SI: David Robinson College Player

[jcrod]

David Robinson
College basketball will never see another Admiral

link (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/basketball/ncaa/specials/ncaa_tourney/2005/03/25/greatest.player.drobinson/index.html)
Sports Illustrated asked its writers to weigh in with their picks for the greatest college basketball player of all time. Read through their selections and then tell us yours. Spike TV will air a special on the players at 10 p.m. ET on March 30.

He was wearing braces. Braces. And a sailor's hat. The kid was standing there, next to the headline "Top Gun," with a cherubic smile on his face and a basketball in his enormous right hand.

The photo subject of Sports Illustrated's 1986 college basketball preview was 7-foot-1 center David Robinson -- Midshipman David Maurice Robinson of the U.S. Naval Academy, to be exact -- and he was not your normal college basketball player. Robinson led Navy to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 1985 (its first Big Dance berth since 1960). The following year, Navy advanced to the Elite Eight. He was the greatest service-academy hoopster of all time, and he will likely be the last elite armed-forces athlete.

In today's era of NBA fast-tracking, no youngster with hoop dreams wants to be locked into four years at the Academy -- and at least two more in mandatory service after that. Robinson, who gained national fame from his dominant performances in the paint as a collegian, was selected as the No. 1 pick in the 1987 NBA Draft by San Antonio. Yet he had to serve two years at a Kings Bay, Ga., naval base before ever joining the Spurs.

Robinson is one of SI's Greatest Players not just because of his height; his unforgettable, chiseled frame; or his polished game -- but because he was unique. Could you imagine LeBron James suiting up at West Point and joining the Cavs in 2009? Or Emeka Okafor putting his pro career on hold until '06 while he logged 24 months at a naval base in Norfolk, Va.? The NBA wasn't on Robinson's mind when he arrived in Annapolis, Md., in the fall of '83, a freshman from Manassas, Va., who dabbled in music and electronics (he once assembled a six-foot TV projection screen from a kit in his family's home). At 6-8, he was already the maximum height for a cadet, but he had played just one year of high school basketball and rode pine as a Navy freshman. He would grow five inches while in the Academy. That quashed his ability to serve in a submarine or fighter plane, but it gave him quite an asset on the basketball floor at Halsey Field House.

Robinson exploded as a sophomore in '84-85, growing to 6-11 and becoming the beast of the ECAC. He averaged 23.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game -- shooting 64.4 percent from the field -- and powered the Midshipmen to an upset of No. 4-seeded LSU in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The next season, he would take Navy past Tulsa and second-seeded Syracuse into the Elite Eight, averaging 22.7 points and 13.0 rebounds as the Middies racked up a 30-5 record. In '86-87, his senior year, Navy would bow out in the first round of the tournament, but Robinson received both the Naismith and Wooden awards for National Player of the Year after averaging 28.2 points and 11.8 rebounds.

The kid from that SI cover -- face full of metal, nametag merely reading "Robinson 87" -- was so good that the Spurs were willing use their No. 1 pick that June and wait until November of '89 for him to arrive.

Years later, he would walk away from the game with two NBA titles and a well-earned nickname: The Admiral. As a pro, Robinson was a ranking officer in a land of giants -- but before he was The Admiral, he was the biggest Midshipman the Navy had ever seen. There will never be another collegiate player like him.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Nice. :smokin


I think the longer David is away from the game the more his legacy will grow. People don't always realize that they have greatness in their presence until its gone.

[dougp]

Nice. :smokin


I think the longer David is away from the game the more his legacy will grow. People don't always realize that they have greatness in their presence until its gone.
In David's case, most never realised they were in the presence of greatness, and in Shaq's mind, he's not great ... f'in obese jack ass!

Robinson, best athlete ever!!!! RAWR!

[LoveMySpurs]

David Robinson, the epitome of a CLASS ACT!!! On the court and off. I felt SO sorry for him the time Dennis Rodman was with the Spurs-he was always asked what he thought of Rodman's latest antics, and being the perfect gentleman he is always gave a PC response.

[Rummpd]

Ten greatest college basketball players I ever saw in person or several times on air:

1) Lew Alcindor
2) Elvin Hayes
3) Pistol Pete
4) David Robinson
5) Larry Bird
6) Magic Johnson
7) David Thompson, could jump so high it was scary, the human spring board.
8) Sean Elliot - he was something special in college, believe he led it scoring one year??
9) Bill Walton
10) Michael Jordan
Honorable Mention:

Steve Mix (I lived in Toledo, was the legend of the Rockets and later a roomate to the great Juluis Erving) and C. Latneer (spelling) = best shot ever.

Of this list, top 3 Alcindor, Walton, and Hayes but Maravich was the most fun to watch! Hayes had the best game ever in the AstroDome in Houston against UCLA to break streak (Alcindor had a cut eye) but UCLA came back and dominated them in rematch.

[Rummpd]

Addendum:

Today if someone in college had 28 and 12 the media would have a cow!

[jalbre6]

Good list Doc.

I have to put Danny Manning on though, somewhere. Two time All-American, Big 8 player of the decade in the 80's, leading scorer and rebounder in KU history, and put an average KU team on his back and got a title in '88.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

Big Ups to the Big Man.

Spurs could definately use one of his speeches right about now......

[Rummpd]

Yeh Manning would be a good choice I did not see much of him, he was quite a player though!

[FromWayDowntown]

Addendum:

Today if someone in college had 28 and 12 the media would have a cow!

Well, to be fair, the media pretty much had a cow with David towards the end of his college career and in the early stages of his pro career. When David came out, there wasn't much doubt about whether he'd be the number 1 pick -- save for his commitment, there were no doubts at all. Between, say 1986 and 1991, he was a frequent cover subject for Sports Illustrated and had quite a large portion of the basketball spotlight. Not quite as big as Lebron, perhaps, but certainly in the ballpark.

[mookie2001]

what about ex longhorn forward brian boddicker at # 10

he does lose points for the nsynclike hair
and having 0 rebounds during the 2003 final 4

[whottt]

Don Harris said it best about Drob...

DRob carrying a Navy team to the round of 8 in the NCAA tournament was like going and getting 4 guys off the street and carrying them to the round of 8. And unlike his rep in the NBA, Drob was most definitely clutch in college.

[alamo50]

"The Admiral. As a pro, Robinson was a ranking officer in a land of giants -- but before he was The Admiral, he was the biggest Midshipman the Navy had ever seen. There will never be another collegiate player like him".

Awesome.....


Don Harris hasn't said anything best about anybody ever.
Him ignoring the other players on that Navy squad is just another piece of his bullcrap.
Especialy Vernon Butler who still had a great deal to do with Navy getting to the Elite 8 in '85 too.

[whottt]

You are probably right...Since Drob left the Naval Academy they have had a lot of success and it's easy to see the fine tradition of athletes in the Naval Academy, a tradition of which David Robinson was only a part of.

[alamo50]

Who said anything about what happened when David left Navy?
My comment was a reaction to your Don "Screw You" Harris praise.

[TDfan2007]

I wouldn't go as far as to say that DRob was the best college player ever. I think that Tim was a better College player and I wouldn't even put Tim in the top 10.

[whottt]

I wouldn't go as far as to say that DRob was the best college player ever. I think that Tim was a better College player and I wouldn't even put Tim in the top 10.

And you'd be wrong about that...Drob was a record shattering player in the regular season and in the NCAA tournament and IMO he was a one man team in college just like he was for most of his NBA career...No one carried a weak team like David Robinson this guy achieved at an elite level no matter who was surrounding him...college or pro. You go look at the East Bracket and DRob still owns just about every record there is...it seemed like he set a record every game he played and he'd have to just to get a 1 point win...Even with Vernon Butler on his team.

I personally think the guy that will win this though is Walton...I never saw him play but IIRC he won 4 championships or something like that...the only man who can make that claim.

Kareem has a strong case too I think...I think he has 3 championships and the only reason he didn't win every year is because he left for the pros or something like that...

[DuncanMVP]

In David's case, most never realised they were in the presence of greatness, and in Shaq's mind, he's not great ... f'in obese jack ass!

Robinson, best athlete ever!!!! RAWR!


When did Shaq say that?

[Rummpd]

Kareem could not play as freshman had separate squads in those days.

[SMLT]

Yes David was great (among the greatest in my mind) but still, when he went to his first olympics, he was schooled by Sabonis.

As americans you didn't get much opportunity to see Arvidas in his prime (before is various injuries, knees mostly) but I can tell you he belongs to the elite, he was simply awesome. I would have loved to see a NBA with MAgic, Bird, Jordan, Barkley, Sabonis and a few others compete for the title...

But as long as we speak of College, yes David has his spot !

[alamo50]

it seemed like he set a record every game he played and he'd have to just to get a 1 point win...Even with Vernon Butler on his team.

Totaly dissagree with you.
Navy would not have reached the Elite 8 if it were just for David being there.

[whottt]

Disagree all you want. It's all speculation but the track record of the Navy without David Robinson speaks for itself...as does the track record with him. David Robinson could have made the great 8 on a lot of teams...the rest of that team could not.

You seem to have a personal axe to grind on this issue...I think you are grinding it on the wrong person...I know that Navy team wasn't jack without Robinson and they would have been doing good to make the NIT.

I know you are trying to give credit to the teamates and recognize their contributions, and I applaud your efforts, but get real, we are talking about what Drob had to work with relative to what those other guys had...and those guys DRob was surrounded with weren't playing for the Navy because of their NBA potential. It's already bad enough with AJ claiming credit for his NBA career, you want to do it in college too...do as you wish but he had a weak supporting cast that weren't exactly turning down hoop scholarships from UCLA....and Robinson was the guy setting all the records.

[dougp]

When did Shaq say that?
When Shaq was given the DR Community Award from the NBA ... There's a quote on the boards here somewhere.

[whottt]

Yes David was great (among the greatest in my mind) but still, when he went to his first olympics, he was schooled by Sabonis.

As americans you didn't get much opportunity to see Arvidas in his prime (before is various injuries, knees mostly) but I can tell you he belongs to the elite, he was simply awesome. I would have loved to see a NBA with MAgic, Bird, Jordan, Barkley, Sabonis and a few others compete for the title...

But as long as we speak of College, yes David has his spot !

SMLT...As much as I'd like to humor you on this...First of all Sabonis was a one of a kind Center...even after his prime. I've never seen a Center that passes like he does or plays quite the way he does. He is without a doubt one of the greatest ever. And what makes him impossible to guard is that he wants to pass...it's really hard to keep a guy from passing if he wants to pass....Not only was he as big as a house but he played like a point guard...an unusual match up for any Center.

But the simple fact is he didn't school Drob in the 88 Olympics, the 88 team lost it's point guard and it's second best player got in foul trouble. It had no shooters and Drob still had a monster game by Olympic standards outscoring and out rebounduing Sabonis. That USSR team was a pro team that scrimmaged with Portland Trailblazers in preparation for taking on those kids....And in fact Drob beat Sabonis in the 86 World Championships, which at the time was far more prestigious since it wasn't subject to all the boycotts.

[alamo50]

I know you are trying to give credit to the teamates and recognize their contributions, and I applaud your efforts, but get real, we are talking about what Drob had to work with relative to what those other guys had..

No, we were talking about how Don "Screw You" Harris said it best according to you.
Picking a random 4 people off the streets and putting them on a team with David having the same result as the NAVY squad reaching the Elite 8.

I told you that Donny boy never says anything best and was standing up and defended Vernon Butler's qualities indeed.

This is about nothing more than what I am talking about right now.
Off course David was one of the best college and NBA players ever!
I am one of his biggest fans!

[whottt]

LOL so basically you don't like Harris...I don't really like him either but I liked that quote even if it is a little exaggerated.

[alamo50]

Bingo!

;)

[SMLT]

Whott,

Thanks for the analysis but you speak of stats and not of the match up itself. Till you answer I thought that people who saw the game where almost all thinking the same way (Sabonis dominating David while almost the same age born 64 and 65) and of course it isn't the case... as aways :)

Anyway it doesn't matter that much since my point was just to contribute to Sabas' reputation more than to negate David's achievements... Both were great players and on that we agree.

Cheers.

[whottt]

Right, they are almost the same age but Sabonis was far more experienced at pro level style play.

I think you are wrong about American Fans appreciation of Sabonis...I think most true basketball fans do know that Sabonis was a great player just based on what they saw of him in the NBA, and he should probably be in the Hall of Fame...his injuries didn't really seem to affect his skill level...just his ability to get up and down the court. Sabonis was a great one and was probably the one player most responsible for the USA sending NBA players from that point on...but it wasn't just Sabonis. My point is that when you use the term "schooled" it implies domination...and a 6 point win and being out scored and out rebounded is not domination...Won the game, yes...dominated in embarassing fashion...no.

And if it makes you feel any better I'd probably take Sabonis, right now, over any other Center on our team :)