He was one amongst the NBA’s best sixth men, a flexible player World Health Organization became a forerunner of the fashionable center.
Not bad for a bloke World Health Organization was warned he may not even get a second season in Storrs.
“He selected the latter, that was sensible.”
Robinson died Saturday at fifty-three, remembered the maximum amount for his temperament as his skills by the groups he competes for throughout associate degree 18-year career.
“His temperament and energy were unmatched, and his contributions on the court were clear, serving to the path Blazers into the playoffs each of his eight seasons with the team,” the Blazers aforementioned.
“His streak of 461 consecutive games compete with the path Blazers still stands as a franchise record, that may be a testament to his diligence and dedication to the team. we tend to extend our earnest condolences to Cliff’s family and treasured ones. Uncle rugged is greatly lost by the path Blazers and every one of Rip town.”
No explanation for death was given, although Calhoun aforementioned Robinson had a stroke two 1/2 years agone. Shams Charania of The Athletic later reportable an announcement from the family that indicated Robinson had been battling cancer.
“It’s very unhappy to listen to of this, as a result of he was one amongst my youngsters, my players, a bloke I watched grow into a person,” Calhoun aforementioned. “It’s not a simple factor.”
He not solely ne'er lost the postseason in Portland however hardly lost any games in any respect, taking part in all eighty-two in every of his 1st 5 seasons and ne'er showing in fewer than seventy-five.
“RIP Clifford Robinson - a number of my earliest recollections of NBA basketball were of you because of the lifeblood to those early/mid 90’s Blazer's groups. The Memorial sports stadium days!! RIP to a Portland legend,” tweeted Cleveland star Kevin Love, World Health Organization grew up in American state.
Clifford Robinson was born on Dec. 16, 1966, in Buffalo, New York. He was the centerpiece of Calhoun’s early groups at UConn. He competes in Storrs from 1985-89, serving to guide the Huskies from very cheap of the large East to the 1988 NIT championship.
Robinson averaged simply five.6 points as a freshman however scored twenty a game as a senior before changing into a second-round choice of the Blazers.
“He was our 1st nice player,” Calhoun aforementioned. “He gave legitimacy to the program.
“As a player returning in, here’s this guy taking part in on TV for the path Blazers, looking him play, looking UConn being mentioned. you may not buy the exposure that he gave the US.”
Robinson was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1993 and created his lone All-Star look the subsequent year. At 6-foot-11, he had the dimensions of a middle however was a talented outside shooter.
He competes for one,380 games within the league, ranking within the high fifteen uncomparable. Besides the Blazers, Robinson additionally competes for Phoenix, Detroit, Golden State, and also the Nets.
The Blazers took the ground Saturday carrying headbands in his honor.