Truck Robinson facts for kids
Robinson in 1975
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 4, 1951 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| High school | William M. Raines (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Tennessee State (1970–1974) |
| NBA Draft | 1974 / Round: 2 / Pick: 22nd overall |
| Selected by the Washington Bullets | |
| Pro career | 1974–1985 |
| Coaching career | 2009–2012 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1974–1977 | Washington Bullets |
| 1977 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1977–1979 | New Orleans Jazz |
| 1979–1982 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1982–1985 | New York Knicks |
| As coach: | |
| 2009–2012 | Sacramento Kings (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 11,988 (15.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 7,267 (9.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,348 (1.7 apg) |
Leonard Eugene "Truck" Robinson (born October 4, 1951) is a former American professional basketball player and coach. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 11 seasons. Truck Robinson was known for his strong rebounding and scoring abilities. He played for teams like the Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, Phoenix Suns, and New York Knicks.
Robinson was a two-time NBA All-Star. He also led the NBA in total rebounds and rebounds per game during the 1977–78 season. After his playing career, he worked as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings.
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Truck Robinson's Basketball Journey
Leonard Robinson earned the nickname "Truck" because of his strong and powerful playing style. He was a very skilled player who could score points and grab many rebounds. He was known for his strength and quickness on the court.
College and Early NBA Career
Truck Robinson played college basketball at Tennessee State University. After a great college career, he was chosen by the Washington Bullets in the 1974 NBA draft. As a rookie in the 1974–75 season, he played limited minutes. However, he was part of a Bullets team that reached the 1975 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors.
In his second season, Robinson's playing time increased. His scoring and rebounding numbers also improved. He started to show his potential as a strong player.
Becoming an NBA Star
In the 1976–77 season, Robinson was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. This move helped him become a star player. Between the Bullets and Hawks that season, he averaged 19.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Before the 1977–78 season, Robinson joined the New Orleans Jazz. This was his best season ever. Even though he was 6-foot-7, he led the entire league in rebounding, grabbing an amazing 15.7 rebounds per game. He also scored his career-high of 22.7 points per game. That same year, he was chosen for his first All-Star team and was named to the All-NBA First Team.
Time with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks
In the middle of the 1978–79 season, the Jazz traded Robinson to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns had a very strong team. Robinson continued to play well, helping the Suns reach the Western Conference Finals that year.
For the next three seasons with the Suns, Robinson consistently averaged at least 17 points and 9 rebounds each year. In 1981, he was named to the West All-Star Team, and the Suns won their division.
After the 1981–82 season, he was traded to the New York Knicks. In the 1982–83 season, Robinson's performance dipped. He played two more seasons for New York before he retired in 1984–85.
Career Achievements
Over his 11 seasons in the NBA, Truck Robinson scored a total of 11,988 points. He also grabbed 7,267 rebounds. He is ranked among the NBA's top 100 players for career rebounds and rebounds per game.
Coaching Career
After his successful playing career, Truck Robinson became a coach. He served as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings from 2009 to 2012.
Images for kids
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Robinson in 1975
See also
In Spanish: Truck Robinson para niños
- List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders
- List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders
- List of National Basketball Association single-season rebounding leaders
