Clifford R. Robinson

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Clifford Robinson
Position Forward/Center
Height ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Weight 240 lb (110 kg)
League NBA
Born December 16, 1966 (1966-12-16) (age 41)
Buffalo, New York
Nationality American
College UConn
Draft 2nd round, 36th overall, 1989
Portland Trail Blazers
Pro career 1989–2007
Former teams Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1997)
Phoenix Suns (1997–2001)
Detroit Pistons (2001–2003)
Golden State Warriors (2003–2005)
New Jersey Nets (2005–2007)
Awards 1992-93 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Official profile Info Page

Clifford Ralph Robinson (referred to as Clifford (or Cliff) Robinson) (born December 16, 1966, in Buffalo, New York) is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the National Basketball Association.

Contents

[edit] Basketball career

Robinson played collegiately at the University of Connecticut, and was selected with the 36th overall pick (2nd round) in the 1989 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.

[edit] Portland Trail Blazers

Robinson played for the Trail Blazers for eight seasons. With him, Clyde Drexler, and Terry Porter (who left in 1995), Portland made the playoffs all eight seasons, including two trips to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, in which they lost to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls respectively. He won the 1992-93 Sixth Man of the Year Award[1] after averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and a career-best 1.99 blocks per game.[2] He was an All-Star with the team in 1994.[2] Following game 4 of the 1992 Western Conference Finals against the Utah Jazz, Robinson performed a victory dance that he later told press was named the "Uncle Cliffy."[1] The nickname stuck with Robinson for the rest of his career. [2]

[edit] Phoenix Suns

Robinson signed with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent on August 25, 1997,[2] where he remained for four more seasons. The highlight of his tenure with the Suns was registering a career-best 50 points against the Denver Nuggets on January 16, 2000.[2] He became the oldest player at 33 years of age and two months to register his first 50-point game.[2]

[edit] Detroit Pistons

Robinson was traded to the Detroit Pistons on June 29, 2001 in exchange for Jud Buechler and John Wallace.[2]

[edit] Golden State Warriors

Robinson was traded to the Golden State Warriors on August 21, 2003, along with Pepe Sanchez, in exchange for Bob Sura.[2]

[edit] New Jersey Nets

On February 14, 2005 Golden State traded Robinson to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for two second-round draft picks.[2] He was released by the Nets in July 2007.[3]

[edit] Career highlights

Robinson holds career numbers of 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.05 steals and 1.03 blocks in 1,330 games.

Robinson was currently one of only two players drafted in the 1980s still active in the league in 2007,[3] with the other being Kevin Willis. At 6'10", he is the tallest player to make more than 1,000 three-pointers; he has made 1,228 threes as of the conclusion of the 2005-06 season and currently ranks 16th all-time in career three-point field goals made. He has played in 1,330 career games which ranks him 7th in NBA history while his 19,591 career points is 33rd best all-time. On August 11, 2006, the New Jersey Nets re-signed Robinson to a contract extension to start his 18th year in the league. At age 40, he is the third-oldest player in the league (only Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo and Dallas Mavericks center Kevin Willis were born earlier).

On February 5, 2007, Robinson's number "00" was retired at Gampel Pavilion on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, Connecticut during halftime of the basketball game against the Syracuse Orange as part of the "Huskies of Honor" ceremony which recognized personal accomplishments of 13 former players and 3 coaches.[4]

[edit] Suspension

Clifford Robinson was arrested for marijuana possession and driving under the influence in February of 2001 and received a one-game suspension. Robinson was suspended for five games on May 12, 2006 for violating terms of the league's drug policy for the second time in two seasons. Robinson was also suspended five games in February 2005 while playing for Golden State. Under terms of current collective bargaining agreement, a player would be suspended five games for a third positive test for marijuana.

[edit] Trivia

  • He was one of three Robinsons that the Portland Trailblazers had in the line-up in the 1995-96 NBA Season. The others being James Robinson and Rumeal Robinson.

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Detlef Schrempf
NBA Sixth Man of the Year
1993
Succeeded by
Dell Curry