Rick Roberson facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 7, 1947 Memphis, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | May 3, 2020 (aged 72) Fullerton, California |
| High school | Mitchell (Memphis, Tennessee) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 231 lb (105 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Cincinnati (1966–1969) |
| NBA Draft | 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1969–1976 |
| Career history | |
| 1969–1971 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1971–1973 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1973–1974 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1974–1975 | New Orleans Jazz |
| 1975–1976 | Kansas City Kings |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,826 (9.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,522 (8.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 591 (1.4 apg) |
Rick Roberson (born July 7, 1947 – died May 3, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for several teams. These included the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Jazz, and Kansas City Kings.
Rick was born and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He played basketball at Mitchell High School before graduating in 1965.
Contents
Rick's College Basketball Career
Rick Roberson had a chance to be the first African-American basketball player at Memphis State. However, he chose to attend the University of Cincinnati instead.
Sophomore Year: A Standout Player
In his second year, 1966–67, Rick was a key player for the Cincinnati Bearcats. He led his team in scoring with 14.3 points per game (ppg). He also led in rebounding with 12.5 rebounds per game (rpg).
On January 17, 1967, Rick achieved a special milestone called a "triple-double." This means he reached double digits in three different stats in one game. He had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots against Bradley University. No other Bearcat player would get a triple-double for 30 years after that!
Rick's 10 blocked shots in that game is still a record for Cincinnati. Two other players, including his teammate Jim Ard, later tied this record. Rick was also named All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) for his great performance.
Junior and Senior Years: Continued Success
In his junior year, 1967–68, Rick again led the Bearcats in scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (12.3 rpg). He continued to be a top player.
During his senior year, 1968–69, Rick led the team in scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (12.6 rpg) for the third year in a row. He was once again named All-MVC.
Rick Roberson is ranked fourth in Cincinnati's history for his career rebounding average (12.4 rpg). Only famous players like Oscar Robertson and Jack Twyman are ahead of him.
Rick's NBA Journey
Rick Roberson was chosen in the first round of the 1969 NBA draft. He was the 15th player picked overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also drafted by the New York Nets of the ABA.
Starting with the Los Angeles Lakers
Rick was 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 231 pounds. He played as a center or forward. In his first season, 1969–70, he helped the Lakers win the NBA Western Division. They made it to the NBA Finals but lost to the New York Knicks.
During this time, the Lakers' star player, Wilt Chamberlain, was injured. This gave Rick a lot of playing time. He played in 74 games, averaging 8.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. On February 8, 1970, he scored a career-high 26 points against the San Diego Rockets.
In his second season with the Lakers (1970–71), Wilt Chamberlain was healthy again. This meant Rick's playing time decreased. The Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Moving to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Before the 1971–72 season, Rick was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He switched from playing center to his more natural position of power forward. As a starter, he had his best season, averaging 13.1 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.
On March 22, 1972, he scored a new career-high of 29 points against his old team, the Lakers. Rick was also an amazing rebounder. On March 4, 1972, he grabbed 25 rebounds in one game! This is still a team record for the Cavaliers, tied only once in 2014 by Anderson Varejão.
In the 1972–73 season, Rick continued to play well. He averaged 12.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. He also had a career-best 2.2 assists per game. Rick was also a strong defender. No opposing center scored more than 22 points against him all season, even famous players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Time with the Portland Trail Blazers
Before the 1973–74 season, Rick was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He played in 69 games, averaging almost 30 minutes per game. He set a new career-best with 13.5 points per game, along with 10.2 rebounds.
A sports article described Rick as a key player for the Blazers. Even though he was one of the shorter centers, his quickness helped the team's defense. Rick explained that he had to be active and take risks because of his playing style. On February 12, 1974, he scored an amazing 37 points in one game against the Phoenix Suns.
Final NBA Teams
After one season in Portland, Rick was traded again to the New Orleans Jazz for the 1974–75 season. Injuries limited him to only 16 games that year.
In 1975–76, he joined the Kansas City Kings. He played in 74 games, but his playing time was much less. This seventh season was his last in the NBA.
Over his seven seasons in the NBA, Rick Roberson averaged 9.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He played in 423 games, showing his skill and dedication on the court.
See also
In Spanish: Rick Roberson para niños
