Robert Vaden (basketball) facts for kids

Robert Anthony Vaden (born March 3, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a shooting guard or small forward. Robert played for the Erie BayHawks in the NBA Development League. Before turning pro, he played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers and the UAB Blazers. He spent two years with each team.

After college, the Charlotte Bobcats picked him in the 2009 NBA draft. He was the 54th player chosen. His draft rights were then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the Thunder did not sign him to a contract. So, Robert went on to play basketball in Italy, Slovakia, and the NBA Development League. He played for the Tulsa 66ers, which was linked to the Thunder.

Robert Vaden's High School Basketball Journey

Robert Vaden went to three different high schools. He attended Cathedral High School and Pike High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also went to Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine.

During his senior year at Bridgton Academy, Robert was a star player. He scored about 26 points and grabbed 8 rebounds per game. He helped his team achieve an impressive 27–7 record.

He started his high school career at Cathedral for his freshman and sophomore years. Later, he moved to Pike High School for his junior year. At Pike, he led the Red Devils to a perfect 29–0 record. They also won the Indiana Class 4A state championship. In that season, he averaged 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

Experts at Rivals.com thought Robert was a top player. In 2004, they ranked him as the 8th best small forward. He was also the 38th best player in the entire nation.

Robert Vaden's College Basketball Career

Robert Vaden started his college journey at Indiana University. He was a starter in every game during his first two years there.

Playing for the Indiana Hoosiers

In his first year, Robert played the most minutes for the Hoosiers. He was also great at free throws, making 80.3% of them. He led the team in steals per game, ranking fifth in the Big Ten conference. He was the third-highest scorer and rebounder for his team.

In his second year, Robert became one of the best players in the Big Ten. He was second on his team in scoring and rebounding. He also led the team in assists and steals. He had an amazing streak where he made 12 three-pointers in a row over three games. This was close to the NCAA record. He also set an Indiana University record for three-point percentage in one game. He made all 6 of his three-pointers against Ball State on December 31, 2005.

A big moment happened in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Robert hit a game-winning three-pointer. This shot helped the Hoosiers beat San Diego State in the first round.

Moving to UAB

After the 2005–06 season, Indiana's coach, Mike Davis, left the team. He became the head coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Robert had a strong bond with Coach Davis. The coach had supported him after his father passed away during Robert's freshman year. Because of this, Robert decided to transfer to UAB to keep playing for Coach Davis.

Robert had to sit out the 2006–07 season due to NCAA rules for transfers. But in his junior year (2007–08), he had an amazing season at UAB. He scored 21.1 points, grabbed 3.5 rebounds, and made 2.6 assists per game. He earned first-team all-conference honors. He was also named the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year.

He set new school records for points in a season (695). He also made the most three-pointers (142) and attempted the most three-pointers (355). His 142 three-pointers were also a conference record. He ranked second in the nation for this achievement. On February 27, 2008, Robert scored a career-high 41 points against UTEP.

Robert finished his college career with 2,010 points. He made 379 three-pointers in total, which was one of the top 10 records in NCAA history. He still holds UAB records for points in a season, three-pointers made, and three-pointers attempted. He also shares the school record for most points in a single game (41) and best free throw percentage (11-for-11).

Robert Vaden's Professional Basketball Career

After finishing his four years of college basketball, Robert Vaden was able to enter the 2009 NBA draft. Many thought he would be picked in the second round or become an undrafted free agent. The Charlotte Bobcats chose him with the 54th pick. His draft rights were then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Robert played for the Thunder in two summer leagues in 2009. He played well, but the Thunder did not offer him a contract. So, Robert decided to play basketball overseas.

Playing in Italy and the D-League

Before the NBA training camp started, Robert signed with Aget Imola. This team was in the Italian second division. In his first game on October 11, he scored 15 points. He played 29 games in Italy, averaging 16.9 points per game.

After one season in Italy, Robert came back to the U.S. He played for the Thunder again in the 2010 Orlando Summer League. He played in five games, averaging 4.6 points. However, he still did not get an NBA contract offer.

He then signed to play in the NBA Development League (D-League). On November 1, 2010, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers picked him in the D-League Draft. The next day, he was traded to the Tulsa 66ers. This team was linked to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played 45 games for the 66ers, averaging 10.4 points. In April 2011, the Thunder signed him and sent him back to the 66ers for the playoffs.

Later Career Teams

During the 2011 NBA lockout, Robert played for BK SPU Nitra in Slovakia. He had a three-month contract. In December 2011, the Thunder traded Robert to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves then immediately released him.

On August 3, 2012, Robert signed with Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany. In 2013, he joined Belfius Mons-Hainaut in Belgium for the 2013–14 season.

In October 2014, Robert signed with the San Antonio Spurs. But he was waived the next day. He then joined the Bakersfield Jam in the D-League. In January 2015, he was traded to the Westchester Knicks. He was later waived due to an injury.

Robert returned to the Westchester Knicks in October 2016. He played 11 games before being waived again in December. In January 2017, the Erie BayHawks acquired him. He was waived by the BayHawks in March 2017 due to a season-ending concussion.

Career Statistics

College Statistics

D-League Regular Season Statistics

D-League Playoffs Statistics

Personal Life

Robert Vaden has two children. Their names are Brooke and Blake.

See also

In Spanish: Robert Vaden para niños