Robertson was born into poverty in Charlotte, Tennessee. Robertson was traded in 1970 to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he teamed with Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and won the NBA title that season. [2] In his NBA debut, Robertson recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 140123 win over the visiting Lakers. With a championship ring now adorning one of Robertsons famous fingers, people around the league started asking the question: Is the Big O the best ever? Although obviously not a question that could be answered objectively, a strong case was being made by sports writers and basketball experts all over the country. The team, however, remained in the Western Division cellar. The father-of-three was disappointed with his team and the coach's behavior, but the trade was very lucrative. This town of Robertson's birth, in 1938, would have been idyllic were life there more practical for his family. Oscar's family could not afford to buy a basketball; the youngster learned to shoot by tossing tennis balls and rags held together with rubber bands into a peach basket. In 1961-62, the season he averaged a triple-double, Robertson led the Royals to the first of six straight trips to the playoffs. In the 196768 season, Robertson became the first of only two players in NBA history to lead the league in both scoring average and assists per game in the same season (also achieved by Nate Archibald). He also has two siblings and both are his brothers. Basketball as a senior. The family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, when Robertson was only 18 months old. In the 1974 season, his final season of basketball, he led the Bucks to the NBA Finals, but they lost to the Boston Celtics. Robertson was trained by his high school coach, whose emphasis on a fundamentally sound game had a positive effect on the star's style of play. Like Oscar Robertson and other Indianapolis basketball greats, he cut his teeth at the court at . Oscar was named to the 35th NBA anniversary All-time team in 1980 and was crowned one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996. Under new coach Jack McMahon, Robertson flourished. Robertson stated: "[Officials] thought the blacks were going to tear the town up, and they thought the whites wouldn't like it. With Alcindor in the low post and Robertson running the backcourt, the Bucks charged to a league-best 6616 record, including a then-record 20-game win streak, a dominating 122 record in the 1971 NBA playoffs, and crowned their season with the NBA title by sweeping the Baltimore Bullets 40 in the 1971 NBA Finals. There is no more complete player than Oscar.. Any greatest of all time discussion in the NBA must include Oscar Robertson His family was unable to afford a basketball, so he practiced using tennis balls, rags bound with. At the Bucks, he formed a very formidable partnership with Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 1 he wore in Milwaukee. Oscar Robertson. Oscar Robertson was then attracted to Yvonne's gorgeousness, intelligence, and talent as a pianist that the duo started dating for two years. In his second season in the NBA, he emerged as the first player in the league to average a triple-double throughout the season. The Big O | Cigar Aficionado In 1998, in honour of the records and accomplishments in the NCAA, the NCAA Division I Player of the Year was named the Oscar Robertson Trophy. As a sophomore in 1954, he starred on an Attucks team that lost in the semi-state finals (state quarterfinals) to eventual state champions Milan, a story that would later be the basis of the 1986 movie Hoosiers. Dandridge and Robertson were teammates on the Milwaukee . The landmark Oscar Robertson suit, filed against the league by the Players Association, stalled a proposed merger between the NBA and the American Basketball Association. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. "ESPN Sports Century", 30-minute program on Oscar Robertson as one of the 20th Century's fifty greatest athletes, first aired 1999. Oscar Robertson | Biography & Statistics | Britannica 14; the retirement continues to be honored by the Kings in their current home of Sacramento. eBay item number: 304916908741. [14], Prior to the 196061 NBA season, Robertson made himself eligible for the 1960 NBA draft. After he retired from the NBA, the 11-time member of the All-NBA Team was inducted to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Robertson was born in Charlotte, Tennessee, but he grew up in Indianapolis. Oscar was born September 14, 1955 in St. Francisville to the late Oscar Robertson, Sr. and Louise Crump Robertson. 9 Copy quote. In 1970, much to everyone's surprise, Oscar Robertson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Oscar Robertson Net Worth [2] Robertson is also the first guard in NBA history to ever average more than 10 rebounds per game, doing so three times. In 2003, his autobiography The Big O: My Life, My Times, My Game was published. hen news broke of his selection for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Bob Dandridge began receiving calls from friends, family and those from his past. Oscar Robertson: Why He's the Best Ever, 1968 Basketball, Thinking, Able. Before the 1969-70 season, near the end of Robertsons peak as a player, the Royals brought in Cousy as head coach. From 1968 to 1970, they didnt even make it the playoffs, despite the return of Bob Cousy, who was the head coach then, to the court. [2], Robertson was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 28, 1980. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Robertson donated one of his kidneys to his daughter, Tia, in 1997, as a result of kidney failure related to lupus. When Robertson was a junior, Crispus Attucks dominated its opposition, going 311, and winning the 1955 state championship, the first for any all-black school in the nation. Aromando, Damian; Robertson, Oscar (2000). Oscar Robertson Height, Weight & Measurements At 84 years old, Oscar Robertson height is 6' 4" (1.95 m) . Character Family. Barack Obama Was Not Worried about His Daughters Dating Their Current Boyfriends, Rich Businessman Kicks Son out, Not Knowing the Boy Would Take over as Boss One Day Story of the Day, Doug from 'The King of Queens' Is 58 & Bald after Losing 80 Pounds He Met Wife on Blind Date & Has 4 Kids, Did Sofia Richie Get Plastic Surgery? During his 14-year NBA career with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson became the top-scoring guard of all time, amassing 26,710 points, which ranks 15th in NBA history. No other player excelled in as many ways as Robertson did. [2], Robertson averaged a triple-double over his first five seasons in the NBA with the Royals, recording averages of 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 10.6 assists per game in 451 contest. . This is just one of these examples. 1st in the country in scoring average . But his father, Bailey, lacked money to acquire farm machinery, so he moved his wife, Mazell, and three children, Bailey Jr., Henry and Oscar, to Naptown, Indiana. The pair met at the University of Cincinnati for the first time. [2], On the hardwood, the veteran Robertson still proved he was a valuable player. At Crispus Attucks, Robertsons natural physical abilities and instincts were polished by coach Ray Crowe, who was obsessed with teaching the basics of the game. For his career, Robertson shot a high .485 field goal average and led the league in free-throw percentage twicein the 196364 and 196768 seasons. The first player to average a triple-double for an entire season, Oscar Robertson was a versatile player who led the Bucks to the 1971 title. I'll be honest, it really makes me reflect. Robertson, Oscar Palmer | Encyclopedia.com As a player with the Cincinnati (Ohio) Royals of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 196162, he averaged double figures in points (30.8), rebounds (12.5), and assists (11.4) per game, a feat unmatched by any other player until Russell Westbrook did so in 201617. If you have concerns about something that doesnt look right in this Oscar Robertson Biography, Facts, Childhood, Career, Life, please dont hesitate to contact us. The couple later got married on a perfect June day in 1960 right after Oscar's graduation. [39] In 1997, Robertson donated one of his kidneys to his daughter Tia, who suffered lupus-related kidney failure. First call Bob Dandridge got after Hall-of-Fame news was from Oscar Robertson led the NBA in free-throw percentage, scored a career-high 31.4 points per game, and averaged 9.9 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game. It was the year of the landmark Robertson v. National Basketball Ass'n, an antitrust suit filed by the NBA's Players Association against the league. . First call Dandridge got after HOF news was from the 'Big O'. Simply put, no player in hoops history achieved as much individual and team success as did Abdul-Jabbar. Years later, he told The Indianapolis Star: "I'll never forgive them. An All-Star for five consecutive seasons with the Detroit Pistons and a 10-year NBA veteran who retired after the '63-64 season, Baltimore Bullet coach Gene Shue thinks of two men as the best ever. And it took Chamberlains prodigious point totals to keep Robertson from winning a scoring title. Full Name:Oscar Palmer Robertson Nickname:The Big O Date of Birth:November 24, 1938 Age:84 years old Place of Birth:Charlotte, Tennessee, USA Nationality:American Zodiac Sign:Sagittarius Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Weight: 93 kg (205 lb) Education High School:Crispus Attucks High School College:University of Cincinnati Oscar Robertson - Wikipedia He has just a few children, all of whom bear his family. [41] In 2017, it was announced that a life-sized bronze sculpture of Robertson would be featured alongside other Indiana sports stars at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis' Old National Bank Sports Legends Avenue of Champions, located in the museum's sports park opening in 2018. Oscar Robertson. Since that point, he has been an outspoken advocate for health and wellness, kidney disease prevention and organ transplantation on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation. Robertson also ended Cousys eight-year string of regular-season assists titles by leading the league with 9.7 per game. Oscar Robertson 2018-19 Panini Prizm #125 vs Jerry West Choice Blue Green Yellow. [3] In 1996, Robertson was honored as one of the leagues greatest players of all-time by being named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team. He has two brothers, Bailey Jr. and Henry. His wife is Yvonne Crittenden (25 June 1960 - present) ( 3 children) Oscar Robertson Net Worth Then, prior to the 1970-71 season, the Royals stunned the basketball world by trading Robertson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk. Oscar Robertson's Lawsuit Against the NBA Changed the Way Players Get Paid At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Robertson was the first big guard. Net Worth in 2023: $300 thousand. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. According to The History Makers, before the age of two, Robertson's parents, Mazell Bell Robertson and Bailey Robertson, Sr., packed up their family and moved from the south to Indianapolis, Indiana.The Robertson family moved into a segregated housing project once they reached Indianapolis. The Big O: My Life, My Times, My Game - Oscar Robertson - Google Books Last Updated: April 2023. At age 31 and still searching for a championship, Robertson joined second-year center Abdul-Jabbar (then called Lew Alcindor) in the Bucks lineup. In June 2007, the University of Cincinnati awarded him Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters as an acknowledgement of his entrepreneurial and philanthropic activities. Although the Royals were firing on all cylinders and Robertson was in top form, Cincinnati was still no match for Boston, which won all four games by at least 10 points. Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed " The Big O ", is an American retired basketball player with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. Oscar Robertson, the Big O, is the player against whom all others labeled versatile are judged, and he may remain the standard forever. After he retired as an active player, Robertson stayed involved in efforts to improve living conditions in his native Indianapolis, especially concerning fellow African-Americans. With forward Jack Twyman contributing 25.3 points per game, the Royals improved to 33-46. The name Oscar Robertson has become a household name over the years. But city leaders were uneasy about how the teams celebration might take shape. Yvonne Crittenden: Fact About Oscar Robertson's Wife Oscar Robertson, Jr., 59, a native and resident of St. Francisville, LA, passed away Monday, April 13, 2015 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. One of the game's most gifted players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team. Henry Aaron Roberto Clemente Rube Foster Cito Gaston Josh Gibson Frank Robinson Willie Mays Satchel Paige Jackie Robinson Basketball Greats A lot of people are familiar with the old Negro Baseball Leagues, but less have heard about the African American basketball teams known as "the Black Fives", named after the starting five players. [16] In his rookie season, Robertson averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists (leading the league), almost averaging a triple-double for the entire season. I played on an all-black high school team and we didn't want people saying that we were clowns. [32], In 2015, Robertson was among a group of investors that placed a marijuana legalization initiative on the Ohio ballot. Robertson was the first player to average more than 10 assists per game, doing so at a time when the criteria for assists were more stringent than today. Born in 1938, Robertson grew up in poverty, first in rural Tennessee and then in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis, Indiana. Robertson grew up in poverty in Indianapolis, the son of sharecroppers and the grandson of enslaved people, with a family that couldn't afford a basketball. [42] In October 2021, Robertson was honored as one of theleague's greatest players of all time by being named to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team. about - Oscar Robertson The story of Oscar Robertson is one of a shy black child growing up in a city so segregated that, until he is ten years old, his only exposure to white people is the distant memory of two. He led the league in assists six times and in free throw percentage twice. [5] In January 2011, Robertson joined a class action lawsuit against the NCAA, O'Bannon v. NCAA, challenging the organization's use of the images of its former student athletes. In the 1960 NBA Draft, Oscar Robertson was selected by the Cincinnati Royals as a territorial pick. Before that, the Oscar Robertson Rule was established in 1976, and the ABA-NBA merger allowed the NBA to expand for the 1976-77 season. Robertsons on-court brilliance, and the off-court racism to which he was subjected, continued at the University of Cincinnati. Oscar Robertson: The Biography Of The Original Triple-Double King West went to the Lakers, who were moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, as the first overall selection of the regular draft. ESPN Classic - Oscar defined the triple-double He shot 48.5% from the field and 83.8% from the line. Prior to the amendment, free agency was non-existent and basketball franchises owned players which forbade them from discussing with another franchise as long as they had a contract with the franchise. After his retirement Robertson worked to improve the living conditions of African-Americans in his hometown of Indianapolis by helping to build affordable housing. Top 10 Interesting Facts about Oscar Robertson When he was 18 months old, the family moved to Indianapolis, where he spent all his childhood in a segregated housing project. [2] After his graduation that year, Robertson enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award during the NCAA Final Four. [2] Robertson himself said: "I think he was wrong and I will never forget it. From his sophomore year down to his senior year he claimed the College Player of the Year award and topped the scoring chart. He remained the only player to do so for more than 50 years until Russell Westbrook matched his feat in 2016-17. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Oscar Robertson made a tremendous impact on the NBA both as a player and in his off-the-court actions. Cincinnati had missed the playoffs two years in a row, and attendance was suffering. He also won the All-star game MVP. Oscar Robertson Jr. Obituary (2015) - Zachary, LA - The Advocate After being stuck with an under-performing team the last six years, he now was paired with the young Lew Alcindor, who would years later become the all-time NBA scoring leader as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was one of five people, along with John Wooden, Bill Russell, Dean Smith, and James Naismith, selected to represent the inaugural class. Many observers believed it was Cousys jealousy of Robertson that led to the trade. Despite Robertson recording averages of at least 24.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists in the six following seasons,[1] the Royals were eliminated in the first round from 1965 to 1967, then missed the playoffs from 1968 to 1970. Check out some rarely seen Oscar Robertson highlights with the Royals! Research genealogy for Oscar Robertson of Oklahoma, as well as other members of the Robertson family, on Ancestry. His playing career, especially during high school and college, was plagued by racism. [1], Standing 6ft 5in (1.96m), Robertson is recognized by the NBA as the first legitimate "big guard", paving the way for other oversized backcourt players like Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson. On February 10, 1962, Robertson recorded 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 16 assists in a 134118 win over the Hawks. She Once Posed for Photos with a Plastic Surgeon, Who Was Adreian Payne? Each item sold between $50,000 and $91,000. Former Cavaliers general manager Wayne Embry is 76 -- one year older than Oscar Robertson, his former roommate, who turns 75 today, "Pound for pound, inch for inch, I think Oscar was the greatest . In the finale Dave Cowens delivered 28 points and 14 rebounds, leading Boston to a 15-point victory. [Interviewer #1:] Tell us a little about the, tell us a little bit about your family, the folks in your family. In his first NBA finals game, Robertson recorded 22 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the Bucks. Despite his success on the court, Robertson's college career was soured by racism. Robertson was the son of Mazell Bell Robertson and Bailey Robertson, Sr. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. He is American by nationality. Robertson retired from the NBA in 1974 with 26,710 career points (25.7 per game), 7,804 rebounds (7.5 average), and 9,887 assists (an NBA record at the time). Joanna Van Gyseghem (granddaughter) Gertrude Elliott (December 14, 1874 December 24, 1950), later Lady Forbes-Robertson, was an American stage actress, part of an extended family of theatre professionals including her husband, Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, and her elder sister, Maxine Elliott . [47] On July 20, 2021, on the eve of the Bucks winning their second championship and first since his tenure, Robertson wrote a piece in The Players' Tribune voicing his support for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.[48]. [Oscar Robertson:] Well, we have, I have two older brothers, Bailey and Henry; a loving father, of . Oscar Robertson: The NBA's Forgotten Trailblazer Ahead of the 1971 season, Robertson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. $8.00. [8], In 1959, the Player of the Year Award was established to recognize the best college basketball player of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Give him six, he wants four. Born in 1938, Robertson grew up dirt-poor in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis. [17], In the 196162 season, Robertson became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. [12] In 2022, the NBA renamed its Western Conference championship trophy after Robertson. Theories attempting to explain the trade abounded. It's a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really. He was thus given a $33,000 signing bonus. In the next round against the Boston Celtics, Robertsons heroics forced a Game 7, but the Royals fell to the eventual world champions. Success did not follow the Royals to the playoffs, however, as they were dumped in the first round by the Detroit Pistons. Oscar Robertson: African American basketball legend Grace, Kevin; Hand, Greg; Hathaway, Tom; Hoffman, Carey (1998). The case led to the amendment of the free agency and college draft clauses. He, however, did not win the NCAA Championship. In 2004, an 18" bronze statue of Robertson was sculpted by world-renowned sculptor Harry Weber. Robertson was also an integral part of Robertson v. National Basketball Ass'n of 1970. [30] In July 2004, Robertson was named interim head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team for approximately a month while head coach Bob Huggins served a suspension stemming from a drunk-driving conviction. In the postseason, the Royals muscled past the 76ers in five games, only to meet the mighty Celtics in the division finals. Biography facts, career and personal life of famous basketball players. It was also the first state championship won by an Indianapolis team in the Hoosier tournament. In 1963-64, Robertson cemented his status as one of the leagues dominant players. [1] In addition, he was named the 1961 NBA All-Star Game MVP following his 23-point, 14-assist, 9-rebound performance in a West victory; however, the Royals finished with a 3346 record and stayed in the cellar of the Western Division. Robertson finished first in the league in both assists (11.0 apg) and free throw percentage (85.3) and ranked second in scoring (31.4 ppg). The partnership worked out really well as in his first season with the Bucks, Robertson and Alcindor led the Bucks to the 1971 NBA Finals where they defeated the Baltimore Bullets to claim the Championship. The fine results from Brooks failure to participate in team postgame media availability during the first round. Oscar Robertson biography, married, wife, stats, injury, salary Updates? Beyond that, Oscar's Indiana background (he was born in Tennessee, but his family moved to Indianapolis when he was four) establishes him as a major part of a major chapter in basketball's. During trips to segregated cities, Robertson had to sleep in college dormitories rather than hotels, like his peers. Check ESPN listings for rebroadcast information. Oscar Palmer Robertson (born Nov 24, 1938) is a retired professional basketball player from the United States, who played in the NBA between 1960 and 1974. The first call, however, and one of the most meaningful came from one of the greatest players ever to pick up a basketball, Oscar Robertson. In the projects he not only learned basketball but also learned firsthand about racial discrimination and economic inequality. Shipwrecked by whales: The Robertson family survival story "[2] Decades after his college days, Robertson's stellar NCAA career was rewarded by the United States Basketball Writers Association when they renamed the trophy awarded to the NCAA Division I Player of the Year the Oscar Robertson Trophy in 1998. His best year there was the championship season, when he averaged 19.4 points, 8.2 assists and 5.7 rebounds per . Whatever it was, the relationship between Robertson and the Royals suffered. [2] Robertson also won his second All-Star Game MVP award that year after scoring 26 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing off 8 assists in an East victory. He led the Bearcats to two Final Fours and a 79-9 record during his three varsity seasons. 2022-23 Panini Prizm Draft Oscar Robertson Stained Glass SSP Cincinnati Bearcats. Oscar has the edge in passing, dribbling, and shooting. Here are some of the records Oscar Robertson set in college and where he ranks on all-time statistical lists: A member of the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound club. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals as a territorial pick. Early Oscar Robertson highlights | NBA.com Six years after the suit was filed, the NBA finally reached a settlement, the leagues merged and the draft remained intact. Robert auctioned one of the jerseys he wore while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, his Hall of Fame ring and a Championship ring. He was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player for the 196364 season, in which he averaged 31.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. For seven games, the former Celtics point guard partnered with Robertson in the Royals' backcourt, but they missed the playoffs.
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