's NBA draft, and with it they selected Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . The 6-foot 11-inch , 255-pound power forward/center is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year...
out of Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, who was, after a few years, the final key to Robinson's quest for an NBA title.
Champion
Before the start of the 1998–99 season, the NBA owners and the NBA commissioner David SternDavid Stern
David Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
locked out the NBA Players' Association to force negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. This lockout lasted for 202 days, well into the regular NBA season, before an agreement was finally reached. Thus, the NBA season began late on February 5, 1999, making it literally the 1999 NBA season. After playing a truncated 50-game season, the Spurs finished with an NBA-best record of 37–13, giving them the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs
1999 NBA Playoffs
The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs by defeating the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks four games to one...
.
The Spurs blitzed through the first three rounds of the NBA playoffs, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
, Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
by a combined record of 11–1. In the NBA finals
1999 NBA Finals
The 1999 NBA Finals was the championship round of the shortened 1998–99 NBA season or the 1999 season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference took on the New York Knicks of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage...
, the combination of Robinson in the post and second-year, 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) Tim Duncan proved overpowering, the Spurs beat the underdog New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in five games to become the NBA champions for the first time. Duncan was named Finals MVP.
Champion again
Robinson announced he would retire from basketball after the 2002–03 campaign.On June 15, 2003, in the finale to Robinson's career, the Spurs sealed another NBA title with an 88–77 victory over the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals
2003 NBA Finals
The 2003 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2002–03 NBA season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference took on the New Jersey Nets of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format. The Spurs...
. Turning back the clock, Robinson scored 13 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in his final game for the Spurs. He and the year's regular season and NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . The 6-foot 11-inch , 255-pound power forward/center is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year...
shared Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine's 2003 Sportsmen of the Year
Sportsman of the Year
Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement." Both Americans and non-Americans are eligible, though in the past the...
award.
Robinson averaged 21.1 points per game, 10.7 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
per game, 3 blocks per game, and 2.5 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
per game over 987 games in his NBA career. Also, he is one of only a very small group of players to have scored over 20,000 career points in the NBA, as well as being one of only four players to have recorded a quadruple-double (with 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks against the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
on February 17, 1994), and one of the only five players to record more than 70 points in a single game (with 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
on April 24, 1994), only Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
(71 points), Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
(70, 72, 73 twice, 78, 100 points), David Thompson
David Thompson (basketball)
David O'Neil Thompson is a former American professional basketball star with the Denver Nuggets of both the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association , as well as the Seattle SuperSonics...
(73 points), and Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
(81 points) have scored more than 70 points. Robinson is also noteworthy for his harmonious relationship with Tim Duncan. Sportswriter Chris Sheridan noted that it was rare for someone like Robinson to have welcomed and mentored Duncan as willingly as he did.
International career
David Robinson was a member of the United States men's national basketball team at the 1986 FIBA World Championship1986 FIBA World Championship
The 1986 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Spain from July 5 to 19 1986.The Final phase of the tournament was held at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid...
, the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, and the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. He won the gold medal at all games except the 1988 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal.
Career awards/accomplishments
His list of awards and accomplishments is long and include a number of records as well as sharing a number of distinctions with very few other luminaries of the game; for his on the court play, he was named among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.- Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2009
- NBA Champion (1999, 2003)
- NBA MVP (1995)
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1992)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1990)
- All-NBA First Team (1991, '92, '95, '96)
- All-NBA Second Team (1994, '98)
- All-NBA Third Team (1990, '93, 2000, '01)
- All-Defensive First Team (1991, '92, '95, '96)
- All-Defensive Second Team (1990, '93, '94, '98)
- 10-time NBA All-Star
- NBA Sportsmanship AwardNBA Sportsmanship AwardThe National Basketball Association's Sportsmanship Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1995–96 NBA season, to the player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court—ethical behavior, fair play and integrity"...
(2001) - Fourth player ever to score 70+ in an NBA game
- 3-time Olympian (1988, '92, '96)
- One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)
- Led NBA in Scoring (1993–94 season) - 29.8 ppg
- Led NBA in Rebounding (1990–91 season) - 13.0 rpg
- Led NBA in Blocked Shots (1991–92 season) - 4.49 bpg
- Holds record for most IBM AwardIBM AwardThe IBM Award was an award formerly given out to National Basketball Association players from 1984 to 2002. The award was sponsored and calculated by technology company IBM and was determined by a computer formula, which measured a player's statistical contribution to his team. The player with the...
s (1990, '91, '94, '95, '96) - His 2,954 blocked shots are the most by any player wearing a San Antonio Spurs jersey.
- Gold Medal in 1986 FIBA World Championship1986 FIBA World ChampionshipThe 1986 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Spain from July 5 to 19 1986.The Final phase of the tournament was held at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid...
. - Member of Dream Team #1 during Olympic Games at Barcelona.
- Elected to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2008
- Ranked #25 in SLAM MagazineSLAM MagazineSLAM Magazine is an American basketball magazine in circulation since 1994, published by Source Interlink. SLAM publishes nine issues a year to its circulation of over 500,000 readers worldwide.-History:...
s 2009 revision of the top 50 greatest players of all time (published in the August 2009 issue)
40 point games
Robinson scored 40 or more points 22 times in the regular season and once in the playoffs.| Occurred during rookie season | |
| Occurred in playoff competition |
| Points | Opponent | Home/Away | Date | Minutes played |
FGM Field goal (basketball) In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,... |
FGA | 3PM Three-point field goal A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket... |
3PA | FTM | FTA | Rebounds Rebound (basketball) A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made... |
Assists Assist (basketball) In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist... |
Steals Steal (basketball) In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player... |
Blocks Block (basketball) In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... |
Away | 44 | 26 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 25 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 2 | |
| 52 | Charlotte Hornets Charlotte Hornets (NBA) The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the... |
Home | 40 | 20 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | |
| 50 | Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... |
Away | 38 | 18 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| 48 | Sacramento Kings Sacramento Kings The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... |
Home | 45 | 17 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 46 | Boston Celtics Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which... |
Home | 45 | 16 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 23 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
| 45 | New York Knicks New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
Away | 52 | 15 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 44 | New Jersey Nets New Jersey Nets The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
Home | 43 | 18 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
| 43 | Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... |
Home | 34 | 16 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| 43 | Orlando Magic Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy... |
Home | 41 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 10 | |
| 43 | Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... |
Home | 41 | 14 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 19 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 10 | |
| 43 | Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011... |
Home | 42 | 18 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| 42 | Seattle SuperSonics Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as... |
Home | 39 | 13 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 3 | |
| 42 | Seattle SuperSonics Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as... |
Away | 47 | 15 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 42 | Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011... |
Home | 45 | 17 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | |
| 42 | Charlotte Hornets Charlotte Hornets (NBA) The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the... |
Away | 42 | 16 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 42 | Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... |
Away | 52 | 15 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| 41 | Golden State Warriors Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
Home | 41 | 12 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 22 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| 41 | Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... |
Home | 45 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 3 | |
| 40 | Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US... |
Home | 34 | 16 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 40 | Houston Rockets Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being... |
Away | 48 | 15 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 4 | |
| 40 | Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where... |
Away | 40 | 12 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| 40 | Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
Away | 44 | 15 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| 40 | Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US... |
Home | 42 | 14 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Top shot-blocking efforts
| Occurred during rookie season | |
| Quadruple-double (fourth in NBA history) |
| Blocks | Opponent | Home/Away | Date | Minutes played |
Points Point (basketball) Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws .... |
Rebounds Rebound (basketball) A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made... |
Assists Assist (basketball) In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist... |
Steals Steal (basketball) In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... |
Home | 36 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 3 | |
| 11 | Charlotte Hornets Charlotte Hornets (NBA) The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the... |
Away | 35 | 27 | 15 | 3 | 2 | |
| 11 | Sacramento Kings Sacramento Kings The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... |
Home | 35 | 27 | 13 | 2 | 0 | |
| 11 | Utah Jazz Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
Home | 39 | 22 | 18 | 5 | 0 | |
| 11 | Portland Trail Blazers Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the... |
Home | 45 | 23 | 14 | 3 | 1 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
Home | 41 | 23 | 16 | 2 | 1 | |
| 10 | Orlando Magic Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy... |
Home | 41 | 43 | 12 | 3 | 4 | |
| 10 | Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center.... |
Home | 43 | 29 | 9 | 5 | 5 | |
| 10 | Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... |
Home | 41 | 43 | 11 | 1 | 3 | |
| 10 | Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where... |
Home | 43 | 34 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
Regular season
| Stat | High | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 71 | at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Points, half | 47 | at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Points, quarter | 28 | at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Field goal percentage | 10-11 (.909) | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Field goals made | 26 | at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Field goal attempts | 41 | at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Free throws made, no misses | 15-15 | vs. Orlando Magic | |
| Free throws made | 18 | at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Free throws made | 18 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Free throws made | 18 | at Golden State Warriors | |
| Free throws made | 18 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Free throw attempts | 25 | at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Rebounds | 24 | at Sacramento Kings | |
| Rebounds | 24 | vs. Golden State Warriors | |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | vs. New Jersey Nets | |
| Assists | 11 | vs. Utah Jazz | |
| Steals | 7 | vs. Houston Rockets | |
| Turnovers | 9 | at Golden State Warriors | |
| Turnovers | 9 | at Houston Rockets | |
| Minutes played | 53 | at Chicago Bulls |
Playoffs
| Stat | High | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 40 | vs. Phoenix Suns | |
| Field goal percentage | 8-8 | vs. Phoenix Suns | |
| Field goals made | 14 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Field goals made | 14 | at Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Field goals made | 14 | vs. Phoenix Suns | |
| Field goal attempts | 27 | at Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Field goal attempts | 27 | at Phoenix Suns | |
| Free throws made, no misses | 10-10 | vs. Golden State Warriors | |
| Free throws made, no misses | 10-10 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Free throws made | 18 | vs. Phoenix Suns | |
| Free throw attempts | 23 | vs. Phoenix Suns | |
| Rebounds | 22 | at Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | at Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Defensive rebounds | 17 | vs. Phoenix Suns | |
| Assists | 11 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Steals | 4 | at Golden State Warriors | |
| Steals | 4 | at Houston Rockets | |
| Steals | 4 | at Houston Rockets | |
| Blocked shots | 8 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Blocked shots | 8 | vs. Golden State Warriors | |
| Turnovers | 7 | thrice | thrice |
| Minutes played | 52 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers |
Regular season
Fourth (and most recent) player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double in a game: San Antonio Spurs (115) vs. Detroit Pistons (96),- 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 blocked shots (and 2 steals) in 43 minutes
- Nate ThurmondNate ThurmondNathaniel "Nate" Thurmond is a retired American basketball player. Dominant at both center and power forward, he was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double....
, Alvin RobertsonAlvin RobertsonAlvin Cyrrale Robertson is a retired American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1984 to 1993, and for one final season in 1995–96.-Career:...
and Hakeem OlajuwonHakeem OlajuwonHakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
are the only other players to achieve this.
Fourth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game: 71, at Los Angeles Clippers,
- Elgin BaylorElgin BaylorElgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
, Wilt ChamberlainWilt ChamberlainWilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
and David ThompsonDavid Thompson (basketball)David O'Neil Thompson is a former American professional basketball star with the Denver Nuggets of both the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association , as well as the Seattle SuperSonics...
also achieved this. Kobe BryantKobe BryantKobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
has achieved this since then.
One of two players in NBA history to lead the league in scoring , rebounding and blocked shots during his career
- Kareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-JabbarKareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
was the first player to achieve this. - Hakeem Olajuwon led the league in blocks thrice, and in rebounding twice, but the closest he came to a scoring title was second place, both in (Shaquille O'Neal) and (Michael Jordan).
Second player in NBA history to win Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player during his career
- Michael JordanMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
was the first player to achieve this. - Hakeem OlajuwonHakeem OlajuwonHakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
won Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player during his career, but finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to Jordan in .
Only player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots and win awards for Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player during his career
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar achieved all of these except for Defensive Player of the Year, an award which did not exist for most of his career.
Only player in NBA history to rank among top five players in the league in rebounding, blocks and steals in the same season:
- Ranked first in blocks (4.49 bpg), fourth in rebounding (12.2 rpg) and fifth in steals (2.32 spg).
- Hakeem Olajuwon ranked first in rebounding, fourth in blocks and sixth in steals in .
One of three players in NBA history to rank among the top ten players in the league in five statistics in the same season:
- Ranked seventh in scoring (23.2 ppg), fourth in rebounding (12.2 rpg), first in blocks (4.49 bpg), fifth in steals (2.32 spg) and seventh in field-goal percentage (.551)
- Cliff HaganCliff HaganClifford Oldham Hagan is an American former professional basketball player. A 6-4 forward who excelled with the hook shot, Hagan, nicknamed "Li'l Abner," played his entire 10-year NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks...
ranked fifth in field goal percentage, ninth in free throw percentage, fifth in scoring, tenth in rebounding and tenth in assists in . - Larry BirdLarry BirdLarry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
ranked first in free throw percentage, fourth in three-point field goal percentage, fourth in scoring, seventh in rebounding and ninth in steals in .
Playoffs
Highest field goal percentage, game (minimum 8 made): 1.000 (8—8), vs. Phoenix Suns, (OT)- Tied with many other players
Blocked shots, quarter: 5, third quarter, vs. Golden State Warriors,
- Broken by Dwight HowardDwight HowardDwight David Howard is an American basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association . Howard, who usually plays center but can also play power forward, had an outstanding high school career at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy...
on
Part of second trio of players in NBA history to score 30 or more points in the same game: San Antonio Spurs (130) vs. Golden State Warriors (121),
- Willie AndersonWillie Anderson (basketball)Willie Lloyd Anderson, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association....
: 38 points - Rod StricklandRod StricklandRodney "Rod" Strickland is a retired American professional basketball player and currently in an administrative role for the University of Kentucky basketball team under head coach John Calipari. Strickland was formerly the director of basketball operations at the University of Memphis...
: 30 points - Robinson: 30 points
Regular season
Consecutive seasons leading the league in free throws made: 3 (—)- Trailing Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
Blocked shots, quarter: 7, fourth quarter, vs. Minnesota Timberwolves,
Blocked shots by a rookie, season: 319
- Trailing Manute BolManute BolManute Bol was a Sudanese-born basketball player and activist. At 7 feet, 7 inches , Bol was one of the tallest players ever to appear in the National Basketball Association, along with Gheorghe Mureşan. Unlike Mureşan, however, Bol was naturally tall and did not have a Pituitary disease...
Highest average, blocked shots per game, by a rookie, season: 3.89 (319/82)
- Trailing Manute Bol
Steals by a center, career: 1,388
- Trailing Hakeem OlajuwonHakeem OlajuwonHakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
Seasons with 200 blocks and 100 steals: 7 (—)
- Trailing Hakeem OlajuwonHakeem OlajuwonHakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
- Only twelve players in NBA history have achieved this feat in the same season.