Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson's journey into the realm of professional basketball began in 1960 when the Cincinnati Royals drafted him in the NBA draft. His rookie season was memorable as he was named NBA Rookie of the Year and elected to the All-NBA First Team. Robertson went on to accomplish a significant feat in the history of the NBA by becoming the first player to average a triple-double for an entire season during the 1961-62 NBA season. His record of 41 triple-doubles in a season was also a significant milestone. In the 1963-64 season, he was recognized as the NBA MVP.

Robertson's influence extended beyond the court as he was involved in a landmark antitrust suit, Robertson v. National Basketball Association, leading to considerable changes in the league's free agency and draft systems. As a testament to his leadership, he served as president of the NBA's Players Association. His contributions to the game were acknowledged when his jersey numbers were retired by both the Kansas City Kings and the Milwaukee Bucks. A nine-foot bronze statue of Robertson stands tall at the University of Cincinnati, commemorating his influence in the world of basketball.

Robertson's accolades did not stop after his retirement. He was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and again into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 28, 1980. He has been recognized as one of the league's all-time greatest players by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. The Player of the Year Award by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association was renamed the Oscar Robertson Trophy in 1998, and in 2022, the NBA renamed its Western Conference championship trophy in his honor.

Born in 1938, Robertson grew up dirt-poor in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis. In the projects, he not only learned basketball but also gained firsthand experience with racial discrimination and economic inequality. He was drawn to basketball instead of baseball, which was more popular in the neighborhood, because it was “a poor kids’ game.” He learned how to shoot by tossing tennis balls and rags bound with rubber bands into a peach basket behind his family’s home. After his retirement, Robertson worked to improve the living conditions of African-Americans in his hometown of Indianapolis by helping to build affordable housing. He remained a harsh critic of social policies that adversely affect minorities, particularly African-Americans.