Cliff Robinson (basketball, born 1966)

Cliff Robinson
Personal information
Born (1966-12-16) December 16, 1966
Buffalo, New York
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight 225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school Riverside (Buffalo, New York)
College Connecticut (1985–1989)
NBA draft 1989 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36th overall
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Playing career 1989–2007
Position Forward / Center
Number 3, 30
Career history
1989–1997 Portland Trail Blazers
1997–2001 Phoenix Suns
2001–2003 Detroit Pistons
2003–2005 Golden State Warriors
2005–2007 New Jersey Nets
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points 19,591 (14.6 ppg)
Rebounds 6,306 (4.6 rpg)
Assists 3,094 (2.2 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Clifford Ralph "Cliff" Robinson (born December 16, 1966) is an American retired professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Selected 36th overall in the 1989 draft, he played the first 8 seasons of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, followed by stints with the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets. Robinson received the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1993 and was selected as an All-Star in 1994. Robinson played college basketball at the University of Connecticut.

College career

Robinson played four seasons at UConn beginning in 1985.[1] In 1988, the Huskies won the NIT Championship and Robinson was named to the all-tournament team.[2] Robinson was later named to UConn's All-Century men's Basketball team.[2] On February 5, 2007, Robinson's number "00" was retired at Gampel Pavilion during halftime of a UConn basketball game against Syracuse as part of the "Huskies of Honor" ceremony which recognized personal accomplishments of 13 former players and three coaches.[2]

Professional career

Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1997)

Robinson was selected with the 36th overall pick (2nd round) in the 1989 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Robinson played for the Trail Blazers for eight seasons. Portland made the playoffs each year Robinson was on the team, and played in the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. Robinson won the 1992–93 Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and a career-best 1.99 blocks per game.[3][4] He was an All Star with the team in 1994.[4] 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".[5] The nickname stuck with Robinson for the rest of his career.[6] Following a game against the Golden State Warriors on February 22, 1995, Robinson would be forced to end his 461 iron man streak of consecutive games played for which he started his career.[7] This streak stands as a franchise record for the Trail Blazers.[8]

Phoenix Suns (1997–2001)

Robinson signed with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent on August 25, 1997,[4] 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.[4] He became the oldest player at 33 years of age and two months to register his first 50-point game.[4]

Detroit Pistons (2001–2003)

Robinson was traded to the Detroit Pistons on June 29, 2001 in exchange for Jud Buechler and John Wallace.[4]

Golden State Warriors (2003–2005)

Robinson was traded to the Golden State Warriors on August 21, 2003, along with Pepe Sánchez, in exchange for Bob Sura.[4] Although he played all 82 games during the regular season, it would be the first season in his career where he would not participate in the NBA playoffs.[9]

New Jersey Nets (2005–2007)

On February 14, 2005, Golden State traded Robinson to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for two second-round draft picks.[4] He was released by the Nets in July 2007.[10] Robinson then retired.[11]

Suspensions

Robinson was arrested for marijuana possession and driving under the influence in February 2001 and received a one-game suspension.[12] Robinson was also suspended five games in February 2005 while playing for Golden State, and was suspended for five games during the NBA playoffs on May 12, 2006 for violating terms of the league's drug policy for the second time in two seasons.[13][14]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games 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

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1989–90 Portland 82019.1.397.273.5503.8.9.6.69.1
1990–91 Portland 821123.7.463.316.6534.31.81.0.911.7
1991–92 Portland 82725.9.466.091.6645.11.71.01.312.4
1992–93 Portland 821231.4.473.247.6906.62.21.22.019.1
1993–94 Portland 826434.8.457.245.7656.71.91.41.420.1
1994–95 Portland 757336.3.452.371.6945.62.61.11.121.3
1995–96 Portland 787638.2.423.378.6645.72.41.1.921.1
1996–97 Portland 817938.0.426.346.6964.03.21.2.815.1
1997–98 Phoenix 806429.5.479.321.6895.12.11.21.114.2
1998–99 Phoenix 503534.8.475.417.6974.52.61.51.216.4
1999–00 Phoenix 806735.5.464.370.7824.52.81.1.818.5
2000–01 Phoenix 828233.5.422.361.7094.12.91.11.016.4
2001–02 Detroit 808035.7.425.378.6944.82.51.11.214.6
2002–03 Detroit 816934.9.398.336.6763.93.31.11.112.2
2003–04 Golden State 828234.7.387.357.7114.13.3.9.912.2
2004–05 Golden State 422926.0.398.331.6032.71.81.0.98.5
2004–05 New Jersey 29020.7.361.379.6923.31.0.6.56.0
2005–06 New Jersey 801323.3.427.343.6583.31.1.6.56.9
2006–07 New Jersey 50119.1.372.379.4442.41.0.2.54.1
Career 138084430.8.438.356.6894.62.21.01.014.2
All-Star 1018.0.625.000–2.05.01.0.010.0

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1990 Portland 21618.6.358.000.5584.11.1.91.16.5
1991 Portland 16022.1.538.333.5513.91.1.41.010.3
1992 Portland 21024.9.462.167.5714.22.01.01.010.8
1993 Portland 4032.8.262.000.4094.31.51.51.810.3
1994 Portland 4437.3.412.222.8756.32.5.81.516.3
1995 Portland 3339.7.362.235.5636.32.7.7.315.7
1996 Portland 5536.2.344.261.7573.61.61.41.015.2
1997 Portland 4440.3.362.188.6886.83.0.51.012.0
1998 Phoenix 4423.0.273.000.7783.0.8.8.56.3
1999 Phoenix 3339.0.475.222.6365.32.72.0.315.7
2000 Phoenix 9937.0.386.325.7336.02.11.2.817.6
2001 Phoenix 4428.5.420.250.6364.01.01.5.515.0
2002 Detroit 101040.9.363.340.8003.02.91.81.913.2
2003 Detroit 171730.8.358.373.5952.72.9.9.89.3
2005 New Jersey 4017.8.407.2861.0002.51.3.8.37.0
2006 New Jersey 8024.8.333.316.8003.3.61.1.44.5
2007 New Jersey 405.0.167.500.0.0.0.3.0.8
Career 1416927.6.393.298.6293.91.81.0.910.3

Retrospective

Robinson holds career NBA numbers of 14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.05 steals and 1.03 blocks. His 1,380 games played are the 8th most all time in the NBA.[15] and second among players eligible for the 2015 Basketball Hall of Fame (after Kevin Willis).[16][17] At the end of the 2013–14 NBA season, his 42,561 minutes played in the NBA ranked him 19th among all players,[18] 14th among retired players,[19] and first among players eligible for the 2016 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame.[20]

Robinson was one of only two players drafted in the 1980s that was still active in the league in 2007, with the other being Kevin Willis.[10] He played in the NBA Playoffs in all but one of his 18 seasons in the league, with his 2003–04 campaign with the Golden State Warriors being the exception.[9] As of the 2014 NBA Playoffs, his 141 games rank him 16th among inactive players not yet in the Hall of Fame, although he had a low .393 field goal percentage (compared to .438 during the regular season)[21] and 2.1 Win Shares in those games.[22]

At 6'10", he was the tallest player to make more than 1,000 three-pointers until he was surpassed by Dirk Nowitzki and Rashard Lewis;[23] Robinson made 1,253 threes in his career. Among players qualified for the 2015 Class of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Robinson ranks fifth among all players for field goals made[24] and first among those 6'10" or taller.[25]

Survivor

Robinson was a contestant on the 28th installment of the American reality television series, Survivor. The theme for the season was Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty, and Robinson was placed on the "Brawn" tribe, Aparri. Although he did not initially plan to reveal his identity, he was recognized by Yung "Woo" Hwang, who admitted to being a fan of Robinson. Once his identity was revealed, he did not attempt to cover it up. After a tribe swap, Trish Hegarty revealed her strong distaste for Robinson and convinced fellow tribemate Tony Vlachos to vote with her to eliminate him. He was the fifth contestant of the season to be voted out, finishing in 14th place, while Vlachos went on to win the season and Hwang was the runner-up.

Trip to North Korea

In 2014, Robinson was named to a team assembled by Dennis Rodman as part of his "basketball diplomacy" effort in North Korea with the job of playing an exhibition match against the North Korean Senior National Team to celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong-un.[26] The team also included Kenny Anderson, Vin Baker, Craig Hodges, Doug Christie, Sleepy Floyd, Charles D. Smith and four streetballers.[27]

Cannabis

In his post-basketball life, Robinson has become an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry, selling assorted cannabis products under his "Uncle Cliffy" brand name.[14][28] Robinson is also an advocate for the legalization of cannabis, supporting efforts to reform cannabis laws in Oregon and Connecticut.[29][30] During his time in the NBA, Robinson used cannabis to help relieve pain and anxiety, and avoid the undesirable side effects caused by pharmaceutical drugs.[14][29] He partially attributes the longevity of his NBA career to his use of cannabis.[28]

Personal life

On September 21, 2003, Robinson married Heather Lufkins on the island of Barbados.[31] His son Isaiah Robinson plays basketball for the Jefferson High School Democrats in Portland.

Robinson suffered a stroke in March 2017 that paralyzed the left side of his body, but he soon recovered much of his arm and leg movement.[32] Robinson had a tumor removed from his jaw in March 2018.[33]

As of 2017, Robinson was residing in the West Hills area of Portland, Oregon.[32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Clifford Robinson". sports-reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Men's Basketball Huskies Of Honor Announced". uconnhuskies.com. December 26, 2006. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  3. ↑ Rose, Matt. "Clifford Robinson: The NBA's New Ironman". nba.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Clifford Robinson Bio Page". nba.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  5. ↑ Aldridge, David (June 12, 1992). "Dancing Robinson Shows Off Moves". The Washington Post.
  6. ↑ "24 seconds with Clifford Robinson". The Seattle Times. January 16, 2005. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Clifford Robinson 1994-95 Game Log". basketball-reference.com.
  8. ↑ Quick, Jason (April 5, 2010). "Blazers Top 40: No. 9 Cliff Robinson". The Oregonian.
  9. 1 2 "Clifford Robinson". basketball-reference.com.
  10. 1 2 "Nets release Cliff Robinson". tsn.ca. Associated Press. July 13, 2007. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007.
  11. ↑ Eggers, Kerry (September 2, 2008). "After final buzzer, Oregons still home". Portland Tribune.
  12. ↑ "Suns' Robinson legally intoxicated, tests show". CBC Sports. February 9, 2001.
  13. ↑ Eligon, John (May 13, 2006). "League Suspends Robinson 5 Games for Drug Violation". The New York Times. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 Vorkunov, Mike (February 12, 2016). "Meet Uncle Spliffy: Cliff Robinson Ventures into the Weeds". Vice Sports. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  16. ↑ "Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com.
  17. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  18. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  19. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  20. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  21. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  22. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  23. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  24. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  25. ↑ "Query results". basketball-reference.com.
  26. ↑ "Rodman's Goon Squad Goes to North Korea". The Daily Beast. January 7, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Dennis Rodman Announces "Basketball Diplomacy" For Upcoming Games In North Korea". The Florida News Journal. January 6, 2014. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  28. 1 2 Pandian, Ananth (Jul 21, 2017). "Cliff Robinson aims to 'knock down the myth that athletes and cannabis don't mix'". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  29. 1 2 Robinson, Cliff (May 16, 2017). "Cliff Robinson Endorses Oregon Senate Bill About Cannabis Consumption". High Times. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  30. ↑ Jacobs, Jeff (June 3, 2017). "UConn Great Robinson Blazing Path As Advocate For Pot Reform". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Lufkins–Robinson wed" (PDF). baymills.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 13, 2006.
  32. 1 2 Eggers, Kerry (April 30, 2017). "Robinson rebounds -- Former Trail Blazers standout survives, thrives following brain hemorrhage". Portland Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Former Blazer Cliff Robinson has tumor removed: 'It's been a tough year for me'". KATU. March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
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