David Robinson is one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. He was a dominant center for the San Antonio Spurs for 14 years, and his contributions to the game still resonate today. During his career, he won two NBA championships, was named an All-Star 10 times, and was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He was also the first player in NBA history to record more than 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 4,000 assists and 3,000 blocked shots.
Robinson’s accolades are impressive and impressive alone—but they don’t tell the whole story of his impact on the game of basketball. Not only did Robinson dominate on the court with his size and athleticism, but he also left an indelible mark on the culture of basketball off it. He was a key figure in the launch of what would become known as “The Jordan Era”—the period that saw Michael Jordan become a global icon and help popularize basketball around the world. He was also an active leader in community outreach programs throughout his career.
Robinson truly embodied what it means to be an all-around great player—not just someone who could score baskets or grab rebounds, but someone who could make an impact both on and off the court. With this article we will take a look at Robinson’s career and legacy—from his early days as an All-American at Navy to winning two championships with San Antonio to his life after basketball. We will explore how his influence has shaped modern basketball culture and discuss why he is remembered by many as one of the greatest players ever.
David Robinson – Early Life
David Maurice Robinson was born in Key West, Florida as the second child of Ambrose and Freda Robinson. The family moved frequently due to his father’s service in the U.S. Navy. After retirement, they settled in Woodbridge, Virginia where Robinson excelled academically and athletically, except for basketball. He attended Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, just outside Washington D.C., where his father worked as an engineer. During his junior year (16-17), Robinson was average height at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m). But during his senior year (17-18) he underwent a growth spurt and stood 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m). Despite not having played organized basketball or attending any camps, he earned all-area and all-district honors but drew little attention from college coaches.
With a 1320 on the SAT, Robinson made the decision to attend the United States Naval Academy with mathematics as his major and basketball as a sport. At that time there was a height restriction of 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) for midshipmen which presented a challenge since Robinson had grown to 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m). However, he was granted an exception given that he wasn’t likely to grow much more by the beginning of his second year when he had nearly reached his full adult height of 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m). This prevented him from serving on any U.S. naval ships later on in life
David Robinson – College and Military Service
Widely considered to be the most outstanding basketball player in Naval Academy history, Robinson chose jersey number 50 in homage to his idol Ralph Sampson. Despite having no plans of playing professionally at the start of college, he was a consensus All-American and winner of college basketball’s two most prestigious individual awards, the Naismith and Wooden Awards, during his senior year.
He almost led Navy – a number seven seed – to the Final Four in 1986 before being defeated by Duke in the East Regional Final. Robinson had also served three years under Paul Evans as coach before finishing out his senior season with Pete Herrmann as interim Head Coach at the University of Georgia. After graduating from the academy, he was drafted first overall by San Antonio Spurs but had to wait two years to join due to fulfilling an active duty obligation with the Navy.
Robinson faced the prospect of not receiving a commission at all, but Secretary of Navy John Lehman allowed him to train for and receive one as a staff officer in the Civil Engineer Corps which meant he only needed to serve an initial active-duty period of two years. After that, he was commissioned in the Naval Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant (junior grade) and worked as civil engineering officer at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. His story was often used for recruitment purposes by the service and thus earned him the nickname “Admiral”.
David Robinson – San Antonio Spurs
Robinson agreed to join the Spurs in 1989, with the team having just endured their worst season in franchise history. In his rookie year, he spearheaded an impressive 35-game turnaround and was unanimously named NBA Rookie of the Year. He proceeded to lead San Antonio to the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons and won Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1992. The following season Robinson averaged a career-high 29.8 points per game and broke George Gervin’s single-game franchise record with 71 points against the Clippers en route to winning the scoring title.
In 1995, Robinson won the MVP title and was later named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Despite his outstanding accomplishments, he failed to claim an NBA title from 1991-1996, losing to the Warriors, Suns (twice), Jazz (twice) and Rockets in the playoffs. During a series against Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon, Robinson felt outplayed by his rival. He famously said “You don’t solve Hakeem.” In 1997, Robinson suffered a back injury during preseason and a broken foot six games into his return; this led to the Spurs having a dismal 20–62 record that season. Fortunately, they won the NBA Draft Lottery and selected Tim Duncan who eventually helped them win an NBA title.
Robinson’s later career was hampered by back issues. Before the 1998–99 season, the NBA owners and commissioner David Stern locked out the players’ union in a bid to negotiate a new CBA. The 202-day lockout ended with an agreement and the Spurs went on to claim an NBA-best 37–13 record that gave them home court advantage throughout the playoffs. They swept through their postseason opponents before winning the NBA title, with Duncan named Finals MVP. Robinson and Duncan earned the nickname of “The Twin Towers” due to their impressive height and stature.
After the 1999–2000 season, Robinson and the Spurs made it to the playoffs as the fourth seed. Despite his impressive 23.5 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game performance in the first round of playoffs, they were defeated by the Phoenix Suns. Following this season, Robinson announced his retirement from basketball after the 2002-2003 season.
On June 15th, 2003 in what would turn out to be his final NBA game, Robinson and his team won an NBA title with a 88–77 victory over New Jersey Nets in Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals. During this match he scored 13 points and had 17 rebounds. He shared Sports Illustrated magazine’s 2003 Sportsmen of the Year award with regular season and NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan.
David Robinson – NBA Legacy
Robinson was renowned for his exceptional mobility, speed, and ball-handling, which made him near-unstoppable as a center. On both sides of the court, he was known for his strong hands and impressive dunks, as well as an accurate midrange jump shot.
Throughout his 987 games in the NBA, Robinson averaged 21.1 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, 3 blocks per game and 2.5 assists per game; he is also one of very few players to have scored over 20,000 career points and recorded a quadruple-double (34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks against the Detroit Pistons on February 17th 1994). Furthermore, he is one of only seven players to have ever achieved 70 or more points in one single game – 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 24th 1994.
One of Robinson’s most remarkable accomplishments was his relationship with Tim Duncan; it was highly unusual for an experienced player like Robinson to willingly reduce his role in the team’s offense to accommodate an up-and-coming star like Duncan. This remarkable mentorship was duly noted by sportswriter Chris Sheridan and will likely remain one of Robinson’s best legacies.
As a center, he was awarded 10 All-Star selections from 1989 to 2001. He also earned two NBA Championships, two Olympic Gold Medals, and two Defensive Player of the Year Awards. In 1995–96, Robinson averaged 27 points per game to lead the NBA in scoring for the season. His accomplishments on court are recognized by his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in both 2009 as an individual, and 2010 as a member of the “Dream Team”.
David Robinson – Personal Life
In 1991, David Robinson married Valerie Hoggatt and the couple welcomed three sons into the world: David Jr., Corey, and Justin. Corey attended Notre Dame for his undergraduate degree and was a wide receiver on their football team before medically retiring in 2016 due to multiple concussions prior to his senior season.
He was also elected student body president while attending the university. Meanwhile, Justin began attending Duke University in August 2015 as a 6’8″ (2.03 m) forward in basketball, having been recruited as a “preferred walk-on” with the opportunity of eventually earning a scholarship. On September 18th 2020, he signed with Mornar Bar of Erste Liga at the start of his professional basketball career.
Robinson found faith on June 8th 1991 after much encouragement to read the Bible, and ten years later he established and funded Carver Academy in San Antonio for $9 million. The non-profit school was named after George Washington Carver, and it sought to provide more opportunities for inner-city children; it later became a public charter school and changed its name to IDEA Carver. Robinson continues to be actively involved in the day-to-day activities of Carver Academy.
In 2011, Robinson went on to earn an MA in Administration (with concentration in organizational development) from the University of the Incarnate Word with hopes to gain better knowledge on businesses and expansion. Additionally, Robinson is well known for his philanthropic efforts – along with business partner Daniel Bassichis, they donate 10 percent of their profits to charitable causes, while The NBA Community Assist Award winner is presented with The David Robinson Plaque.
David Robinson – Net Worth
David Robinson is one of the most successful NBA players of all time, both on and off the court. His estimated net worth stands at an astounding $200 million, much of which has been earned through his basketball career and various business investments. He is currently one of the wealthiest NBA stars in history.
Did David Robinson ever win MVP?
In the 1994-95 season, Robinson was extraordinary, receiving the MVP award and posting remarkable stats of 27.6 points per game, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.23 blocks and 1.65 steals to help lead the Spurs to a record 62-20 finish – the best in the NBA that season.
Was David Robinson a Navy SEAL?
In 1987, David Robinson graduated from Annapolis with a bright future ahead of him. Standing at 7-foot-1, the NBA Hall of Famer served two years of active duty as a civil engineering officer at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia and an additional six years in the Navy Reserve. His commitment to service has earned him well-deserved recognition and admiration.
Why do they call David Robinson “The Admiral”?
Robinson’s teammates dubbed him “The Admiral” due to his impressive credentials; having graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a major in mathematics, he went on to serve in the Navy for four years – between 1983 and 1987.
