GREATER BUFFALO SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Robinson's game stood the test of time
Published: October 16, 2009, 10:42 pm
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The ninth in a series looking at the Class of 2009 of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, scheduled for induction on Oct. 29 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.
Before there was Dirk Nowitzki, there was Cliff Robinson.
Big men shooting behind the arc was somewhat taboo back in the early '90s. A rare, often regretful occurrence. But with an unblockable shot, the former Riverside standout paved the way for sharpshooting forwards of today. Now, Robinson will take his place in Buffalo sports history.
On Oct. 29, Robinson will be enshrined in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. A versatile player capable of scoring at any spot on the court, he made the playoffs in 17 of his 18 NBA seasons. And before being passed by Nowitzki, he was the tallest player ever to make 1,000 three-pointers.
After an illustrious career at Connecticut where he is currently eighth on the all-time scoring list, the 6-foot-11 Robinson enjoyed an 18-year, five-team career. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers (1989-1997), Phoenix Suns (1997-2001), Detroit Pistons (2001-2003), Golden State Warriors (2003-2005) and New Jersey Nets (2005-2007), eventually finishing 22nd all-time on the NBA's three-point list and 35th on the scoring list.
Robinson's best shots at a title came early. Twice, in 1990 and 1992, Robinson's Trail Blazers reached the NBA Finals. In 1990, Portland fell to Detroit in five games — Robinson's block at the buzzer in Game Two sealing the lone win. And in 1992, Portland was victimized by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in six games.
Still, Portland reached the playoffs in each of Robinson's eight seasons there. In the process, he racked up Sixth Man of the Year (1992-93) and All-Star (1994) honors. In his lone All-Star campaign, Robinson averaged 21.3 points per game.
To many, Robinson may be better known as "Uncle Cliffy," the name he gave a dance he did after Portland beat the Utah Jazz in the 1992 Western Conference Finals. Seventeen years later, "Uncle Cliffy" headlines some of Robinson's greatest hits on YouTube.
Robinson's career never seemed to flame out. The game never got too fast for him through his 30s. He continued to play (and play well) as the league evolved. Despite a wave of younger, faster and more athletic players, Robinson continued to produce.
No game epitomized this more than Robinson's 50-point explosion at 33 years old with the Phoenix Suns. In the 113-110 win over the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 16, 2000, Robinson became the oldest player ever to log his first 50-point game. The day prior, Robinson was sent home from practice due to a stomach ache. He fought through the pain and had the night of his life. Relying mostly on his outside touch, Robinson shot 17 of 26 from the field. His 23 points in the first quarter tied a franchise record at the time.
"I just think I'm confident about what I can do," Robinson told the Associated Press after the game. "I've played against a lot of guys in the NBA. I know what I can do against certain guys. Against the younger guys, I feel I have an advantage because I've been around a little longer."
"Longer" lasted for seven more seasons. Robinson kept playing and kept producing — sporting his patented headband along the way. Robinson played a key role in Detroit's resurgence at 35 and 36 years of age, scoring in double-figures both seasons. The latter year, the Pistons reached the conference finals. At 40, Robinson finally retired with New Jersey. He finished with career averages of 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.05 steals and 1.03 blocks.
At the end of the month, Robinson's career will be commemorated where it all started.
For ticket information, e-mail: melissa.gearhart@hyatt.com, call Gearhart at 855-4863 or visit: www.GBSHOF.com.
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