Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed "The Big O", is a retired American National Basketball Association player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks. The 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), 220 lb (100 kg) Robertson played the shooting guard/point guard position, and was a 12-time All-Star, 11-time member of the All-NBA Team, and one-time winner of the MVP award in 14 professional seasons. He is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season. He was a key player on the team which brought the Bucks their only NBA title in the 1970–71 NBA season. His playing career, especially during high school and college, was plagued by racism.Robertson is a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, having been inducted in 1980 for his individual career, and in 2010 as a member of the 1960 United States men's Olympic basketball team. He also was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. The United States Basketball Writers Association renamed their college Player of the Year Award the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor in 1998, and he was one of five people chosen to represent the inaugural National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame class in 2006. He was ranked as the 36th best American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, just behind the horse Secretariat.Robertson was also an integral part of the Oscar Robertson suit of 1970. The landmark NBA antitrust suit, named after the then-president of the NBA Players' Association, led to an extensive reform of the league's strict free agency and draft rules and, subsequently, to higher salaries for all players.
University of Cincinnati, Crispus Attucks High School
Nationality
American
Spouse
Yvonne Crittenden
Children
Shana Yvonne Robertson, Mari Robertson, Tia Elaine Robertson
Parents
Bailey Robertson, Mazell Robertson
Siblings
Henry Robertson, Bailey Robertson, Jr.
Awards
NBA Most Valuable Player Award, All-NBA Team, NBA Rookie of the Year Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, FIBA Hall of Fame, Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, Indiana Mr. Basketball, UPI College Basketball Player of the Year, Helms Fou...
Movies
Basketball Man
Star Sign
Sagittarius
#
Fact
1
Donated a kidney to his daughter, Tia, who had suffered kidney failure as a result of lupus. (10 April 1997)
2
Believes the NBA blackballed him for his days as a players' union leader, keeping him from league jobs long after his pro career ended in 1975.
3
U.S. team member for the 1959 Pan-american games and 1960 Olympic Games (where he won a gold medal for both).
4
Robertson changed the nature of the point guard from "floor general" and passer to offensive force.
5
Played for the University of Cincinnati (1956-1960), where he was a three-year letter winner. The Sporting News College Player of the Year (1958, 1959, 1960). The Sporting News All-America First Team (1958, 1959, 1960). Look Magazine All-America (1958).
6
Played for the Cincinnati Royals (1960-1970) and Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974). Rookie of the Year (1961). MVP (1964). All-NBA First Team (1961-1969). Twelve-time All-Star (1961-1972). Three time All-Star MVP (1961, 1964 and 1969).
7
NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980).
8
Enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.
9
Named the No. 36 athlete of the 20th century according to an ESPN poll. His numbers have been retired by his college and NBA teams: 12 (University of Cincinnati), 14 (Cincinnati Royals/Sacramento Kings), and 1 (Milwaukee Bucks). [1999]
10
Named one of the 50 greatest NBA players ever. [1997]