Oscar Robertson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Oscar Robertson

Robertson in 2024
Personal information
Born	(1938-11-24) November 24, 1938 (age 86) Charlotte, Tennessee, U.S.
High school	Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College	Cincinnati (1957–1960)
NBA Draft	1960 / Pick: territorial pick
Selected by the Cincinnati Royals
Pro career	1960–1974
Career history
1960–1970	Cincinnati Royals
1970–1974	Milwaukee Bucks
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (1971) NBA Most Valuable Player (1964) 12× NBA All-Star (1961–1972) 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1961, 1964, 1969) 9× All-NBA First Team (1961–1969) 2× All-NBA Second Team (1970, 1971) NBA Rookie of the Year (1961) 6× NBA assists leader (1961, 1962, 1964–1966, 1969) NBA anniversary team (35th, 50th, 75th) No. 14 retired by Sacramento Kings No. 1 retired by Milwaukee Bucks 2× Helms College Player of the Year (1959, 1960) 3× UPI College Player of the Year (1958–1960) 2× USBWA College Player of the Year (1959, 1960) 3× Sporting News College Player of the Year (1958–1960) 3× Consensus first-team All-American (1958–1960) 3× NCAA scoring champion (1958–1960) 3× First-team All-MVC (1958–1960) No. 12 retired by Cincinnati Bearcats Mr. Basketball USA (1956)
Career NBA statistics
Points	26,710 (25.7 ppg)
Rebounds	7,804 (7.5 rpg)
Assists	9,887 (9.5 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1960 Rome National Team Pan American Games Gold 1959 Chicago National Team

Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), often called "the Big O", is a famous American former professional basketball player. He played as a point guard for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Robertson was a 12-time All-Star and won the MVP award once during his 14 seasons.

In the 1962 season, he made history. He was the first player in the NBA to average a triple-double for an entire season. This means he averaged double-digits in points, rebounds, and assists. Only one other player, Russell Westbrook, has done this since. In the 1970–71 NBA season, he helped the Milwaukee Bucks win their first NBA championship. His journey in basketball, especially in high school and college, was tough because of racism.

Robertson is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice. First, for his amazing playing career in 1980. Second, in 2010, as part of the 1960 United States men's Olympic basketball team. He was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. In 1998, the award for the best college player was renamed the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor. He was also part of the first group of players chosen for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Robertson also played a big part off the court. As president of the National Basketball Players Association, he helped change the rules for players. This led to players having more freedom to choose their teams and earn higher salaries. He was also inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2009.

Early Life and Challenges

Oscar Robertson was born in Charlotte, Tennessee, and grew up in poverty. When he was about 18 months old, his family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. There, he lived in a segregated housing project. He loved basketball more than baseball, which was popular then. He learned to shoot by throwing tennis balls and rags into a peach basket at home.

High School Basketball Star

Robertson went to Crispus Attucks High School, which was an all-black school. His coach, Ray Crowe, taught him strong basketball basics. In 1954, as a sophomore, his team almost won the state championship. They lost to Milan, a story that inspired the movie Hoosiers.

When Robertson was a junior, his team was incredible. They won 31 games and lost only one, winning the 1955 state championship. This was the first time an all-black school won a state title. It was also the first state championship for an Indianapolis team. In 1956, his team had a perfect season, winning all 31 games. They won a second straight state championship, setting a record of 45 straight victories.

After their wins, the team had a parade, but they were taken to a park outside downtown for their celebration. Other teams celebrated in the city center. Robertson later said officials worried about how people would react to a black team celebrating downtown. In his final high school year, he scored 24 points per game. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 1956. After high school, Robertson went to the University of Cincinnati.

College Years at Cincinnati

Robertson as a senior at Cincinnati

Robertson continued to shine at the University of Cincinnati. He averaged 33.8 points per game, one of the highest in college history. In each of his three years, he was the national scoring leader. He was also named an All-American and College Player of the Year every year. He set 14 NCAA and 19 school records.

Robertson's amazing play led the Bearcats to a 79–9 record. They reached the Final Four twice, but never won a championship. This was a pattern that would follow him for a while. When he left college, he was the all-time leading NCAA scorer. His record stood until 1970. Cincinnati became famous in basketball because of him.

Despite his success, Robertson faced racism in college. Many Southern universities did not recruit black athletes. Road trips to segregated cities were hard. He often had to sleep in college dorms instead of hotels. Years later, he said he would "never forgive them" for these experiences. In 1998, the award for the best college player was renamed the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor.

Olympic Gold Medalist

After college, Robertson was a co-captain for the 1960 United States men's Olympic basketball team. This team played at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Many people called this team the best basketball team ever assembled at that time. They easily won the gold medal. Robertson played as a starting forward and also as a point guard. He was the team's top scorer. The U.S. team won all nine of its games by a huge margin. Ten of the twelve college players on the team later played in the NBA.

Professional Career: The Big O in the NBA

Playing for the Cincinnati Royals

Robertson during his days with the Cincinnati Royals

In 1960, the Cincinnati Royals chose Oscar Robertson in the NBA draft. He received a $33,000 signing bonus. In his first NBA game, Robertson scored 21 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and made 10 assists. In his rookie season, he averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists. He almost averaged a triple-double for the whole season! He was named NBA Rookie of the Year. He was also chosen for the All-NBA First Team for nine seasons in a row. He made the first of his 12 straight All-Star Game appearances. He was even named the 1961 NBA All-Star Game MVP. However, the Royals were not a very strong team.

In the 1961–62 season, Robertson made history. He became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a full season. He averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists. He also set a record with 41 triple-doubles that season. This record stood for over 50 years until Russell Westbrook broke it. The Royals made it to the 1962 NBA playoffs, but they lost in the first round.

Robertson in 1966

In the 1963–64 season, the Royals had a great record of 55 wins and 25 losses. Robertson played even better under his new coach. He led the NBA in free-throw percentage. He scored a career-high 31.4 points per game. He also averaged 9.9 rebounds and 11.0 assists. He won the NBA MVP award that year. He was one of only three players to win MVP between 1960 and 1968. Robertson also won his second All-Star Game MVP award. In the 1964 NBA playoffs, the Royals won one series but then lost to the Boston Celtics.

For his first five seasons, Robertson averaged a triple-double. He had averages of 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 10.6 assists per game. After 1965, the Royals struggled. Even though Robertson played great, the team kept losing early in the playoffs or missing them entirely. In the 1969–70 NBA season, the team was not doing well. The coach, Bob Cousy, even played a few games to try and help. But they still missed the playoffs.

Joining the Milwaukee Bucks

Robertson as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks

Before the 1970–71 season, the Royals traded Robertson to the Milwaukee Bucks. Many people were surprised by this trade. Some thought the coach was jealous of Robertson's fame. Robertson himself said he would "never forget it."

This trade was very good for Robertson. After years on a struggling team, he now joined a young star named Lew Alcindor. Alcindor later became known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. With Alcindor scoring inside and Robertson leading the offense, the Bucks became a powerhouse. They had the best record in the league, winning 66 games and losing only 16. They also had a 20-game winning streak. In the 1971 NBA playoffs, they dominated, winning 12 games and losing only 2. They won the NBA title by sweeping the Baltimore Bullets 4–0 in the 1971 NBA Finals. For the first time in his career, Robertson was an NBA champion.

Robertson also made a huge impact off the court. As the president of the National Basketball Players Association, he led a lawsuit called the Oscar Robertson suit. This lawsuit helped change the rules for players in the NBA. It delayed the merger between the NBA and the American Basketball Association until 1976. More importantly, it changed how players could become free agents and how the draft worked. Before this, teams basically owned their players. Players could not talk to other teams when their contracts ended. The lawsuit helped players gain more freedom and led to higher salaries for everyone.

Robertson continued to be a valuable player for the Bucks. He and Abdul-Jabbar helped the team win two more division titles. In Robertson's last season, he helped Milwaukee reach the 1974 NBA Finals. He had a chance to win a second championship. But the Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. After Robertson retired, the Bucks struggled. This showed how important he was to the team.

After Playing Basketball

Robertson in 2010

After retiring as a player, Robertson worked to improve life in his hometown of Indianapolis. He especially focused on helping African-American communities. He also worked as a TV commentator for basketball games. He was known for his excited reactions to amazing plays.

His old teams honored him. The Kansas City Kings (who used to be the Cincinnati Royals) retired his No. 14 jersey. The Milwaukee Bucks retired the No. 1 jersey he wore for them. In 1994, a nine-foot bronze statue of Robertson was put up at the University of Cincinnati. He often attends games there. In 2006, the statue was moved to a new spot at the university.

In 2006, Robertson was chosen for the first class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was one of only five people chosen, along with legends like John Wooden and Bill Russell. In 2011, he joined a lawsuit against the NCAA. This lawsuit challenged the NCAA's use of images of former college athletes.

Oscar Robertson's Legacy

Robertson is seen as one of the greatest players in NBA history. He was a "triple threat" who could score from anywhere, rebound, and pass the ball incredibly well. His rookie scoring average was one of the highest ever. He averaged over 30 points per game in six of his first seven seasons. Only a few other players have done this.

Robertson was the first player to average more than 10 assists per game. This was at a time when it was harder to get an assist recorded. He was also the first guard to average more than 10 rebounds per game, doing it three times. This was a rare feat until Russell Westbrook did it much later. Besides his 1964 MVP award, Robertson won three All-Star Game MVP awards. He finished his career with 26,710 points, 9,887 assists, and 7,804 rebounds. When he retired, he was the NBA's all-time leader in assists and free throws made. He was also the second all-time leading scorer.

Robertson was also known for his versatility. If you look at his first five NBA seasons together, he averaged a triple-double over that entire period. He had 181 triple-doubles in his career. This record stood for decades until Westbrook broke it. These numbers are even more impressive because the three-point shot did not exist when he played. In the 1967–68 season, he was the first player to lead the league in both scoring and assists per game.

Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, Robertson is known as the first "big guard." He opened the way for other tall guards like Magic Johnson. He is also credited with inventing the "head fake" and the "fadeaway jump shot." Michael Jordan later became famous for using the fadeaway shot. For the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings), he is the all-time leader in points and assists.

Robertson at the ceremony announcing inclusion in the Old National Bank Sports Legends Avenue of Champions at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Robertson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980. He was also named to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980 and the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996. In 2000, he received the "Player of the Century" award. In 2006, ESPN named him the second greatest point guard of all time. In 2017, a life-sized bronze sculpture of Robertson was added to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. In 2021, he was honored as one of the greatest players of all time on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

In 1998, the award for the best college basketball player was renamed the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor. This was because of his amazing career and his continued efforts to promote basketball. In 2022, the NBA renamed its Western Conference championship trophy after Robertson.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal Life and Contributions

Oscar Robertson is the son of Mazell and Bailey Robertson. He has two brothers, Bailey Jr. and Henry. He remembers a difficult childhood with poverty and racism. In 1997, Robertson bravely donated one of his kidneys to his daughter, Tia. She had lupus and needed a new kidney. Since then, he has been an honorary spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation. In 2003, he wrote his autobiography, The Big O: My Life, My Times, My Game. Robertson also owns a chemical company called Orchem in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He still loves basketball and watches games on TV. He also attends most home games for the University of Cincinnati. His main hobby is woodworking. In 2007, the University of Cincinnati gave him an honorary doctorate. This was for his good work in helping others and his business efforts. In 2018, Robertson auctioned off some of his valuable items. These included his 1971 championship ring and his Hall of Fame ring.

See also

In Spanish: Oscar Robertson para niños

• List of NBA career scoring leaders
• List of NBA career assists leaders
• List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders
• List of NBA career minutes played leaders
• List of NBA career playoff assists leaders
• List of NBA career playoff triple-double leaders
• List of NBA annual minutes leaders
• List of NBA franchise career scoring leaders
• List of NBA longest winning streaks
• List of NBA single-game assists leaders
• List of NBA rookie single-season scoring leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career free throw scoring leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 60 or more points in a game
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season scoring leaders