In the projects he not only learned basketball but also learned firsthand about racial discrimination and economic inequality. The case led to the amendment of the free agency and college draft clauses. Updates? His parents were Bailey and Mazell Robertson, and he had two siblings: Henry and Bailey, Jr. advertisement advertisement Education 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. Also in 1970, Robertson became part of one of the most important court cases in NBA history. Robertson was born into poverty in Charlotte, Tennessee. 14; the retirement continues to be honored by the Kings in their current home of Sacramento. Oscar Robertson's high school team in Indianapolis was the first all-black basketball team in the nation to win a state title. During the wedding ceremony, which occurred at the Carmel Presbyterian Church in front of family and friends, Oscar wore a black morning coat while Yvonne looked as beautiful as always. 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 was thus given a $33,000 signing bonus. [31], After many years out of the spotlight, Robertson was recognized on November 17, 2006, for his impact on college basketball when he was chosen to be a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Barred from hotels until his junior year, Robertson often had to stay in college dorms. His playing career was active from 1960 until 1974. When he was approximately 18 months old, his parents moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he grew up in a segregated housing project. [2], Robertson also set yardsticks in versatility. 9 Copy quote. He is so great he scares me, Celtics Coach Red Auerbach once said. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. On February 10, 1962, Robertson recorded 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 16 assists in a 134118 win over the Hawks. He remained a harsh critic of social policies that adversely affect minorities, particularly African-Americans. He revealed that he considered Marques Haynes and Goose Tatum who were Harlem Globetrotters players as his basketball idols. Oscar Robertson averaged 30 points or more in six seasons and was considered the first big guard, averaging 7.5 rebounds for his career. He has just a few children, all of whom bear his family. He repeated as assists champion with 11.4 per game and a total of 899, smashing yet another record set by Cousy, who had accumulated 715 assists two years earlier. [25] Six years after the suit was filed, the NBA finally reached a settlement, the ABANBA merger took place, and the Oscar Robertson suit encouraged signing of more free agents and eventually led to higher salaries for all players. Former teammate Jerry Lucas told theIndianapolis Star: He obviously was unbelievable, way ahead of his time. Simply put, no player in hoops history achieved as much individual and team success as did Abdul-Jabbar. Oscar Robertson Biography Quick Facts, Age. Oscar Robertson was born in Charlotte, Tennessee, on November 24, 1938. He wasn't angry about his. As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. Among his 14 NCAA records was a career scoring mark that stood until Pete Maravich bested it in 1970. [40] He received the "Player of the Century" award by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2000 and was ranked third on SLAM's "Top 75 NBA Players" in 2003, behind fellow NBA legends Jordan and Chamberlain. In 1956, the team finished with a 310 record and won a second straight IHSAA Men's Basketball Championship, becoming the first team in Indiana to secure a perfect season and compiling a state-record 45 straight victories. 1 he wore in Milwaukee. 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. The trade proved highly beneficial for Robertson. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. In the postseason, the Royals muscled past the 76ers in five games, only to meet the mighty Celtics in the division finals. In those days, Southern university programs such as Kentucky, Duke, and North Carolina did not recruit black athletes, and road trips to segregated cities were especially difficult, with Robertson often sleeping in college dorms instead of hotels. Ten of the twelve college players on the American squad later played in the NBA, including Robertson as well as future Basketball Hall-of-Famers West, Jerry Lucas, and Walt Bellamy. 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This article was most recently revised and updated by, The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oscar-Robertson, The HistoryMakers - Biography of Oscar Robertson, Oscar Robertson - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 1961-62 Cincinnati Royals Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 43-37, Finished 2nd in NBA Western Division Coach: Charles Wolf (43-37) PTS/G: 123.1 (2nd of 9) Opp PTS/G: 121.3 (7th of 9) SRS: 1.28 (5th of 9) Pace: 124.9 (5th of 9) Off Rtg: 98.3 (1st of 9) Def Rtg: 96.9 (8th of 9) Net Rtg: +1.4 (5th of 9) Robertson was the first selection of the 1960 NBA draft and earned Rookie of the Year honours that season with the Cincinnati Royals. 2022-23 Panini Prizm Draft Oscar Robertson Stained Glass SSP Cincinnati Bearcats. [2], Robertson was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 28, 1980. He led the league in assists six times and in free throw percentage twice. In the 1964 NBA playoffs, the Royals defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, but then were dominated by the Celtics 4 games to 1. Basketball player Oscar Robertson was born on November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee to Mazell Bell Robertson and Bailey Robertson, Sr. During World War II, Robertson and his family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he played on the basketball team at Crispus Attucks High School. 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. [2] After his graduation that year, Robertson enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. Like Oscar Robertson and other Indianapolis basketball greats, he cut his teeth at the court at . Robertson left the NBA with 26,710 points, 9,887 assists and 7,804 rebounds collected in 1,040 games. Oscar Robertson, the Big O, is the player against whom all others labeled versatile are judged, and he may remain the standard forever. Unlike many other boys who preferred baseball, the NBA star was drawn to basketball, which he saw as "a poor kids' game." When Robertson left college, he was the all-time leading NCAA scorer until fellow Hall-of-Fame player Pete Maravich topped him in 1970. Robertson had what for him was a typical late-career season: Playing every game but one, he tallied 19.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per contest. His rookie scoring average of 30.5 points per game is the third-highest of any rookie in NBA history, and Robertson averaged more than 30 points per game in six of his first seven seasons. There will never be another player like the 'Big Dipper', who changed the game with his strength, athleticism and skill. [37] In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Robertson as the 12th greatest player in NBA history. In the same game during which he set the overall triple-double record, Westbrook also joined LeBron James, Oscar Robertson and Gary Payton as the only players in . Robertson also owns the chemical company Orchem, based in Cincinnati, Ohio.[45]. $69.99. The Association took the NBA to court and being the president of the Association he was at the centre of the entire affair. In June 2007, the University of Cincinnati awarded him Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters as an acknowledgement of his entrepreneurial and philanthropic activities. He was nothing short of incredible as a collegian, scoring 33.8 points per game with a one-handed style that made his shots virtually unblockable. "Big O" got to play with an all-star team of players, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Los Angeles Lakers. In 1960 he won a gold medal in Rome as a member of the U.S. Olympic team. . 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:] Well, we have, I have two older brothers, Bailey and Henry; a loving father, of . It was rumoured that Bob Cousy was jealous of Robertson and thus the Royals decided to transfer him. [32], In 2015, Robertson was among a group of investors that placed a marijuana legalization initiative on the Ohio ballot. Oscar Robertson real name is Oscar Palmer Robertson. Robertsons playmaking and scoring brilliance were rewarded with commendation after commendation, and finally with an NBA title in the twilight of his career. His college career was marred by racism. He preferred to play basketball over baseball, which was more popular in the neighborhood because it was "a poor kids' game". Oscar was born September 14, 1955 in St. Francisville to the late Oscar Robertson, Sr. and Louise Crump Robertson. By this time the Royals had assembled a powerful supporting cast for the young superstar, with Twyman, rookie Jerry Lucas and Wayne Embry up front and Adrian Smith joining Robertson in the backcourt. 3 Copy quote. [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. Unlike many other boys who preferred baseball, the NBA star was drawn to basketball, which he saw as "a poor kids' game. After his retirement Robertson worked to improve the living conditions of African-Americans in his hometown of Indianapolis by helping to build affordable housing. Robertson stated: "[Officials] thought the blacks were going to tear the town up, and they thought the whites wouldn't like it. (The system allowed a team to claim a local college player in exchange for giving up its first-round pick.) 14. in Netherlands. Furthermore, in 2006, ESPN named Robertson the second greatest point guard of all time, praising him as the best post-up guard of all time and placing him only behind Johnson. 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? [24] For the first time in his career, Robertson had won an NBA championship. After the wedding, Robertson captained the U.S. basketball team at the 1960 Summer Olympics into winning a gold medal, which earned him a spot to play for Cincinnati Royals in the NBA. 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. What should have been a joyous culmination to that 1955 season . Robertson donated one of his kidneys to his daughter, Tia, in 1997, as a result of kidney failure related to lupus. In the 196970 season, the sixth disappointing season in a row, fan support was waning. I called my wife. His teams made the playoffs in 10 of his 14 years in the league. Aside from the racism his family endured, they also battled with poverty. Success did not follow the Royals to the playoffs, however, as they were dumped in the first round by the Detroit Pistons. When he was 18 months old, the family moved to Indianapolis, where he spent all his childhood in a segregated housing project. 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. Remembering the Life of the Late Basketball Star, Ron Howard Feels 'Lucky' to Have Met Future Wife at School & Says 'There Was Never Anybody Else' for 51 Years, Hugh Jackman Met 13-Year Older Wife When She Definitely Avoided Men Under 30 - They Are Married for 25 Years, Who Is Bronny James Dating? The couple later got married on a perfect June day in 1960 right after Oscar's graduation. [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. Character Family. This honor brought the award full circle for Robertson, as he had won the first two awards ever presented. In the late 1950s road trips through the Midwest were awkward, to say the least. 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. A player with a very eccentric personality, Robertson is seen as a hero in not just basketball but in sports in general as he is one of the stars who rose above the domineering force of racism. I'll be honest, it really makes me reflect. In addition to his 1964 regular-season MVP award, Robertson won three All-Star Game MVPs in his career (in 1961, 1964, and 1969). Robertson was born in Charlotte, Tennessee, but he grew up in Indianapolis. Oscar was born in an impoverished family in Charlotte, Tennessee. Oscar Robertson, nicknamed the "Big O," is a retired professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks. [3] He was again voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. 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. [2] In his NBA debut, Robertson recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 140123 win over the visiting Lakers. Check out some rarely seen Oscar Robertson highlights with the Royals! Carving his name into NBA history. As a sophomore Robertson scored 56 points in a tournament game at Madison Square Garden, and he scored 62 points in another contest. There, Robertson had the chance to end his stellar career with a second ring. [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. Basketball, Thinking, Able. He was Rookie of the Year in 1960-61, played in 12 straight All-Star Games, was selected to the All-NBA First Team nine consecutive seasons, won the MVP award in 1963-64, and helped the Milwaukee Bucks win the championship in 1971. [Interviewer #1:] Tell us a little about the, tell us a little bit about your family, the folks in your family. [39] He has been an honorary spokesman for the National Kidney Foundation ever since. To draw fans and generate some excitement, the 41-year-old Cousy even put on a uniform and played seven games in the backcourt with Robertson. 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. Co-captains on the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic basketball team, Robertson and Jerry West entered the NBA one after the other in the 1960 NBA Draft. [44] When a biography was going to be written about him in the 1990s, Robertson joked that his life had been "dull" and that he had been "married to the same woman for a long time". Oscar Robertson is honored along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell in the basketball category. Oscar Robertson is known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.A standout at the University of Cincinnati, he went on to become a star National Basketball Association (NBA) player for the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) and the Milwaukee Bucks, and a co-captain of an Olympic team considered by some to be the . At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. 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. This town of Robertson's birth, in 1938, would have been idyllic were life there more practical for his family. [4] The United States Basketball Writers Association renamed their College Player of the Year Award the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor in 1998, and he was one of five people chosen to represent the inaugural National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame class in 2006. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. [39] In 1997, Robertson donated one of his kidneys to his daughter Tia, who suffered lupus-related kidney failure. The triple-double is just a stat. #OscarRobertson #NBA #GOAT-Music:Neon Nox - Backup Data (https://youtu.be/Xg8aIjF0LCE)Neon Nox - Mass Effect (https://youtu.be/EPkWImlLa78)Retrodict - Close . Born on November 24, 1938, at a time when racism was at its height in America in the 20th century, Oscar Robertson is one of three children born to Bailey Robertson and Mazell Robertson. Fifty long years, and it's down to two games. Years later, he told The Indianapolis Star: "I'll never forgive them. In 1995, Robertson was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. [1] He led the league in assists six time; at the time of his retirement, he was the NBA's all-time leader in career assists and free throws made, and was the second all-time leading scorer behind Wilt Chamberlain. 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. Robertson also ended Cousys eight-year string of regular-season assists titles by leading the league with 9.7 per game. Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award during the NCAA Final Four. Dandridge and Robertson were teammates on the Milwaukee . Oscar Robertson 2022 Prizm Draft Picks Hyper Basketball Card. His love for basketball made him improvise when his parents couldnt afford to buy him a basketball. Milwaukee breezed by the San Francisco Warriors and Los Angeles to reach The Finals against the Baltimore Bullets. Robertson was also an integral part of Robertson v. National Basketball Ass'n of 1970. His team won the NBA title in his first season there and dominated the entire season. 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. Basketball, Team, School. He was born on November 24, 1938 at Charlotte, Tennessee, United States. After their championship game wins, the team was paraded through town in a regular tradition, but they were then taken to a park outside downtown to continue their celebration, unlike other teams. As Robertson was the president of the Players Association, the case bore his name. "[2], The relationship between Oscar and the Royals had soured to the point that Cincinnati had also approached the Lakers and Knicks about deals involving their star player; the Knicks players who were discussed in those scenarios are unknown, but Los Angeles stated publicly that the Royals asked about Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, with the Lakers saying they would not consider trading either star. His family was of modest means, and he lived on a housing project in Indianapolis. The Big O made his first of 12 consecutive trips to the All-Star Game, winning the MVP award after scoring 23 points and setting a record with 14 assists, one better than Bob Cousys previous mark. He also has two siblings and both are his brothers. To help attract the public, 41-year-old head coach Bob Cousy made a short comeback as a player. His average of 25.7 points per game ranks as the seventh-highest mark ever among retired players, and he averaged 30 points or more in six seasons. No other player excelled in as many ways as Robertson did. [2], On the hardwood, the veteran Robertson still proved he was a valuable player. Throughout the mid-1960s the great Boston and Philadelphia 76ers teams would stand impenetrable, keeping the Royals from advancing to The Finals. [25] Robertson adds that he still could average a triple-double season in today's basketball and that he is highly skeptical that anyone else could do it; it was later done by Russell Westbrook in the 201617 season. The team, described as the greatest assemblage of basketball talent ever at that point, steamrolled the competition to win the gold medal. He has two brothers, Bailey Jr. and Henry. In 1970, retired merchant navy officer Dougal Robertson was running a dairy farm at Meerbrook, near Leek, with his wife Lyn, 18-year-old son Douglas, daughter Anne, 17, and twin sons Neil and . [2] In addition, he worked as a color commentator with Brent Musburger on games televised by CBS during the 197475 NBA season. The Royals progressed to the Eastern Conference finals but were defeated by the Boston Celtics. He ended his career with 26,710 points (25.7 per game, ninth-highest all time), 9,887 assists (9.5 per game), and 7,804 rebounds (7.5 per game). [2], Robertson attended Crispus Attucks High School, an all-black high school, where he was coached by Ray Crowe, whose emphasis on a fundamentally sound game had a positive effect on his style of play.