This honor brought the award full circle for Robertson, as he had won the first two awards ever presented. 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. It's a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really. Research genealogy for Oscar Robertson of Oklahoma, as well as other members of the Robertson family, on Ancestry. He revealed that he considered Marques Haynes and Goose Tatum who were Harlem Globetrotters players as his basketball idols. When Basketball Great Oscar Robertson Stood Up to the NBA to Protect There were some big names like Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General, and Hall-of-Famer Rick Barry, whom Dandridge . 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 . He also returned to the booth for the 198889 season calling games on TBS with Hot Rod Hundley. Robertson went to the Cincinnati Royals as a territorial pick. The family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, when Robertson was only 18 months old. Early Oscar Robertson highlights. 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. 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. He also received All-American honours. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. 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. 1938, in Charlotte, Tenn., he moved with his family to the "Dust Bowl" slum of . The trade proved highly beneficial for Robertson. On October 30, 1980, Robertson was named to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team. Measuring 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 metres) and weighing more than 200 pounds (91 kg), Robertson was larger than most guards. Oscar Robertson | Encyclopedia.com [4], Robertson's stellar play led the Bearcats to a 799 overall record during his three varsity seasons, including two Final Four appearances; however, a championship eluded Robertson, something that would become a repeated occurrence until late in his professional career. Debbie and Family, When I think of Oscar my mind goes . Oscar Robertson Cards and Autographed Memorabilia Guide Long after his exit from the basketball scene, Robertson still serves as an inspiration for young budding basketball players. In 1962, he became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season (the only player in history besides Russell Westbrook). [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. [34] Robertson appeared in a television advertisement advocating for passage of the initiative,[35] but it was ultimately defeated. The Bucks also retired the No. 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. 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. Donald Oscar Robertson (1924 - 1946) - Biography and Family Tree As a sophomore Robertson scored 56 points in a tournament game at Madison Square Garden, and he scored 62 points in another contest. Beyond that, Oscar's Indiana background (he was born in Tennessee, but his family moved to Indianapolis when he was four) establishes him as a major part of a major chapter in basketball's. Oscar Robertson. In the next round against the Boston Celtics, Robertsons heroics forced a Game 7, but the Royals fell to the eventual world champions. Prior to Russel Westbrook 2016/17 triple-double basketball season, he said he was sceptical anyone could do it. Robertson owns a chemical company, named, Orchem, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bucks cruised past the Bullets and their strong frontcourt of Wes Unseld and Gus Johnson in four games, the first Finals sweep in 12 years. In addition to his 1964 regular-season MVP award, Robertson won three All-Star Game MVPs in his career (in 1961, 1964, and 1969). Oscar Robertson Biography, Life, Interesting Facts Oscar Robertson was the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season. The Big O had just broken many of Cousys records and Cincinnati was suddenly too small for the both of them. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [2] Robertson took Cincinnati to national prominence during his time there, but the university's greatest success in basketball took place immediately after his departure, when the team won national titles in 1961 and 1962, missing a third consecutive title in 1963 by just two points. 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. He was a 12-time All-Star when he played for a point guard. Robertson, too poor to own a basketball as a child, signed for $33,000 per year. With Abdul-Jabbar winning the scoring title and the MVP award, Milwaukee posted the NBAs best record in 1970-71 at 66-16. Robertson was the first player to average more than 10 assists per game, doing so at a time when the criteria for assists were more stringent than today. Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award during the NCAA Final Four. Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed "the Big O", is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). 14. in Netherlands. Any greatest of all time discussion in the NBA must include Oscar Robertson According to The History Makers, before the age of two, Robertson's parents, Mazell Bell Robertson and Bailey Robertson, Sr., packed up their family and moved from the south to Indianapolis, Indiana.The Robertson family moved into a segregated housing project once they reached Indianapolis. 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? 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!. The anti-trust suit, named after Robertson because he was president of the union at the time, challenged the merger as well as the legality of the college draft and the NBAs reserve clause that prohibited free agency. 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. 2022-23 Panini Prizm Draft Oscar Robertson Stained Glass SSP Cincinnati Bearcats. 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. At Crispus Attucks, Robertsons natural physical abilities and instincts were polished by coach Ray Crowe, who was obsessed with teaching the basics of the game. 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. He shot 48.5% from the field and 83.8% from the line. He led the league in assists six times and in free throw percentage twice. Oscar Robertson. 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. Born in 1938, Robertson grew up in poverty, first in rural Tennessee and then in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis, Indiana. Oscar Robertson NBA Hall of Famer Jul 20, 2021 Dear Bucks fans and players, It's been 50 years coming. Robertson also averaged 7.5 rebounds for his career and led his team in rebounding once, a rare feat for a guard. A. It was also the first state championship won by an Indianapolis team in the Hoosier tournament. Oscar Robertson | Basketball Wiki | Fandom Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 04:29. [23] No reasons were officially given, but many pundits suspected head coach Bob Cousy was jealous of all the attention Robertson was getting. This is just one of these examples. Omissions? The team went 31-1 in 1955 and 31-0 in 1956 (including a state-record 45 straight victories) and took state titles both years. That year was a historic year for basketball and Robertson who was the NBA Player Association president. Oscar Robertson Net Worth | Bio, Family, Address, Career On December 18, 1964, Robertson recorded a career-high 56 points on 17-for-33 shooting from the field, to go along with 9 rebounds and 12 assists in a 111107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. The Royals progressed to the Eastern Conference finals but were defeated by the Boston Celtics. Oscar Robertson | National Portrait Gallery Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. His achievement has been built on a foundation of hard effort. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The couple has three children. Character Family. [28], After his retirement, the Kansas City Kings (the Royals moved there while Robertson was with the Bucks) retired his No. [27] His trademark expressions were, "Oh, my!" But city leaders were uneasy about how the teams celebration might take shape. [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. We encourage you to research and examine these records . [11], Robertson had many outstanding individual game performances, including 10 triple-doubles. [25] In his eighties, he still follows basketball on TV and attends most home games for the University of Cincinnati, his alma mater. Top 10 Interesting Facts about Oscar Robertson NBA family congratulates Westbrook for all-time feat. Heaviest Sumo Wrestler List, 25 Best 80s Tennis Players. He was able to use his size to gain position for scoring and rebounding. Oscar found Yvonne to be gorgeous and a talented pianist. 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. Robertson grew up in poverty in Indianapolis, the son of sharecroppers and the grandson of enslaved people, with a family that couldn't afford a basketball. Carving his name into NBA history. Oscar Robertson Stats, News, Bio | ESPN It was rumoured that Bob Cousy was jealous of Robertson and thus the Royals decided to transfer him. [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. Prior to the amendment, free agency was non-existent and basketball franchises owned players which forbade them from discussing with another franchise as long as they had a contract with the franchise. Robertsons on-court brilliance, and the off-court racism to which he was subjected, continued at the University of Cincinnati. 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. The Bucks were matched up against a Boston Celtics team powered by an inspired Dave Cowens, and the Bucks lost in seven games. Interview with Oscar Robertson [32], In 2015, Robertson was among a group of investors that placed a marijuana legalization initiative on the Ohio ballot. ", Oscar Robertson and wife Yvonne Crittenden at Tony La Russa's 2nd annual Leaders & Legends gala for Animal Rescue Foundation on November 22, 2013 | Photo: Getty Images. There is no more complete player than Oscar.. $69.99. [2], On the hardwood, the veteran Robertson still proved he was a valuable player. [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. 12-time NBA All-Star, Oscar "The Big O" Robertson is married to his wife of 59 years, school teacher Yvonne Crittenden. ESPN Classic - Oscar defined the triple-double Oscar Robertson Listed His 5 Favorite NBA Players of All Time, and Oscar Robertson, nicknamed the "Big O," is a retired professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks. This town of Robertson's birth, in 1938, would have been idyllic were life there more practical for his family. 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. Robertson stayed with the Bucks from 1970 to 1974, before retiring at 35 years old. [2] After his graduation that year, Robertson enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. 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. Rather than engaging in baseball which several kids of his time did, he had to settle with basketball which was believed to be a poor kid game. It would only take until Robertsons second year for him to achieve true stardom. Before the 1969-70 season, near the end of Robertsons peak as a player, the Royals brought in Cousy as head coach. There will never be another player like the 'Big Dipper', who changed the game with his strength, athleticism and skill. 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. No one, however, may match Robertsons overall greatness. With Twyman continuing to put up big numbers, Cincinnati battled past the Syracuse Nationals in the division semifinals. His playing career was active from 1960 until 1974. The Big O had single-handedly redefined the role of the basketball guard, laying the foundation for players such as Magic Johnson. His team won the NBA title in his first season there and dominated the entire season. [1] The averages for his first five NBA seasons are a triple-double: 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game. Each item sold between $50,000 and $91,000. Robertson also ended Cousys eight-year string of regular-season assists titles by leading the league with 9.7 per game. In the 1960 NBA Draft, Oscar Robertson was selected by the Cincinnati Royals as a territorial pick. The official scoring and assist titles went to other players that season because the NBA based the titles on point and assist totals (not averages) prior to the 196970 season; during his career, Robertson won a total of six NBA assist titles. . The team, described as the greatest assemblage of basketball talent ever at that point, steamrolled the competition to win the gold medal. A host of former NBA players - current and former - including Oscar Robertson himself, congratulated Russell Westbrook on passing the all-time . Oscar Robertson 2018-19 Panini Prizm #125 vs Jerry West Choice Blue Green Yellow. Childhood And Early Life American basketball great Oscar Robertson was born on the 24 November 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee. Throughout the decade Robertson averaged at least 25 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. From 1960 to 1968 Robertson was the only player other than Chamberlain or Russell to win the MVP Award. Oscar became involved in philanthropic and social work, especially concerning improving living conditions for African Americans. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. Few players in basketball history have rivaled the talent and versatility of the NBA All-Star known to fans as "The Big O." Averaging upwards of twenty-five points per game during fourteen stellar seasons with the Cincinnati Royals (1960-70) and the Milwaukee Bucks (1970-74), Oscar Robertson . Oscar Robertson - Wikipedia Yvonne Crittenden: Fact About Oscar Robertson's Wife If you have concerns about something that doesnt look right in this Oscar Robertson Biography, Facts, Childhood, Career, Life, please dont hesitate to contact us. [18] The Royals earned a berth to the 1962 NBA playoffs; however, they were eliminated in the first round by the Detroit Pistons. In 1960 he won a gold medal in Rome as a member of the U.S. Olympic team. Los Angeles Lakers. When he was approximately 18 months old, his parents moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he grew up in a segregated housing project. Robertson also owns the chemical company Orchem, based in Cincinnati, Ohio.[45]. As a result of his accomplishment and performance in his senior year he was named the 1956 Mr. Basketball. 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. Robertson was a broadcaster for CBS for the 1974-75 season. He is the son of Bailey Robertson (father) and Mazell Robertson (mother). Though, he is 6 5 in feet and inches and 196 cm in Centimetres tall, he weighs about 205 . 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. For seven games, the former Celtics point guard partnered with Robertson in the Royals' backcourt, but they missed the playoffs. Oscar Robertson averaged 30 points or more in six seasons and was considered the first big guard, averaging 7.5 rebounds for his career. Oscar Robertson: African American basketball legend The partnership worked out really well as in his first season with the Bucks, Robertson and Alcindor led the Bucks to the 1971 NBA Finals where they defeated the Baltimore Bullets to claim the Championship. Robertson was the son of Mazell Bell Robertson and Bailey Robertson, Sr. 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.