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David Robinson

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David Maurice Robinson is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He is widely considered one of the greatest centers in the history of both college and professional basketball. A center is a player who usually plays near the basket to defend and score. Robinson spent his entire 14-year professional career with the San Antonio Spurs franchise. He is now a minority owner of that same team. Because of his service in the U.S. Navy, he earned the nickname "the Admiral."

David Robinson spurs (cropped)
David Robinson spurs (cropped)

Robinson's path to the NBA was unique because of his military obligations. He grew significantly during his senior year of high school, reaching a height of 7 feet 1 inch. He attended the United States Naval Academy to major in mathematics. While there, he became the best player in the academy's history. He won the Naismith and Wooden Awards, which are two of the most prestigious honors in college basketball. Although the San Antonio Spurs selected him as the first overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, he could not play immediately. He had to fulfill his active-duty obligation with the Navy first.

Midshipman David Robinson in 1986
Midshipman David Robinson in 1986

During his military service, Robinson served as a civil engineering officer. He was stationed at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia. His height actually presented a challenge for his naval career. The academy had a height restriction for midshipmen, and his growth eventually prevented him from serving on U.S. Navy ships. To resolve this, the Secretary of the Navy allowed him to train as a staff officer in the Civil Engineer Corps. This allowed him to receive a commission in the Naval Reserve. He served an initial two-year active-duty term before joining the NBA in 1989.

Robinson's professional career began with an incredible impact on the San Antonio Spurs. In the 1989–90 season, he led the team to a 35-game improvement in their record. The team went from a 21–61 record to a 56–26 record. This was the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history at that time. For his performance, he was unanimously named the NBA Rookie of the Year. Robinson was a dominant force on both ends of the court. He was known for his speed, ball-handling, and his ability to block shots. He was also a left-handed player with a strong midrange jumpshot.

Throughout the 1990s, Robinson achieved many individual milestones. In the 1991–92 season, he led the league in blocks and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. During the 1993–94 season, he won the NBA scoring title. In one game against the Los Angeles Clippers, he scored 71 points, which broke the franchise record of 63. He also won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy in 1995. Robinson is part of a very small group of players to score over 20,000 career points. He is also one of only four players to record a quadruple-double, which includes 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks in a single game.

David Robinson 1992 Summer Olympics
David Robinson 1992 Summer Olympics

Robinson also achieved massive success on the international stage. He was a member of the 1992 United States Olympic "Dream Team" in Barcelona, which won a gold medal. He won a second Olympic gold medal in 1996. His greatness led to many honors from various organizations. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 for his individual career. He was also inducted in 2010 as a member of the 1992 Dream Team. Furthermore, he was named to both the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and the 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

David Robinson 13636-0427
David Robinson 13636-0427

In the later part of his career, Robinson found championship success with teammate Tim Duncan. The two players were nicknamed "The Twin Towers." They led the Spurs to an NBA championship in 1999 after a season that included a 202-day lockout. They won another championship in 2003, which was Robinson's final season. In his career finale on June 15, 2003, the Spurs defeated the New Jersey Nets to win the title. Robinson finished his career with 987 games played. Beyond sports, Robinson has focused on education, earning a Master of Arts in Administration to understand how businesses work.

David Robinson spurs (cropped)
David Robinson spurs (cropped)
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File:Midshipman David Robinson in 1986.jpg
Midshipman David Robinson in 1986.jpg
File:David Robinson spurs (cropped).jpg
David Robinson spurs (cropped).jpg
File:David Robinson 1992 Summer Olympics.jpg
David Robinson 1992 Summer Olympics.jpg
File:David Robinson 13636-0427.jpg
David Robinson 13636-0427.jpg
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