Oscar Robertson: ‘I Like Guys Who Know How To Play And Do The Little Things’
SportingNews

Over 14 years in the NBA, Oscar Robertson established himself as one of the greatest all-around players in NBA history, averaging 25.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds, and remains the last player to average a triple-double over the course of a season. He talked with Sporting News’ Sean Deveney at All-Star weekend about his enjoyment of All-Star Saturday, the players he likes to watch, and whether LeBron James could average a triple-double.

Q: I see you out at All-Star weekend every year. Do you enjoy it, coming out for this?

A: I like some aspects of it. I like the Saturday stuff, you know-I like watching the 3-point contest, the shooting. I like the dunk contest, too. The point guard skills (compe ion), a nice thing to see. Those are fun things, those are things that get the fans going. Though I was disappointed that Derrick Rose is hurt.

Q: You like watching Rose?

A: He is a fun, young player to watch. He has a lot of skills at a very young age. It’s fun watching a guy like that.

Q: How about the game itself? That does not seem like an Oscar Robertson-type event.

A: Oh, you recognized that yourself, did you?

Q: Well, you’re big on fundamentals.

A: You don’t see that much in the All-Star Game. Come on, now, you think that’s real basketball? People don’t mind, though, I guess-that is something that is fun for a lot of the people who come out. And I guess they are trying to get the huge building, get all those people in there.

Q: Can we expect you to be there?

A: I don’t know. I would rather watch it on television. That building, it’s too big for basketball as far as I am concerned. But I might go.

Q: You played in a lot of All-Star games yourself. Did you take it more seriously?

A: We did. We had reasons. We wanted the bigger bonus money.

Q: Can you imagine shooting in an arena like Cowboys Stadium? Explain to people how important it is to have a shooting background you are comfortable with.

A: It’s very important. What happens in something like that is that the depth perception becomes an issue. You can be standing at the free throw line, and if you are looking back in a football stadium, it feels like you are a lot more than 15 feet from the basket. If I were playing in the game, I would get out there early and do a lot of shooting. You have to get used to it.

Q: You watch a lot of basketball. Who do you like watching?

A: I like watching basketball players, man. I like guys who know how to play and do the little things. No matter who it is. Not just the star players but the role players, too.

Q: You averaged a triple-double in 1962. Some people talk about, maybe, LeBron James doing the same thing; he’s certainly come close. What do you think-can he do it?

A: He gets his triple-doubles sometimes. But it’s difficult, in today’s game. More difficult now, I think.

Q: Why?

A: The game is slower; there aren’t as many possessions. We would score 120, 125 points a game. And you have players now who are all just so big and strong. It is a lot harder, I guess, than it used to be.

Q: A lot has changed since you played. Do you Twitter-do you think you would when you were playing?

A: I don’t tweet, I don’t twit and I don’t have any desire to do that. I don’t know why people would want to know everything other people are doing.