duncan228
02-14-2009, 02:51 AM
Robinson’s name among Hall finalists (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Robinsons_name_among_Hall_finalists.html)
Mike Monroe
PHOENIX — David Robinson remembers his first visit to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in Springfield, Mass.
It was October 1986, his Navy Midshipmen scheduled for the Hall of Fame Classic that tips off the college season.
There was time, of course, to visit the Hall. The Spurs great, who was announced Friday as a finalist for induction in the Hall of Fame Class of 2009, strolled through the museum and peered at the plaques honoring the game’s greatest players, coaches and contributors. He took in the names: Chamberlain, Russell, Cousy, Pettit, Mikan and Robertson.
“I remember thinking that I would never be in the Hall of Fame myself, so that’s the first thing that came back to my mind when they told me (about being a finalist). I said, ‘Wow, I have a chance to be part of that thing.’”
Robinson is one of three players placed on the final ballot Friday in their first year of eligibility for the Hall. The other two are Michael Jordan, a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and John Stockton, the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals.
Robinson said Jordan and Stockton are “locks” to be selected, but wouldn’t address the probability of his own enshrinement.
Shaquille O’Neal, the former Cole High School star who will head to the Hall someday himself, does not have any doubts.
Standing ramrod straight and snapping a crisp salute after Friday’s announcement, the Phoenix Suns center pronounced: “Admiral, you’re going in the Hall of Fame.”
Robinson’s humility won’t allow such presumption.
“I’ll hold my breath,” he said, “and wait for the voting.”
There are 16 total finalists that will go before the 24-member honors committee. A finalist needs 18 votes to be chosen, but it is likely a given that Robinson will be selected with Jordan and Stockton, two of his teammates on the 1992 U.S. Olympic “Dream Team.”
The Class of 2009 will be announced April 6 in Detroit before the NCAA men’s championship game. Enshrinement festivities will be held Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass.
“I can tell you this,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. “There’s nobody any more deserving of being in the Hall than David.”
Robinson’s basketball accomplishments include 1987 College Player of the Year at Navy, four first-team All-NBA selections, the 1995 NBA MVP Award, two NBA titles, and two Olympic gold medals.
Gregg Popovich, who coached Robinson when he earned two NBA championship rings, believes Robinson’s basketball achievements are exceeded only by his character.
“Anyone who has any understanding of life and how it works and its priorities would rather be a good person than a great player,” Popovich said, “and David doesn’t have any worries in that regard.”
Robinson’s selflessness was on display in 1997 when Tim Duncan joined the Spurs after being the College Player of the Year as a senior at Wake Forest. Understanding immediately that Duncan was a more skilled offensive player in the pivot, Robinson sacrificed his own offensive game to speed Duncan’s development as an All-Star big man.
“As good as Tim was, it was a no-brainer,” Robinson said. “To me, it wasn’t a lessening of importance, and he still looked to me for leadership. But Tim is a phenomenal scorer and just a great presence in the paint.
“Why would you not want a great scorer to do his job? I told him, ‘Hey, it’s obvious to me you’re a much better scorer than I am, so I’m going to put you in a position where you can be successful.’
“I didn’t care how many points I scored, and it was obvious that first year that Tim didn’t, either. That’s when I knew he was going to be a truly great player.”
Today, Duncan understands that landing on a team that already had a future Hall of Fame big man was good fortune beyond imagining.
“When you’re younger you don’t really realize what you have in the situation you’re walking into,” Duncan said. “I appreciate even more now, looking back, being able to walk into a situation where a proven guy like David, and an unselfish teammate like him is there. I don’t think there could have been a more perfect situation for me.”
Duncan returned the favor in Robinson’s final game for the Spurs, the championship-clinching Game 6 of the 2003 Finals. He scored 21 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, had 10 assists and barely missed a quadruple double, with eight blocked shots.
Meanwhile, Robinson scored 13 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, enjoying his farewell performance on the Spurs’ home court.
“It was an amazing way to end a career, he said. “Can you even dream of walking off the court with streamers flying and knowing this is the last time you’re going to be on a court? It was the perfect ending.
“Your career is a series of ups and downs, and I couldn’t have planned it any better. How many guys get a chance to enjoy that?”
And if he is, in fact, elected to the Hall of Fame?
“That will be the cherry on top of everything,” he said.
Mike Monroe
PHOENIX — David Robinson remembers his first visit to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in Springfield, Mass.
It was October 1986, his Navy Midshipmen scheduled for the Hall of Fame Classic that tips off the college season.
There was time, of course, to visit the Hall. The Spurs great, who was announced Friday as a finalist for induction in the Hall of Fame Class of 2009, strolled through the museum and peered at the plaques honoring the game’s greatest players, coaches and contributors. He took in the names: Chamberlain, Russell, Cousy, Pettit, Mikan and Robertson.
“I remember thinking that I would never be in the Hall of Fame myself, so that’s the first thing that came back to my mind when they told me (about being a finalist). I said, ‘Wow, I have a chance to be part of that thing.’”
Robinson is one of three players placed on the final ballot Friday in their first year of eligibility for the Hall. The other two are Michael Jordan, a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and John Stockton, the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals.
Robinson said Jordan and Stockton are “locks” to be selected, but wouldn’t address the probability of his own enshrinement.
Shaquille O’Neal, the former Cole High School star who will head to the Hall someday himself, does not have any doubts.
Standing ramrod straight and snapping a crisp salute after Friday’s announcement, the Phoenix Suns center pronounced: “Admiral, you’re going in the Hall of Fame.”
Robinson’s humility won’t allow such presumption.
“I’ll hold my breath,” he said, “and wait for the voting.”
There are 16 total finalists that will go before the 24-member honors committee. A finalist needs 18 votes to be chosen, but it is likely a given that Robinson will be selected with Jordan and Stockton, two of his teammates on the 1992 U.S. Olympic “Dream Team.”
The Class of 2009 will be announced April 6 in Detroit before the NCAA men’s championship game. Enshrinement festivities will be held Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass.
“I can tell you this,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. “There’s nobody any more deserving of being in the Hall than David.”
Robinson’s basketball accomplishments include 1987 College Player of the Year at Navy, four first-team All-NBA selections, the 1995 NBA MVP Award, two NBA titles, and two Olympic gold medals.
Gregg Popovich, who coached Robinson when he earned two NBA championship rings, believes Robinson’s basketball achievements are exceeded only by his character.
“Anyone who has any understanding of life and how it works and its priorities would rather be a good person than a great player,” Popovich said, “and David doesn’t have any worries in that regard.”
Robinson’s selflessness was on display in 1997 when Tim Duncan joined the Spurs after being the College Player of the Year as a senior at Wake Forest. Understanding immediately that Duncan was a more skilled offensive player in the pivot, Robinson sacrificed his own offensive game to speed Duncan’s development as an All-Star big man.
“As good as Tim was, it was a no-brainer,” Robinson said. “To me, it wasn’t a lessening of importance, and he still looked to me for leadership. But Tim is a phenomenal scorer and just a great presence in the paint.
“Why would you not want a great scorer to do his job? I told him, ‘Hey, it’s obvious to me you’re a much better scorer than I am, so I’m going to put you in a position where you can be successful.’
“I didn’t care how many points I scored, and it was obvious that first year that Tim didn’t, either. That’s when I knew he was going to be a truly great player.”
Today, Duncan understands that landing on a team that already had a future Hall of Fame big man was good fortune beyond imagining.
“When you’re younger you don’t really realize what you have in the situation you’re walking into,” Duncan said. “I appreciate even more now, looking back, being able to walk into a situation where a proven guy like David, and an unselfish teammate like him is there. I don’t think there could have been a more perfect situation for me.”
Duncan returned the favor in Robinson’s final game for the Spurs, the championship-clinching Game 6 of the 2003 Finals. He scored 21 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, had 10 assists and barely missed a quadruple double, with eight blocked shots.
Meanwhile, Robinson scored 13 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, enjoying his farewell performance on the Spurs’ home court.
“It was an amazing way to end a career, he said. “Can you even dream of walking off the court with streamers flying and knowing this is the last time you’re going to be on a court? It was the perfect ending.
“Your career is a series of ups and downs, and I couldn’t have planned it any better. How many guys get a chance to enjoy that?”
And if he is, in fact, elected to the Hall of Fame?
“That will be the cherry on top of everything,” he said.