Oscar Palmer Robertson, widely known as “The Big O”, was born on November 24, 1938, in Charlotte, Tennessee, USA. He is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history, excelling at both the collegiate and professional levels. Playing for the Cincinnati Royals in the NBA, Robertson made history in the 1961–62 season by averaging a triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game—a record unmatched until Russell Westbrook achieved it in 2016–17.
Raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Robertson led Crispus Attucks High School to two state championships. In 1956, he earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, where he became the school’s first African American basketball player. Over three college seasons, he averaged 33.8 points per game and guided the Bearcats to two NCAA Final Four appearances, setting 14 NCAA records in the process.
In 1960, Robertson further showcased his talent on the world stage by winning an Olympic gold medal in Rome with the U.S. men’s basketball team.
Oscar Robertson Biography
Oscar Robertson was the first overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft and immediately made an impact by winning Rookie of the Year with the Cincinnati Royals. Standing 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighing over 200 pounds (91 kg), he was bigger than most guards of his era, which gave him an advantage in scoring and rebounding. Known for his all-around skills, Robertson was also an elite playmaker, leading the NBA in assists six times.
In the 1963–64 season, he earned the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after averaging 31.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 11 assists per game.
In 1970, Robertson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he teamed up with Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and won the NBA Championship in his first season with the team. He retired in 1974 with 26,710 career points (25.7 per game), 7,804 rebounds (7.5 average), and 9,887 assists, which stood as the NBA record at the time.
In recognition of his legendary career, Robertson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Oscar Robertson Stats
Oscar Robertson played 14 NBA seasons with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. Over 1,040 regular-season games, he averaged 25.7 points, 9.5 assists, and 7.5 rebounds. A dominant guard, he earned selection to 12 NBA All-Star Games and collected numerous honors, including Rookie of the Year (1961), the NBA Most Valuable Player (1964), and an NBA Championship (1971) with the Bucks.
Oscar Robertson Facts
Oscar Robertson was named College Player of the Year three times in a row (1958, 1959, and 1960). In the same year, he represented the United States at the 1960 Rome Olympics, helping the basketball team win the gold medal.
His impact on the game has been recognized with multiple honors. Robertson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and named to the prestigious NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996. In 1998, the United States Basketball Writers Association renamed its NCAA Division I Player of the Year award as the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor. He was later inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2009.
During his college career, Robertson was the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer until 1970. The University of Cincinnati also recognized his contributions by awarding him an honorary doctorate in 2007.
Oscar Robertson Achievements
NBA Champion (1971)
NBA Most Valuable Player (1964)
12× NBA All-Star (1961–1972)
3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1961, 1964, 1969)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1961)
9× All-NBA First Team (1961–1969)
2× All-NBA Second Team (1970–1971)
2× Helms Foundation College Player of the Year (1959, 1960)
3× UPI College Player of the Year (1958–1960)
2× USBWA College Player of the Year (1959, 1960)
3× Sporting News College Player of the Year (1958–1960)
3× Consensus NCAA All-America First Team (1958–1960)
NBA 35th Anniversary Team
NBA 50th Anniversary Team
#14 Retired by the Sacramento Kings
#1 Retired by the Milwaukee Bucks
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