Did David Robinson revolutionize basketball?

[sasaint]

Im not sure how or if he revolutionized the game but if anyone was desiring to win a championship in an era with the greatest athlete including size in NBA history look no further. I couldnt point to a change in history but surely he inspired players that heart, desire and especially defense and rebs can overcome great fetes of athleticism and seeming unstoppable force.

Russell certainly represented all you say. I suppose he even revolutionized play, albeit in a pretty small way. It was Russell who was first credited with blocking opponents' shots with the aim of keeping the ball in play for his own team - not just swatting it into the cheap seats in some display of machismo. Russell was undeniably great. But there is a difference between "revolutionizing" the game and contributing to its evolution.

[sasaint]

Ok but Magics and Birds passing seemed to have more impact in wins and championships. Also theres Cousy before Maravich.

I never associate Cousy with the kind of passing skill we are talking about, although I never saw him play except in newsreels and instructional films (not videos) back in basketball camp, when we were proud to wear Converse All-Stars - a big step up from PF Flyers! Maravich's play was pure razzle-dazzle. Before injuries took their toll, he was like a white Harlem Globetrotter playing in the NBA. No doubt his own game owed more to Marques Haynes than Bob Cousy.

You are right about Pete's game not resulting in lots of wins, but since it is a team game, that never really entered into my calculus. Maravich inspired every kid who picked up a basketball to try behind-the-back passes in an era when anything other than a two-handed chest pass was not "fundamental."

[skulls138]

Russell certainly represented all you say. I suppose he even revolutionized play, albeit in a pretty small way. It was Russell who was first credited with blocking opponents' shots with the aim of keeping the ball in play for his own team - not just swatting it into the cheap seats in some display of machismo. Russell was undeniably great. But there is a difference between "revolutionizing" the game and contributing to its evolution.

Well then he definitely didnt revolutionize the game because everybody still swats them into the cheapseats, other than Duncan that is. Oh well their loss.

[sasaint]

Well then he definitely didnt revolutionize the game because everybody still swats them into the cheapseats, other than Duncan that is. Oh well their loss.

[LoneStarState'sPride]

Maybe he revolutionized the way ex-players cling on to the franchise to ride their glory wagon coattails years after retirement. He and Gervin have that in common.

Kill yourself.

[skulls138]

His impact was insane in the 90s. Carried mediocre squads for most of his career until Duncan arrived. He's a GOAT defender candidate and is still underrated to this day. , you have fake ass Spurs fans like Great got that think Avery Johnson was more important than him:

To be honest, on offense Avery was probably more valuable. Robinsons main contributions were defensively at that time. Putting everything together its close, thats all I'll say.

[sasaint]

Fair enough. Mikan is way before my time.

Just for the record, Mikan was before my time, too!

[Obstructed_View]

To be honest, on offense Avery was probably more valuable. Robinsons main contributions were defensively at that time. Putting everything together its close, thats all I'll say.

Um, no. Avery's value to the team is due to how terrible the point guard situation was after Strick left. What people say Malone did for Stockton's stats, David actually did for Avery.

[SpursNW]

... And the right answer? Yes. Why? Fastest, quickest, most athletically talented, 2-way Big of all time. Forced teams to re-rack their entire defensive and offensive strategy. Watched him take an "average Joe" Navy team (with no one over 6'7") to the elite 8. Took a raw Spurs team to the playoffs. Check out what the Dream, Mullin and Chambers said about him his rookie year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGCGTfFay4

"It ghostly... transcends to another level... Sky is the limit... Carry that team a long way..."

What many don't know - he is RIDICULOUSLY coordinated - scoring the highest grade in his USNA class in Gymnastics - a mandatory course involving full floor events, sawhorse, parallel bars... (I know, I was a tall gangly guy and got SMACKED DOWN in that course)

Throw on top of that 1300 SAT (math/verbal), amazing character, community service, team first...

[SpursforSix]

His injury sure did. Allowing the Spurs to become the dynasty they are today.

[SpursforSix]

Um, no. Avery's value to the team is due to how terrible the point guard situation was after Strick left. What people say Malone did for Stockton's stats, David actually did for Avery.

Yessir. Too bad Pop didn't get a chance to coach the crazy out of Strickland.

[kjhip1]

Why do you think the word "philanthropist" needs to be capitalized?

Why don't you answer the question first instead of deflecting?

[DMC]

Why don't you answer the question first instead of deflecting?

The question was unintelligible. Do you care to rephrase it for him?

[SnakeBoy]

That video just reminds me what a ty defensive coach Bob Hill was. Every play in that video shows DRob playing 1 on 1 defense, meanwhile DRob was getting double and triple teamed on the other end. The plus side of that series was Pop ended up firing Hill and took over the team for himself.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

That video just reminds me what a ty defensive coach Bob Hill was. Every play in that video shows DRob playing 1 on 1 defense, meanwhile DRob was getting double and triple teamed on the other end. The plus side of that series was Pop ended up firing Hill and took over the team for himself.

That wasn't only due to terrible coaching though. Rockets had great shooters around Hakeem, which forced the Spurs to stay on them and leave DRob without help, whereas Rockets could afford to throw bodies at Robinson cause no one on the Spurs could really hurt them and the Spurs also had one guy who didn't bother to focus. Very poorly constructed team. The fact they even got there and made a series out of this was a testament to Robinson's individual brilliance.

[Frank Dux]

Maybe he revolutionized the way ex-players cling on to the franchise to ride their glory wagon coattails years after retirement. He and Gervin have that in common.

Meh. Robinson is part of the ownership group. He has a financial interest in the ongoing success of the organization.

[SPURt]

David was way ahead of his time, a 7 footer that could run the fast break, handle the ball, shoot the ball, and protect the rim. He is the prototype for what every NBA team wants out of a center right now.

Just because there are not a lot of people like him in the game before or since doesn't mean he isn't exactly what teams would want from a 5. They changed the rules for Shaq, he changed the game considerably but we will never see another player with that same impact.

Those trolling and saying Jordan didn't change the game are hilarious! A DPOY from the guard position that was also the scoring champ in the same year, y'all must not have seen Jordan play. Magic and Bird were not going to compete on the defensive end like Jordan. Jordan also did more for the brand of the NBA and how athletes monetize their name and likeness than any athlete in any sport ever. Some awful takes in this thread lol!

[Frank Dux]

... And the right answer? Yes. Why? Fastest, quickest, most athletically talented, 2-way Big of all time. Forced teams to re-rack their entire defensive and offensive strategy. Watched him take an "average Joe" Navy team (with no one over 6'7") to the elite 8. Took a raw Spurs team to the playoffs. Check out what the Dream, Mullin and Chambers said about him his rookie year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGCGTfFay4

"It ghostly... transcends to another level... Sky is the limit... Carry that team a long way..."

What many don't know - he is RIDICULOUSLY coordinated - scoring the highest grade in his USNA class in Gymnastics - a mandatory course involving full floor events, sawhorse, parallel bars... (I know, I was a tall gangly guy and got SMACKED DOWN in that course)

Throw on top of that 1300 SAT (math/verbal), amazing character, community service, team first...

Those are all reasons why he didn't revolutionize the game of basketball. He was a freak of nature—a once in a lifetime gift of superlative human potential. He didn't revolutionize the game because players can't just wake up and decide to be 7'1, the fastest sprinter on the court, possessing a gymnast's coordination, well above average intellectual abilities, the ability to jump through the roof, etc. Either you have all that or you don't.

You look at Jordan and entire an generation of guards tried to emulate his style of play. He revolutionized the game by changing the way people play it. My guess is that Steph Curry is going to do same thing. You look at Robinson and he stands in a league of his own in the way he played the game. There hasn't been anything like him since he came into the game. His case is similar to Shaq's. His presence and abilities were unparalleled, but it's not like players started to play like Shaq—they can't.

[DMC]

Meh. Robinson is part of the ownership group. He has a financial interest in the ongoing success of the organization.

He was kicking the column with his ing leg, and the plaster was falling down!

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Maybe he revolutionized the way ex-players cling on to the franchise to ride their glory wagon coattails years after retirement. He and Gervin have that in common.

The Spurs probably wouldn't be in SA if not for Robinson, and Gervin was responsible in large part for the team's NBA relevance. They've probably earned the right to 'coattail' all they want.

[ducks]

Aj was a joke for David robinson

[GSH]

He's by far the most athletic big man the league has ever seen, he's a far better post player than most people remember, and he was one of the physically toughest players I ever saw.

No, he didn't revolutionize basketball. Wilt did. Bird and Magic did collectively. That's the end of the list.

If Robinson had one imperfection, it was that he was light weight. He was a gazelle on the court. Some of the heavyweights gave him trouble over the years. The same thing that allowed him that athleticism allowed guys like Hakeem and Shaq to give him down low. Statistically, his best seasons were 94, 95, and 96. He ran into Hakeem once, and Karl Malone twice.

Which is the next point. It would be hard to argue that Robinson revolutionized the game any more than Karl Malone. Probably less. The league had already seen Mikan and Chamberlain change the game at C. But Malone re-wrote the PF position. (Note: not saying he was the best PF - that goes to Timmy.)

Honestly, I'm not so sure Chamberlain revolutionized the game, so much as he dominated. Mikan forced the league to widen the lane and outlaw defensive goaltending. He also had a lot to do with the implementation of the shot clock. He didn't dominate in the same way Wilt did - his career EFG% was something like 40%. But when you force rule changes, and even the dimensions of part of the court, you've revolutionized the game. (The change to the width of the paint was known as the "Mikan Rule")

I'm not sure that Magic or Bird revolutionized the game, but their rivalry sure as did. In a real sense, that paved the way for Jordan to be a household name. Just like Dr. J made every middle school boy in the country pretend he could fly - and watch basketball.

[Obstructed_View]

Those trolling and saying Jordan didn't change the game are hilarious! A DPOY from the guard position that was also the scoring champ in the same year, y'all must not have seen Jordan play. Magic and Bird were not going to compete on the defensive end like Jordan. Jordan also did more for the brand of the NBA and how athletes monetize their name and likeness than any athlete in any sport ever. Some awful takes in this thread lol!

Jordan didn't change the game. Three of the four guys to win DPOY before Jordan were guards, all shorter than Jordan. Kareem was the scoring champ and the best defender in the league many many times. Jordan did a lot for the brand of the NBA, and Magic and Bird paved the way for that. Again, Jordan didn't do anything different from those that came before him, he just did more of it. That's not revolutionary.

[Obstructed_View]

If Robinson had one imperfection, it was that he was light weight. He was a gazelle on the court. Some of the heavyweights gave him trouble over the years. The same thing that allowed him that athleticism allowed guys like Hakeem and Shaq to give him down low. Statistically, his best seasons were 94, 95, and 96. He ran into Hakeem once, and Karl Malone twice.

I guess I reject that line of thinking because it feeds into the myth that Robinson avoided contact, which is completely untrue. He was physically fearless on both ends of the court. I don't know if anyone other than Karl Malone took more free throw attempts during the 90s.

[SPURt]

Jordan didn't change the game. Three of the four guys to win DPOY before Jordan were guards, all shorter than Jordan. Kareem was the scoring champ and the best defender in the league many many times. Jordan did a lot for the brand of the NBA, and Magic and Bird paved the way for that. Again, Jordan didn't do anything different from those that came before him, he just did more of it. That's not revolutionary.

But those gaurds that got defensive player of the year didn't simultaneously lead the league in scoring. Jordan was the most dominant player on both sides of the ball. He wasn't a seven footer that only had to guard the paint, that's crazy. Jordan's the GOAT and every player will be compared to him until someone is clearly more dominant (which may never happen).