Liam Robbins

Last updated
Liam Robbins
Liam Robbins.jpg
Robbins with Minnesota in 2021
No. 15Milwaukee Bucks
Position Center
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1999-07-12) July 12, 1999 (age 25)
Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft 2023: undrafted
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–present Milwaukee Bucks
2024–presentWisconsin Herd
Career highlights and awards
  • SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2023)
  • First-team All-SEC (2023)
  • Second-team All-MVC (2020)
  • MVC All-Defensive Team (2020)
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Liam Robbins (born July 12, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Drake Bulldogs, Minnesota Golden Gophers and Vanderbilt Commodores.

Contents

High school career

Robbins played sparingly in his first three years at Assumption High School in Davenport, Iowa. He entered the starting lineup as a senior, averaging 9.2 points per game. [1] Robbins had no NCAA Division I scholarship offers out of high school and reclassified to attend Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. He weighed about 300 pounds (140 kg) when he arrived at Sunrise but reached a weight of 235 pounds (107 kg) after four months by fasting and working out. [2] On April 17, 2018, he committed to play college basketball for Drake. [3]

College career

Drake

Robbins with Drake in 2019 Liam Robbins (49347430956) (cropped).jpg
Robbins with Drake in 2019

As a freshman at Drake, Robbins served as a backup to Nick McGlynn, whom he took advice from. [1] He averaged 4.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. [4] On January 7, 2020, Robbins recorded 20 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven blocks in a 65–62 win over Loyola–Chicago, despite having the stomach flu. He tied the program single-game record for blocks. [5] On February 5, Robbins posted a career-high 29 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a 73–60 victory over Bradley. [6] As a sophomore, he averaged 14.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, which ranked fifth in the nation, while recording a school-record 99 blocks. He was named to the Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and earned All-Defensive Team, Most Improved Team and All-Tournament Team honors. [7]

Minnesota

For his junior season, Robbins transferred to Minnesota where his uncle Ed Conroy was an assistant coach. He was granted immediate eligibility by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. [8] Robbins helped replace Daniel Oturu, who left for a professional career. [9] On January 3, 2021, he recorded 27 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a 77–60 win over Ohio State. Robbins was subsequently named Big Ten Player of the Week and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week. [10] He missed the final six games of the season with a sprained ankle. As a junior, he averaged 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and a Big Ten-leading 2.7 blocks per game.

Vanderbilt

Robbins transferred to Vanderbilt for his senior season alongside his uncle Ed Conroy, who became an assistant coach for the Commodores. [11] He missed the first several months of the season and averaged 6.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. [12] He came back for his fifth season of eligibility and averaged 15 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game. On March 2, 2023, Robbins suffered a leg injury early in a game against Kentucky, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. [13] Despite this injury, Robbins was named the 2022–23 SEC Defensive Player of the Year. [14]

Professional career

Milwaukee Bucks / Wisconsin Herd (2024–present)

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Robbins signed with the New Orleans Pelicans on September 30, 2023, [15] but was waived on October 12. [16] On October 29, he signed with the Birmingham Squadron, [17] but before playing for them, he suffered a season-ending injury on January 12, 2024. [18]

On August 27, 2024, Robbins signed with the Milwaukee Bucks [19] and on October 21, the Bucks converted his deal into a two-way contract. [20]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2018–19 Drake 31211.3.442.231.5952.7.5.31.14.1
2019–20 Drake 343427.1.499.244.6947.1.8.62.914.1
2020–21 Minnesota 232224.7.441.327.6946.61.1.72.711.7
2021–22 Vanderbilt 151018.3.435.286.6064.0.67.41.876.8
2022–23 Vanderbilt 261522.9.504.365.7316.851.0.313.1515.0
Career1298320.9.477.306.6935.53.81.462.3710.63

Personal life

Robbins' uncle, Ed Conroy, is head basketball coach at The Citadel in South Carolina. He was previously an assistant basketball coach for Vanderbilt and an assistant coach at Minnesota when he recruited Robbins to transfer from Drake to Minnesota. When Conroy left for Vanderbilt, Robbins followed his uncle there. His cousin and Conroy's son, Hunt, played basketball for Minnesota as a point guard. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ervin Johnson</span> American basketball player (born 1967)

Ervin Johnson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who is a community ambassador for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA for the Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves as a center from 1993 to 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amir Johnson</span> American basketball player (born 1987)

Amir Jalla Johnson is an American former professional basketball player and coach who last served as an assistant coach for the NBA G League Ignite of the NBA G League. He has previously played for the Detroit Pistons, the team that selected Johnson in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft, as well as the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.

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

Vinny Lamont Baker is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He appeared in four consecutive All-Star Games. As of 2018, Baker serves as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Randall W. Breuer is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 1983 NBA draft. A 7'3" center from the University of Minnesota, Breuer played in 11 NBA seasons from 1983 to 1994. He played for the Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings.

Matthew Wayne Freije is a Lebanese/ American former professional basketball player. Freije attended Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kansas before attending Vanderbilt University where he was an All-SEC performer. He was selected 53rd overall in the 2004 NBA draft by the Miami Heat, was then released and later played for the New Orleans Hornets. He played 19 games for the Atlanta Hawks during the 2006–07 season but was waived in December 2006 to clear a roster spot for Slava Medvedenko.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Henson (basketball)</span> American basketball player

John Allen Henson is an American former professional basketball player who played eight seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Henson was selected with the 14th overall pick in 2012 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and played his first 6+12 seasons with the team before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in December 2018. In February 2020, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons.

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Bucks' 35th season in the National Basketball Association. For the first time since 1993–94 season, Glenn Robinson was not on the opening day roster. During the off-season, the Bucks acquired Toni Kukoč from the Atlanta Hawks. In a year of transition, the Bucks played mediocre basketball with a 14–20 start, but then won 13 of their next 16 games, and held a 25–23 record at the All-Star break. In February 2003, just before the trading deadline, the Bucks dealt 3-time All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for 34 year-old All-Star point guard Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. The Bucks won eight of their final nine games finishing fourth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giannis Antetokounmpo</span> Greek-Nigerian basketball player (born 1994)

Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo is a Greek and Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His size, speed, strength, and country of origin have earned him the nickname "Greek Freak". He is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time as well as one of the greatest players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malik Beasley</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Malik JonMikal Beasley is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended Saint Francis School in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he was a four-star recruit. He played one season of college basketball for the Florida State Seminoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Kornet</span> American basketball player (born 1995)

Luke Francis Kornet is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Vanderbilt and is the all-time leader for blocked shots in the school's history and the NCAA all-time leader for three-pointers made by any player seven feet tall or taller. Kornet became an NBA champion upon winning the 2024 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Maye</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Luke David Maye is an American professional basketball player for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins of the Japan Professional Basketball League (B.League). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, winning the 2017 national championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindell Wigginton</span> Canadian basketball player

Lindell Shamar Wigginton is a Canadian professional basketball player who last played for the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amir Coffey</span> American basketball player

Amir Coffey is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donte DiVincenzo</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Donte DiVincenzo is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, where he won national championships in 2016 and 2018, being named Final Four Most Outstanding Player (MOP) in 2018. Selected with the 17th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2018 NBA draft, DiVincenzo won his first championship with the Bucks in 2021, before being traded to the Sacramento Kings the following season. He has since played for the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks, and holds the Knicks franchise records for single-game and single-season three-point shots made. He also holds the NBA record for most three point shots made in a playoff game 7 (9).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Nesmith</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Aaron Joshua Nesmith is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores before being drafted 14th overall in the 2020 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He was part of the roster that reached the 2022 NBA Finals before he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in a package surrounding Malcolm Brogdon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandro Mamukelashvili</span> Georgian basketball player (born 1999)

Alexander "Sandro" Mamukelashvili is a Georgian-American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Seton Hall Pirates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Green (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

AJ Green is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Northern Iowa Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotty Pippen Jr.</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Scotty Maurice Pippen Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He is the son of former NBA player and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and television personality Larsa Pippen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Carter (basketball)</span> American basketball player

Paul Carter is an American professional basketball player who last played for STB Le Havre of the LNB Pro B. He played college basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and UIC Flames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Payton Willis</span> American basketball player

Payton Terrell Willis is an American basketball player for La Laguna Tenerife of the Spanish Liga ACB. He played college basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores, the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Big Ten Conference, and the College of Charleston Cougars.

References

  1. 1 2 Batterson, Steve (January 6, 2020). "Robbins emerges as dominant big man for Drake". Quad-City Times . Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  2. Birch, Tommy (February 23, 2020). "Drake basketball player Liam Robbins dropped nearly 70 pounds, but that's not all that's different". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  3. Martin, Derek (April 17, 2018). "Former Assumption big man commits to Drake". KMA (AM) . Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  4. Bain, Matthew (October 23, 2019). "'He's just got so much potential': With Nick McGlynn gone, Drake's Liam Robbins poised for big sophomore year". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  5. Birch, Tommy (January 8, 2020). "Drake keeps pace atop Missouri Valley thanks to flu-ridden star's performance". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  6. "Liam Robbins' career-high 29 propels Drake past Bradley 73-60". WOI-DT . Associated Press. February 6, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  7. Birch, Tommy (April 4, 2020). "Drake men's basketball star Liam Robbins announces decision transferring". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  8. "Minnesota transfer Liam Robbins granted immediate eligibility". ESPN . Associated Press. September 2, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  9. Fuller, Marcus (April 6, 2020). "Gophers land 7-foot center Liam Robbins from Drake". Star Tribune . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  10. Hodowanic, Paul (January 5, 2021). "Gophers expecting — and now getting — big things from 7-foot center Liam Robbins". Post-Bulletin . Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  11. Weinstein, Robbie (April 12, 2021). "Vanderbilt lands Minnesota transfer center Liam Robbins". 247Sports . Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  12. Weinstein, Robbia (September 29, 2022). "Vanderbilt basketball: Commodores begin post-Pippen era with start of preseason practice". 247 Sports. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  13. "Vanderbilt C Liam Robbins out rest of season with leg injury". ESPN . Associated Press. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  14. "Coaches select 2023 SEC men's basketball award winners". SEC Sports. March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  15. "Pelicans sign six players". NBA.com. September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  16. "Pelicans sign Jalen Crutcher". NBA.com. October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  17. "Birmingham Squadron Finalize Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 29, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  18. "Birmingham Squadron Sign Ike Anigbogu". NBA.com. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  19. "Milwaukee Bucks sign James Akinjo and Liam Robbins". NBA.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  20. "Milwaukee Bucks Convert Liam Robbins to a Two-Way Contract". OurSportsCentral.com. October 21, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  21. Rossow, Adam (May 8, 2020). "From Assumption to Minnesota: a reunion for generations of a basketball family". KLJB . Retrieved October 1, 2020.