Cliff Robinson (basketball, born 1960)

Last updated

Cliff Robinson
Personal information
Born (1960-03-13) March 13, 1960 (age 64)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school Castlemont (Oakland, California)
College USC (1977–1979)
NBA draft 1979: 1st round, 11th overall pick
Selected by the New Jersey Nets
Playing career1979–1994
Position Small forward
Number45, 44, 11, 4, 43
Career history
19791981 New Jersey Nets
1981–1982 Kansas City Kings
19821984 Cleveland Cavaliers
19841986 Washington Bullets
19861989 Philadelphia 76ers
1991–1992 Rapid City Thrillers
1992 Los Angeles Lakers
1992–1993Rapid City Thrillers
1993 Miami Tropics
1993–1994 Milon B.C.
1994Rapid City Thrillers
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 10,823 (17.2 ppg)
Rebounds 5,237 (8.3 rpg)
Assists 1,249 (2.0 apg)
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Clifford Trent Robinson (born March 13, 1960) is an American former professional basketball player.

Contents

Professional career

A University of Southern California alumnus, Robinson was drafted into the National Basketball Association by New Jersey Nets in 1979 with the 11th overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft. Cliff was the youngest player in the NBA two years running. He gave the Nets a solid rookie season, averaging 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. His 45 points against Detroit on March 9, 1980, are the most ever scored in an NBA game by a teenager. [1]

On June 8, 1981, Robinson was traded to Kansas City for Otis Birdsong. [2] Robinson would average a career best 20.2 points in 38 games for the Kings, before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. [3] In perhaps his best game as a Cavalier, on April 15, 1983, Robinson scored 40 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a 132–124 victory over the Indiana Pacers. [4]

From 1979 to 1989, he steadily maintained his scoring average between roughly 18 and 20 points per game, despite playing for several teams. His best season (1985–86) came in a Washington Bullets uniform, as he achieved a career-high season total of 1,460 points in 78 games played, and shot a career-best 76.2% from the free throw line. On December 12, 1985, Robinson scored 21 points and hit a game-winning jump shot with only 1 second left in overtime to beat the Milwaukee Bucks by a margin of 110–108. [5] That postseason, Robinson averaged 21.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2 steals in a hard-fought 3–2 series loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. [6]

In 1986, he and Jeff Ruland were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for NBA legend Moses Malone. Robinson left the NBA in 1989, but later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 1991–92 NBA season. He finished his career averaging 17.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate Thurmond</span> American basketball player (1941–2016)

Nathaniel Thurmond was an American basketball player who spent the majority of his 14-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Golden State Warriors franchise. He played the center and power forward positions. Thurmond was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record an official quadruple-double. In 1965, he grabbed 42 rebounds in a game; only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell recorded more rebounds in an NBA game. Thurmond was named a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985, one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jackson (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1970)

James Arthur Jackson is an American former professional basketball player. Over his 14 National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons, Jackson was on the active roster of 12 different teams, which was an NBA record shared with Joe Smith, Tony Massenburg, Chucky Brown, and Ish Smith; until Ish played with the Denver Nuggets, his 13th team, in the 2022–23 season. He is currently a basketball analyst for Fox Sports, Turner Sports and the Los Angeles Clippers on Bally Sports West, having previously worked for the Big Ten Network. Jim Jackson also works as an analyst for the NBA Playoffs on NBATV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moses Malone</span> American basketball player (1955–2015)

Moses Eugene Malone Sr. was an American professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1974 through 1995. A center, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times, was a 12-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA Team selection. Malone led the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA championship in 1983, winning both the league and Finals MVP. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport's history, Malone is also seen as one of the most underrated NBA players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob McAdoo</span> American basketball player (born 1951)

Robert Allen McAdoo Jr. is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was a five-time NBA All-Star and named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1975. He won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during their Showtime era in the 1980s. In 2000, McAdoo was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World B. Free</span> American basketball player (born 1953)

World B. Free is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1975 to 1988. Free was known as the "Prince of Mid-Air", "Brownsville Bomber", and most often as "All-World".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Smith (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1975)

Joseph Leynard Smith is an American former professional basketball player. A power forward, he played for 12 teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during his 16-year career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Carr</span> American basketball player (born 1948)

Austin George Carr is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Bullets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is known by Cleveland basketball fans as "Mr. Cavalier". He was part of the Notre Dame team which defeated the UCLA Bruins on January 19, 1971, which was UCLA's last defeat until being beaten by Notre Dame exactly three years later, breaking the Bruins' NCAA men's basketball record 88-game winning streak.

Alan Lybrooks Henderson is an American former professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He stands 6'9" tall. Born in Morgantown, West Virginia, Henderson attended Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, Indiana. They lost the state championship game his senior year to Glenn Robinson's Gary Roosevelt squad. In 1994, he was a part of the US men's basketball team for the Goodwill Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence Weatherspoon</span> American basketball player (born 1970)

Clarence Weatherspoon Sr. is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) born in Crawford, Mississippi. He is currently the head coach for Meridian Community College. Previously, he was an assistant coach for Jones County JC and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Battie</span> American basketball player

Demetrius Antonio Battie is an American former professional basketball player. He works as an analyst for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Robert Terrell Cummings is an American former professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Cummings was voted Rookie of the Year and was a two-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection and was a lead player on several postseason teams while in Milwaukee and San Antonio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Johnson</span> American basketball player and coach

Wallace Edgar "Mickey" Johnson is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otis Birdsong</span> American basketball player

Otis Lee Birdsong is an American former professional basketball player. He spent twelve seasons (1977–1989) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and appeared in four NBA All-Star Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Roundfield</span> American basketball player (1953–2012)

Danny Thomas Roundfield was an American professional basketball player. The 6'8" forward/center graduated from Detroit's Chadsey Senior High School in 1971. On the collegiate scene, Roundfield was twice selected to the All-Mid-American Conference Team for Central Michigan University; he was also the 1975 MAC Player of the Year.

Timothy Daniel McCormick is an American former professional basketball player from Detroit who played eight seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He currently is a pre- and post-game analyst for the Detroit Pistons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thaddeus Young</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Thaddeus Charles Young Sr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Georgia Tech, before being drafted 12th overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 76ers 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th season in Philadelphia. This season is most memorable when the 76ers won the Draft Lottery, and selected point guard Allen Iverson out of Georgetown University with the first overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. After two seasons at Georgetown, Iverson quickly established himself as one of the premier point guards in the NBA. During the off-season, the Sixers signed free agents Don MacLean, Mark Davis, Lucious Harris, and Michael Cage.

The 1989–90 NBA season was the 20th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. During the off-season, the Cavaliers acquired second-year guard Steve Kerr from the Phoenix Suns. The Cavaliers got off to a slow start losing their first four games, on their way to a mediocre 10–16 start. Early into the season, the team traded Ron Harper to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for top draft pick Danny Ferry and Reggie Williams; Ferry was selected by the Clippers as the second overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, but refused to play for them as he went to play overseas in Italy. At midseason, the team traded Chris Dudley to the New Jersey Nets, and released Williams to free agency. The Cavaliers struggled playing below .500 for the first half of the season, holding a 21–25 record at the All-Star break, but finished it on a strong note winning their final six games. The team finished the season with a 42–40 record, finishing 4th in the Central Division, as they advanced to the playoffs.

The 1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 27th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Trail Blazers signed free agent Kenny Anderson, acquired Isaiah Rider from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and acquired second-year forward Rasheed Wallace and Mitchell Butler from the Washington Bullets. This season is also notable for the team drafting high school basketball star Jermaine O'Neal with the 17th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft.

References

  1. "Player Game Finder".
  2. "Cliff Robinson Transactions". Basketball Reference.
  3. "Cliff Robinson Averages Per Game". Basketball Reference.
  4. "Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers Box Score, April 15, 1983". Basketball Reference.
  5. "Cliff Robinson's 18-foot jump shot with one second left..." UPI Archives. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  6. "1986 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Bullets vs. 76ers". Basketball Reference.
  7. Official NBA stats from NBA website