As a result of his accomplishment and performance in his senior year he was named the 1956 Mr. Basketball. No other player excelled in as many ways as Robertson did. Prior to Russel Westbrook 2016/17 triple-double basketball season, he said he was sceptical anyone could do it. 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. Oscar became involved in philanthropic and social work, especially concerning improving living conditions for African Americans. Like Oscar Robertson and other Indianapolis basketball greats, he cut his teeth at the court at . The team, however, remained in the Western Division cellar. [34] Robertson appeared in a television advertisement advocating for passage of the initiative,[35] but it was ultimately defeated. [2], On the hardwood, the veteran Robertson still proved he was a valuable player. Free shipping for many products! He remained a harsh critic of social policies that adversely affect minorities, particularly African-Americans. 14. in Netherlands. [6][7] In October 2021, Robertson was honored as one of theleagues greatest players of all-time by being named to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team.[8]. He has been married for a . He was named NBA Rookie of the Year, was elected into the All-NBA First Teamwhich would happen in each of Robertson's first nine seasonsand made the first of 12 consecutive All-Star Game appearances. Grace, Kevin; Hand, Greg; Hathaway, Tom; Hoffman, Carey (1998). [27] His trademark expressions were, "Oh, my!" Many observers believed it was Cousys jealousy of Robertson that led to the trade. He also returned to the booth for the 198889 season calling games on TBS with Hot Rod Hundley. From his sophomore year down to his senior year he claimed the College Player of the Year award and topped the scoring chart. He Was Once Trolled for Being with His Alleged Girlfriend. Oscar Robertson is honored along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell in the basketball category. This was particularly strange because Robertson was the Royals star player. [18] The Royals earned a berth to the 1962 NBA playoffs; however, they were eliminated in the first round by the Detroit Pistons. He also has two siblings and both are his brothers. He preferred to play basketball over baseball, which was more popular in the neighborhood because it was "a poor kids' game". NBA family congratulates Westbrook for all-time feat. Check out some rarely seen Oscar Robertson highlights with the Royals! He averaged 24.0 points and was named Indianas Mr. Just how good was he? It's a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really. Robertson was born in Charlotte, Tennessee, Robertson captained the U.S. basketball team, Oscar was named to the 35th NBA anniversary, Caitlyn Jenner Feels That 'Old Bruce' Still 'Lives Inside Her - Kids Call Her Dad Even After Transition, Gary Sinise Once Called a Disabled Vet & Father of 2 Struggling With Easy Tasks - He Got a Smart Home Later, No Friends Show Up for a Boy's 6th Birthday, Strangers Later Organize a Remarkable Day for Him, Steve Wilkos from 'The Steve Wilkos Show' Is a Loving Husband and Father Meet His Family, King of Sweden Broke Royal Tradition & Married a 'Commoner' Future Queen Had to Wear Disguise in Public. [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. The name of his father is Bailey Robertson and Oscar's mother's name is known to be Mazell Robertson. 24 November 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee), one of the greatest basketball players of all time, the highest-scoring guard in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, and the only player ever to achieve "triple-double" averages for an entire season.Robertson was the youngest of three sons born to Henry Bailey Robertson and Mazell Bell Robertson. Robertson was a starting forward along with Purdue's Terry Dischinger, but played point guard as well. As Robertson was the president of the Players Association, the case bore his name. 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. 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 grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he led Crispus Attucks High School to two state championships. Robertson was born into poverty in Charlotte, Tennessee. 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. When he was 18 months old, the family moved to Indianapolis, where he spent all his childhood in a segregated housing project. Simply put, no player in hoops history achieved as much individual and team success as did Abdul-Jabbar. Robertson chose basketball over baseball. Oscar was a professional basketball player, and he played for teams like Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks, and also the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. Each item sold between $50,000 and $91,000. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about not available Oscar Robertson on ESPN. 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 was able to use his size to gain position for scoring and rebounding. Have you ever wondered how rich Oscar Robertson is, as of Golden State's star sharpshooter enjoys another historic moment, which also set his playoff career high. Basketball, Team, School. In his second season in the NBA, he emerged as the first player in the league to average a triple-double throughout the season. Bryant's father moved his family to Indianapolis from Calhoun, South Carolina, when Hallie was 8. She Once Posed for Photos with a Plastic Surgeon, Who Was Adreian Payne? If you were amazed by Curry's record-setting performance on Sunday, let's just say you weren't the only one. 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. "ESPN Sports Century", 30-minute program on Oscar Robertson as one of the 20th Century's fifty greatest athletes, first aired 1999. Knicks guard Dick Barnett once said: If you give him a 12-foot shot, hell work on you until hes got a 10-foot shot. 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. [46] He is also a member of the Beta Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. [20], In the 196364 season, the Royals achieved a 5525 record,[21] which put them second place in the Eastern Division. Oscar Robertson 2018-19 Panini Prizm #125 vs Jerry West Choice Blue Green Yellow. 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. Robertson was born in Charlotte, Tennessee, but he grew up in Indianapolis. He was the leading scorer of the team,[13] as the U.S. team won its nine games by a margin of 42.4 points. [28], After his retirement, the Kansas City Kings (the Royals moved there while Robertson was with the Bucks) retired his No. He led his team to claim the state championship twice, first in his junior year and second in his senior year where they recorded 45 successive victories. [29], Starting in 2000, Robertson served as a director for Countrywide Financial Corporation, until the company's sale to Bank of America in 2008. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). . Years later, he told The Indianapolis Star: "I'll never forgive them. He was a 12-time All-Star when he played for a point guard. 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. 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In 2003, his autobiography The Big O: My Life, My Times, My Game was published. It was an emotional end to one of the most remarkable careers in the history of American sport. 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. Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award during the NCAA Final Four. 12, Oscar Robertson was more than a triple-double legend; he was a visionary leader", "Children's Museum unveils 'sports legends' for new outdoor exhibit", "NBA redesigns Finals trophy, adds awards named after Magic Johnson, Larry Bird", "UC Legend Oscar Robertson to be Honored at Spring Commencement", "Oscar Robertson's 1971 NBA championship ring sells for $91,000", "A Letter to My Bucks Family | by Oscar Robertson", Wayland Baptist Women's Teams (19481982), NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award, Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year, UPI College Basketball Player of the Year Award, NCAA Division I men's basketball season scoring leaders, 1958 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, 1959 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, 1960 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oscar_Robertson&oldid=1152423455, All-American college men's basketball players, Basketball players at the 1959 Pan American Games, Basketball players at the 1960 Summer Olympics, Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball players, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association broadcasters, National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award winners, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, National Basketball Players Association presidents, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball, Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States, Pan American Games medalists in basketball, United States men's national basketball team players, 20th-century African-American sportspeople, Articles with dead external links from November 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pending changes protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. He preferred to play basketball over baseball, which was more popular in the neighborhood because it was "a poor kids' game". The Bucks also retired the No. Robertson, too poor to own a basketball as a child, signed for $33,000 per year. 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 . . 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. This honor brought the award full circle for Robertson, as he had won the first two awards ever presented. In his first NBA finals game, Robertson recorded 22 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the Bucks. He has two brothers, Bailey Jr. and Henry. 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? In 1956 he received an athletic scholarship to the University of Cincinnati and became the first African American to play basketball there. Whatever it was, the relationship between Robertson and the Royals suffered. 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. Oscar Palmer Robertson was born on the 24th November 1938, in Charlotte, Tennessee USA, and is a retired basketball player, who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in 1938, Robertson grew up dirt-poor in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis. Exhibition Label. The trade proved highly beneficial for Robertson. Early Oscar Robertson highlights. [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. Robertsons on-court brilliance, and the off-court racism to which he was subjected, continued at the University of Cincinnati. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Ahead of the 1971 season, Robertson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. ROBERTSON, Oscar Palmer (b. He won the All-Star and regular-season MVP Awards and led the Royals to a 55-25 record, good enough for second place in the Eastern Division. Here are the top 10 interesting facts about Oscar Robertson. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. I played on an all-black high school team and we didn't want people saying that we were clowns. Oscar Robertson's high school team in Indianapolis was the first all-black basketball team in the nation to win a state title. In three seasons of collegiate basketball, he averaged 33.8 points per game and helped the Cincinnati Bearcats twice reach the Final Four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball tournament. [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. [19] In the 196263 season, Robertson further established himself as one of the greatest players of his generation, averaging 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 9.5 assists, narrowly missing out on another triple-double season. [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. Updates? Robertson also owns the chemical company Orchem, based in Cincinnati, Ohio.[45]. Thats right, man, a layup. Red Auerbach joked that after telling his players to stretch out their fingers extra wide while defending Robertson, Oscar shot the ball through their fingers!. [2] After his graduation that year, Robertson enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. [2] In addition, he worked as a color commentator with Brent Musburger on games televised by CBS during the 197475 NBA season. Oscar Robertson NBA Hall of Famer Jul 20, 2021 Dear Bucks fans and players, It's been 50 years coming. The name Oscar Robertson has become a household name over the years. The father-of-three was disappointed with his team and the coach's behavior, but the trade was very lucrative. He was drawn to basketball instead of baseball, which was more popular in the neighborhood, because it was a poor kids game. He learned how to shoot by tossing tennis balls and rags bound with rubber bands into a peach basket behind his familys home. Robertson also ended Cousys eight-year string of regular-season assists titles by leading the league with 9.7 per game. In what stands as a classic series, an Abdul-Jabbar sky-hook in double-overtime of Game 6 gave the Bucks new life and forced a Game 7. 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. In 1997, Robertson performed the assist of a lifetime when he donated a kidney to his daughter Tia, who was suffering from 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. [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. 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. 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. We encourage you to research and examine these records . Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Oscar Robertson, in full Oscar Palmer Robertson, byname the Big O, (born November 24, 1938, Charlotte, Tennessee, U.S.), American basketball player who starred in both the collegiate and professional ranks and was considered one of the top players in the history of the game. [14], Prior to the 196061 NBA season, Robertson made himself eligible for the 1960 NBA draft. He was born on November 24, 1938 at Charlotte, Tennessee, United States. In the 196970 season, the sixth disappointing season in a row, fan support was waning. His third season in the NBA, the 1963/64 season, saw him claim the league MVP, the only player to win it aside Wilt Chamberlian and Bill Russell in the 1960s. In 1994, a nine-foot bronze statue of Robertson was erected outside the Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center, the current home of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Donald Oscar Robertson. There is no more complete player than Oscar.. It was rumoured that Bob Cousy was jealous of Robertson and thus the Royals decided to transfer him. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In the finale Dave Cowens delivered 28 points and 14 rebounds, leading Boston to a 15-point victory. Who Is Oscar Robertson's Wife? He was born under the zodiac sign of Sagittarius and he was born in Tennessee in the United States of America and he is 6 feet and 5 inches tall. 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. Aromando, Damian; Robertson, Oscar (2000). [2] In his NBA debut, Robertson recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 140123 win over the visiting Lakers. Also in 1970, Robertson became part of one of the most important court cases in NBA history. But drafted players won the right to snub their prospective employers for a year and reenter the draft. Born in 1938, Robertson grew up in poverty, first in rural Tennessee and then in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis, Indiana. After his successful high school career, he went on to play for the University of Cincinnati. Founding Editor (1994-2013) and Senior Writer (2014-2022) for the ACC Sports Journal, a popular magazine that has covered Atlantic Coast Conference sports for more than 35 years, and its partner . 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. [22] From the 196465 season on, things began to turn sour for the franchise. Oscar Robertson Biography Quick Facts, Age. No one, however, may match Robertsons overall greatness. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. Net Worth in 2023: $300 thousand. The couple has three children. It was also the first state championship won by an Indianapolis team in the Hoosier tournament. Before the 1969-70 season, near the end of Robertsons peak as a player, the Royals brought in Cousy as head coach. Oscar Robertson, the Big O, is the player against whom all others labeled versatile are judged, and he may remain the standard forever. Former teammate Jerry Lucas told theIndianapolis Star: He obviously was unbelievable, way ahead of his time. Los Angeles Lakers. Fifty long years, and it's down to two games. Robertson attended Crispus Attucks High School, an all-Black school that had no gym and one that white schools refused to play until Robertson arrived. In 2006, the statue was relocated to the entrance of the Richard E. Lindner Athletics Center at the University of Cincinnati. Paired with Abdul-Jabbar, two more division titles with the Bucks followed in the 197172 and 197273 season. Robertson left the NBA with 26,710 points, 9,887 assists and 7,804 rebounds collected in 1,040 games. [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. Oscar Robertson, a three-time All-Star MVP and NBA MVP in 1963-64, led the Bucks to the title in 1971. . [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. His family was unable to afford a basketball, so he practiced using tennis balls, rags bound with. In 86 playoff games Robertson averaged 22.2 points, 8.9 assists and 6.7 rebounds. "To me, the top two are (Elgin) Baylor and Robertson. 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. 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. He remained the only player to do so for more than 50 years until Russell Westbrook matched his feat in 2016-17. Aside from the racism his family endured, they also battled with poverty. 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. Robertson was born into poverty in Charlotte, Tennessee. On June 9, 2007, Oscar received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Cincinnati for both his philanthropic and entrepreneurial efforts. Oscar Robertson was born in Charlotte, Tennessee, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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. 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. 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. The sharpshooting Robertson also finished fourth in field goal percentage (47.8), and his average of 12.5 rebounds per game was a career high. When he was approximately 18 months old, his parents moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he grew up in a segregated housing project. In the 1960 NBA Draft, Oscar Robertson was selected by the Cincinnati Royals as a territorial pick. He lists woodworking as his prime hobby. [32], In 2015, Robertson was among a group of investors that placed a marijuana legalization initiative on the Ohio ballot. [2] He was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2009. His parents were Bailey and Mazell Robertson, and he had two siblings: Henry and Bailey, Jr. advertisement advertisement Education 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. When Robertson left college, he was the all-time leading NCAA scorer until fellow Hall-of-Fame player Pete Maravich topped him in 1970.

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