His autobiography, "The Big O: My Life, My Times, My Game," was published by Rodale Press in 2003 and is now in paperback with University of Nebraska Press. He had made some real estate development investments while playing in the NBA. But his impact on American society extends far beyond sports. He has contributed nine bylined essays on basketball to The New York Times and one to TIME Magazine, a game-by-game blog to nba.com during the 2005 NBA Finals, and is now a contributor to the ESPN website www.theundefeated.com. "I think he probably was the best player to ever play the game. Lake Havasu City, Arizona, United States Biography. Birthplace Charlotte, TN. When the Associated Press chose the best player of the twentieth century, Robertson received the second most votes. Privacy Policy. Who Is Oscar Robertson's Wife? The Bucks were 12-2 in three playoff rounds, sweeping the Baltimore Bullets in four games in the finals. A labor activist, an advocate for healthy living. Oscar Robertson was born November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee, the youngest of three sons of Bailey and Mazell Robertson. Fece per tre volte parte della All-State selection alla Crispus Attucks High School di Indianapolis. In 1994, a nine-foot-high statue of him was elected at the University of Cincinnati, much to his embarrassment. Learn more about this update. Date of death : - Crystal Harris Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Gina Rodriguez Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Coolio Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Career Helms College Player of the year twice in 1959 and 1960, UPI College Player of the year thrice consecutively from 1958 to 1960, USBWA College Player of the year twice in 1959 and 1967, Sporting News College Player of the year thrice consecutively from 1958 to 1965. He is a man for the ages." Jerry West "Oscar was one of basketball's great leaders, and his life is one of basketball's great stories. Robertson is the all-time leader in triple-double games for a career, and in rebounds by a guard. Because of the way the National Basketball Association (NBA) constructed the draft at the time, Robertson was a territorial draft pick of the Cincinnati Royals. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Cocaptain of the Olympic gold medal team of 1960; named the player of the century by the National Association of Basketball Coaches; named one of the fifty greatest players in NBA history; and inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980Robertson's accolades are as numerous as they are impressive. In 1998, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association renamed its men's college Player of the Year Award the Oscar Robertson Trophy. Robertson was the third and longest-serving President of the National Basketball Players Association, from 1965 until he retired in 1974, and was the first black president of any national sports or entertainment labor union. He led the Royals to the playoffs in six of his ten seasons, from 1962 through 1967, but even with their high-scoring lineup, the Royals could never get past the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Division title, thanks in part to some head-shaking personnel decisions by the team's front office. Early hours of practice lead to Olympic gold. He was quite likely the first player to be represented by an attorney in contract negotiations, eventually securing a percentage of the gate receipts for himself as well as a no-trade clause. He went on to have a fourteen-year career in the NBA playing with the Cincinnati Royals as well as the Milwaukee Bucks. Of his style as a player, Patricia Sellers and Andy Freeberg of Fortune wrote "He viewed basketball as a business, and he played it with precision and consistency, never with flamboyance or wasted motion." He was the measuring stick for how a player should play. He went to an all-black high school, Crispus Attucks High School, where he played basketball under his coach, Ray Crowe. At last he had a championship ring, and the Bucks then just in their third season became the earliest expansion team in any professional sport to win a championship. Oscar Robertson Stats: Oscar Robertson played 14 seasons for the Royals and Bucks. Cincinnati Royals, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1960 NBA Draft (territorial selection), Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1980 (Full List), More Oscar Robertson pages at Sports Reference. The Michael Jordan of his time, Robertson played guard for the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. At the high school, Oscar Robertson was coached by Ray Crowe, a coach who paid special attention to the basics of basketball. Oscar Robertson was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1980 (Full List) Click here to read the full biography about Oscar Robertson He soon became known for his skills as a ball handler and passer. In 1996, he included in the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season. In 1992, Robertson was one of five founders of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, dedicated to improving pension benefits and medical care for an earlier generation of players, and served as its first president from 1992-1998. He was the first player to lead the NBA in scoring average and assists average in the same season (1967-68), and the only guard ever to lead his team in rebounding. Birthdate 11/24/1938. Oscar Robertson Height, Weight & Measurements At 84 years old, Oscar Robertson height is 6' 4" (1.95 m) . [1] They led the league in scoring and were the first team to shoot better than 50% from the floor for the season, or to lead the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency. In 1997, Robertson donated a kidney to save the life of his daughter Tia, who was suffering from lupus. He and his wife Yvonne, who he wed in 1960, reside in Cincinnati and have three daughters, Shana, Tia and Mari. Robertson was a unanimous selection in the first year he was eligible. 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. The Michael Jordan of his time, Robertson played guard for the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. The best season of Robertson's career was 1963-64, when he averaged 31.4 points per game as well as 11 assists per game. Whether youre a student or a lifelong learner, YourDictionary is just that: yours. Oscar Robertson. He averaged 32.6 points per game in his sophomore year at Cincinnati. Read up on Oscar Robertson's biography, career, awards and more on ESPN. He was Rookie of the Year in 1961 and MVP in 1964 rare feats back then for a guard. He was one of five charter inductees into the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, and was inducted into the International Basketball (FIBA) Hall of Fame in 2009. In his 14-year pro career, Robertson re-wrote the record book. He told Thomas Bonk of the Los Angeles Times in 1985, "Of course I had problems adjusting. Robertson started his road to stardom at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis and then took his show to the University of Cincinnati. You have entered an incorrect email address! He is also a thoughtful man and a man of vision. Explore our grammar lessons, biographies, and more. [2] Nella stagione 1961-1962 Robertson aveva stabilito anche il record per il maggior numero di triple doppie in una singola stagione con 41: anche questo record dur per 55 anni fu battuto da Westbrook, che nella stagione 2016-2017 ne registr 42.[3]. Big O, Mr. Oscar Robertson, Producer: Something to Cheer About. he considers Marques Haynes and Goose Tatum as his idols. He is a producer, known for Something to Cheer About (2002), The Way It Was (1974) and NBA Hardwood Classics (1992). He played point guard in Cincinnati Royals. Credited as : former NBA player, the big O. As a child, his family (which included two elder brothers) moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. He succeeded as an all-rounder capable of scoring from any point on the court and laid the foundation for players such as Magic Johnson. Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch), Position: Nick Name/Celebrated Name: In 1959 he was on the gold medal winning team at the Pan American Games. In 1996, he included in the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Live Chat Now (888) 768-6155. International: +1 888 768 6155. Oscar Robertsonwas inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980. us, High School: Primarily, however, Robertson used his college degree to become a businessman in Cincinnati. Known as "The Big O," Oscar Robertson is regarded as one of the greatest, most versatile players ever to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). No, Oscar Robertson is straight and is happily married to his wife, Crittenden. Crystal Harris "Oscar Robertson was never a rookie. In recent years, Robertson was involved with the legalization of recreational marijuana and some other investors. Robertson was 6-5 (1.95) tall and was a natural guard, though he was probably the biggest man to ever play that position at the time. field. It is an honor to know him and to have competed against him. It's a great book. He is a charter member of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame and has also received its Ohio Heritage Award. ), By the time Robertson entered junior high school, his skills as a basketball player were already evident. Oscar Robertson's college basketball stats, vitals School: Cincinnati Position: Guard Height: 6-5 Weight: 205 pounds Years active: 1957-60 NCAA tournament record: 7-3 Career averages: 33.8. [4] Jerry West from West Virginia University was selected second by the Minneapolis Lakers. As such, he created the template for such players as Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Le Bron James, and Russell Westbrook. For his unparalleled achievements on the court, he was named "Player of the Century" by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and holds a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Association. 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961. He has also distinguished himself as a humanitarian, a social activist, a businessman, a teacher and mentor, and a labor leader, where his efforts that led to The Oscar Robertson Rule forever changed the balance of power in professional sports. In Rome in 1960, he was part of the U.S. Basketball team which won gold at the summer Olympic Games. In 1970-71, the Bucks won the NBA championship, the only championship Robertson ever won. Robertson was 6-5 (1.95) tall and was a natural guard, though he was probably the biggest man to ever play that position at the time. In his second NBA season, Robertson became the first player to average a triple-double, also breaking the single-season record for assists. Questa combinazione record non fu ripetuta da nessun altro giocatore per i successivi 55 anni, finch Russell Westbrook, allora playmaker degli Oklahoma City Thunder, nella stagione 2016-2017 fece registrare 31,6 punti, 10,4 assist e 10,7 rimbalzi a partita. . The Michael Jordan of his time, Robertson played guard for the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. The following year, he was named to the NBC's 35th Anniversary All-Time team, recognition of his prowess on the basketball court. Shoots: All rights reserved. Oscar Robertson was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on September 3, 2016. Point Guard Robertson graduated from the University of Cincinnati with his B.S. I worked for good position." In 2007, his alma mater he university awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Even Cincinnati was somewhat segregated: a restaurant located near the university did not serve African Americans. 1938-American basketball player. He averaged 25.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds in 1,040 regular-season games. 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 . He led scoring of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) University Division each of those three years, averaging 33.8 points per game. considerato la prima big guard della storia in quanto era dotato di un fisico possente (196cm per 93kg di peso), caratteristica insolita per un playmaker nella NBA degli anni '60. Playing all its games on the road in a time of rigid segregation the school's gym was too small to serve as a home court Attucks was the first African-American school and the first Indianapolis school to win the Indiana state crown, and the first African-American school to win a national championship in any sport. Oscar Robertson was born on November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee, USA. Robertson graduated in the top 10 percent of his class at Crispus Attucks High School, and was a member of the National Honor Society. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Webster's New World Finance and Investment Dictionary, Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus, Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations. In 1971, Robertson was second to Wilt Chamberlain for the All-Time NBA Team voting. Robertson was pursued by many colleges and universities for his basketball abilities. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. He won the Rookie of the Year award, 1 MVP award and 1 NBA championship. During those five seasons, he had more triple-double games than the rest of the NBA combined. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Don't waste your time and access over 15,000 free biographies now. He was unafraid, unabashed and unmatched in everything he did. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. In 1979, he was easily elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Seeing a word in a sentence can clarify its definition and usage. THE DIGITAL REPOSITORY FOR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE. The English language is always evolving, and its our job to keep up with it. Born Oscar Palmer Robertson on November 24, 1938, in Charlotte, Tennessee, he was the son of Mazell (nee Bell) Robertson. The 6 ft 5 in Robertson played as a point guard and was. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. However, his salary was never higher than $250,000 per season. Oscar Palmer Robertson, "the Big O," is a former basketball player who played in the NBA for Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks' teams. 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