Clifford T. Robinson
Encyclopedia
Clifford Trent Robinson (born March 13, 1960) is a retired American
professional basketball
player.
alumnus, Robinson was drafted into the National Basketball Association
by New Jersey Nets
in 1979 with the 11th overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft
. He gave the Nets a solid rookie season, averaging 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
In the following nine seasons, Robinson missed numerous games due to injury and was moved from team to team four times. Despite these challenges, he steadily maintained his scoring average between 15 and 20 points per game. His best season (1985-86
) came in a Washington Bullets
uniform, as he achieved a career-high season total of 1,460 points in 78 games played, and shot a career-best 76.2% from the free throw
line. In 1986, he and Jeff Ruland
were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
for NBA legend Moses Malone
.
Robinson left the NBA in 1989, hampered by injuries, but later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers
, playing only nine games of the 1991-92 season
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
Professional career
A University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
alumnus, Robinson was drafted into the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
by New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in 1979 with the 11th overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft
1979 NBA Draft
The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. He gave the Nets a solid rookie season, averaging 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
In the following nine seasons, Robinson missed numerous games due to injury and was moved from team to team four times. Despite these challenges, he steadily maintained his scoring average between 15 and 20 points per game. His best season (1985-86
1985-86 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
) came in a Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
uniform, as he achieved a career-high season total of 1,460 points in 78 games played, and shot a career-best 76.2% from the free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
line. In 1986, he and Jeff Ruland
Jeff Ruland
Jeffrey Alan Ruland is a retired American basketball player and current coach. He is the former head coach of the Iona Gaels men's college basketball team and current head coach of the UDC Firebirds men's college basketball team.-Early life and collegiate career:A 6'11", 280 lb center, Ruland...
were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
for NBA legend Moses Malone
Moses Malone
Moses Eugene Malone is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who starred in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association...
.
Robinson left the NBA in 1989, hampered by injuries, but later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, playing only nine games of the 1991-92 season
1991-92 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
.
External links
- nba.com/historical/playerfile
- Clifford Trent Robinson at Basketball-Reference.com