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Earl Boykins

Earl Antoine Boykins (born June 2, 1976)^[2] is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. Standing at 5 feet, 5 inches in height, he is the second shortest player in NBA history behind Muggsy Bogues, who was 5 feet, 3 inches tall.^[2] His NBA listed weight is 133 pounds. Despite his light weight, he is reportedly able to bench press 315 pounds.
High school
Boykins played high school basketball at Cleveland Central Catholic High School in Cleveland's Slavic Village.

[edit] College

Boykins played college basketball at Eastern Michigan University from 1994 to 1998. He earned All-Mid-American Conference first-team honors in his junior and senior year. Also, during his senior season, Boykins was second in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in scoring, with an average of 26.8 points per game. He holds the career record for total assists (624) at Eastern Michigan University.^[2]

[edit] Pro Career

[edit] NBA

Boykins was never drafted by an NBA team, but he was signed to short-term contracts by various NBA teams. The organization he spent the most time with was the Denver Nuggets, as he played for them from the 2003-04 season to about midway through the 2006-07 season. On November 11, 2004, Boykins scored 32 points in a 117-109 Nuggets' home win over the Detroit Pistons, making him the shortest player in NBA history to score 30 or more points during a game.^[3]

[edit] Italy

Following the 2007–08 NBA season, Boykins was an unrestricted free agent. Instead of signing with an NBA team, he decided to play basketball in Europe, as he signed a one-year, $3.5 million net income contract with Virtus Bologna of the Italian A League.^[4] The one-year deal made Boykins the highest-paid basketball player in the Italian League and included income from Bologna's sponsorship and marketing arms, which is not an option for NBA players because of salary-cap restrictions.^[5]
On December 26, 2008, it was announced by Virtus general manager Claudio Sabatini that Boykins was cut from the club due to behavioral issues after Boykins flew home to the United States in order to see his sick son.^[6][7] However, a few days later it was announced that Boykins was staying with the club.^[8][9] In June 2009 he was released by Virtus.

[edit] Return to NBA

Boykins signed with the Washington Wizards in November 2009, making his return to the National Basketball Association. Boykins was a much needed addition to the Wizards, after guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton were suspended for the remainder of the current season after a misdemeanor gun possession charge stemming from a locker room incident. In the December 2, 2009, game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Boykins sank two free throws to clinch the Wizards' victory.
On August 19, 2010, the Bucks signed him to a 1 year deal.^[10]

[edit] Career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

[edit] Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1998–99	New Jersey	5	0	10.2	.476	.200	.000	.8	1.2	.2	.0	4.2
1998–99	Cleveland	17	0	10.0	.345	.154	.667	.8	1.6	.3	.0	2.6
1999–00	Orlando	1	0	8.0	.750	.000	.000	1.0	3.0	.0	.0	6.0
1999–00	Cleveland	25	0	10.1	.473	.400	.783	1.0	1.8	.5	.0	5.3
2000–01	LA Clippers	10	0	14.9	.397	.125	.824	1.1	3.2	.5	.0	6.5
2001–02	LA Clippers	68	2	11.2	.400	.310	.770	.8	2.1	.3	.0	4.1
2002–03	Golden State	68	0	19.4	.429	.377	.865	1.3	3.3	.6	.1	8.8
2003–04	Denver	82	3	22.5	.419	.322	.877	1.7	3.6	.6	.0	10.2
2004–05	Denver	82	5	26.4	.413	.337	.921	1.7	4.5	.9	.2	12.4
2005–06	Denver	60	0	25.7	.410	.346	.874	1.4	3.8	.8	.1	12.6
2006–07	Denver	31	4	28.3	.413	.373	.908	2.0	4.3	.8	.1	15.2
2006–07	Milwaukee	35	19	33.0	.427	.419	.886	2.2	4.5	.9	.0	14.0
2007–08	Charlotte	36	0	16.0	.355	.318	.831	.9	2.7	.4	.0	5.1
2009–10	Washington	67	1	16.7	.427	.317	.865	1.1	2.6	.4	.0	6.6
Career		587	34	20.4	.416	.347	.878	1.4	3.3	.6	.0	9.1

[edit] Playoffs

<>

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2003–04	Denver	5	0	24.2	.444	.357	.857	2.4	3.8	1.0	.2	13.4
2004–05	Denver	5	1	30.4	.397	.000	.895	1.0	3.8	.8	.2	14.2
2005–06	Denver	5	0	28.0	.322	.211	.765	1.4	4.0	.8	.0	11.0
Career		15	1	27.5	.389	.225	.837	1.6	3.9	.9	.1	12.9

All Time Leaders: Three Point Field Goals Made

All Time Leaders: Three Point Field Goals Made   Player 3FGA 3FG% 3FGM   1. Reggie Miller 6,486 .395 2,560   2. Ray Allen 6,362 .398 2,533   3. Jason Kidd 4,955 .348 1,724   4. Dale Ellis 4,266 .403 1,719   5. Peja Stojakovic 4,287 .401 1,718   6. Chauncey Billups 4,250 .389 1,654   6. Rashard Lewis 4,228 .391 1,654   8. Jason Terry 4,156 .379 1,576   9. Glen Rice 3,896 .400 1,559   10. Eddie Jones 4,147 .373 1,546   11. Tim Hardaway 4,345 .355 1,542   12. Nick Van Exel 4,278 .357 1,528   13. Steve Nash 3,538 .430 1,523   13. Paul Pierce 4,114 .370 1,523   15. Michael Finley 3,880 .375 1,454   16. Mike Bibby 3,761 .380 1,429   17. Brent Barry 3,442 .405 1,395   18. Antoine Walker 4,264 .325 1,386   19. Vince Carter 3,629 .376 1,364   20. Kobe Bryant 4,011 .339 1,361   21. Dan Majerle 3,798 .358 1,360   22. Jason Richardson 3,561 .373 1,327   23. Mitch Richmond 3,417 .388 1,326   24. Allan Houston 3,247 .402 1,305   25. Terry Porter 3,360 .386 1,297   26. Mookie Blaylock 3,816 .336 1,283   27. Mike Miller 3,109 .404 1,257   28. Vernon Maxwell 3,931 .320 1,256   29. Clifford Robinson 3,515 .356 1,253   30. Jamal Crawford 3,539 .352 1,247

All Time Leaders: Three Point Field Goal Percentage

All Time Leaders: Three Point Field Goal Percentage
Player	3FGM	3FGA	3FG
1. Steve Kerr	726	1,599	.454
2. Anthony Morrow	272	603	.451
3. Hubert Davis	728	1,651	.441
4. Jason Kapono	449	1,023	.439
5. Drazen Petrovic	255	583	.437
6. Tim Legler	260	603	.431
7. Steve Nash	1,523	3,538	.430
8. Daniel Gibson	411	965	.426
9. B.J. Armstrong	436	1,026	.425
10. Wesley Person	1,150	2,754	.418
11. Matt Bonner	491	1,184	.415
12. Anthony Parker	507	1,230	.412
13. Dana Barros	1,090	2,652	.411
13. Raja Bell	900	2,192	.411
15. Kyle Korver	952	2,323	.410
16. Trent Tucker	575	1,410	.408
17. Wally Szczerbiak	590	1,453	.406
18. Brent Barry	1,395	3,442	.405
19. Mike Miller	1,257	3,109	.404
20. Dale Ellis	1,719	4,266	.403
20. Jeff Hornacek	828	2,055	.403
20. Ben Gordon	898	2,231	.403
23. Mark Price	976	2,428	.402
23. Allan Houston	1,305	3,247	.402
23. Dell Curry	1,245	3,098	.402
23. Michael Dickerson	288	717	.402
23. Channing Frye	259	645	.402
28. Peja Stojakovic	1,718	4,287	.401
29. Glen Rice	1,559	3,896	.400
29. Bobby Simmons	358	895	.400

Three Points Records

Regular Season Records: Three-Point Field Goals

Through the 2004-2005 season

Most three-point field goals per game, season 9.71 - Phoenix, 2004 (796/82) Fewest three-point field goals per game, season 0.12-Atlanta, 1980-81 (10/82) 0.12 - Los Angeles, 1982-83 (10/82) Most three-point field goals, game 21 - Toronto vs. Philadelphia, March 13, 2005 Most three-point field goals, both teams, game 31 – Toronto (21) vs. Philadelphia (10), March 13, 2005 Most three-point field goals, one half 12- Dallas at Denver, February 29, 1996 12 - Milwaukee at Portland, January 5, 2001 12 - Houston vs. Milwaukee, December 22, 2001 12 - Sacramento vs. Chicago, November 23, 2003 12 - Seattle vs. Boston, February 22, 2004 12 - Portland at New Orleans, January 14, 2005 12 - Toronto vs. Philadelphia, March 13, 2005 12 - Phoenix vs. L.A. Lakers, April 5, 2005 Most three-point field goals, one quarter 10-Boston at Atlanta, November 17, 2001 Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage Highest three-point field-goal percentage, season .428-Charlotte, 1996-97 (591/1,382) Lowest three-point field-goal percentage, season .104-Los Angeles, 1982-83 (10/96) Most three-point field goals, none missed, game 7-Indiana vs. Atlanta, January 20, 1995 Most three-point field goals, both teams, none missed, game 5-San Antonio (4) at Philadelphia (1), December 19, 1984 Most three-point field-goal attempts, none made, game 15-Houston at Orlando, March 30, 1991 15 - Golden State vs. Indiana, December 6, 1996 15 - Milwaukee vs. Phoenix, January 22, 2002 Three-Point Field-Goal Attempts Most three-point field-goal attempts per game, season 26.28 – Boston, 2002-03 (2,155/82) Fewest three-point field-goal attempts per game, season 0.91-Atlanta, 1979-80 (75/82) Most three-point field-goal attempts, game 49-Dallas vs. New Jersey, March 5, 1996 Most three-point field-goal attempts, both teams, game 69 – Portland (37) at Golden State (32), April 15, 2005 64-Houston (33) vs. Dallas (31), April 11, 1995 (2 OT) 64 - Cleveland (40) vs. Portland (24), December 30, 1995 (2 OT) 64 - Houston (37) vs. L.A. Lakers (27), November 12, 1996 (2 OT) Most three-point field-goal attempts, one half 28-Phoenix at New York, January 29, 1995

Most seasons leading league 2-Darrell Griffith, Utah, 1983-84-1984-85 2 - Larry Bird, Boston, 1985-86-1986-87 2 - Michael Adams, Denver, 1988-89-1989-90 2 - Vernon Maxwell, Houston, 1990-91-1991-92 2 - Dan Majerle, Phoenix, 1992-93-1993-94 2 - Reggie Miller, Indiana, 1992-93, 1996-97 2 - Ray Allen, Milwaukee, 2001-02; Milwaukee-Seattle, 2002-03 Most three-point field goals, career 2,217-Reggie Miller, Indiana, 1987-88-2001-02 Most three-point field goals, season 267-Dennis Scott, Orlando, 1995-96 Most consecutive three-point field goals, no misses, season 13-Brent Price, Washington, January 15-January 19, 1996 13 - Terry Mills, Detroit, December 4-December 7, 1996 Most three-point field goals, game 12 - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers vs. Seattle, January 7, 2003 12 - Donyell Marshall, Toronto vs. Philadelphia, March 13, 2005 11-Dennis Scott, Orlando vs. Atlanta, April 18, 1996 Most consecutive games, three-point field goals made 89-Dana Barros, Philadelphia, Boston, December 23, 1994-January 10, 1996 (58 games in 1994-95; 31 games in 1995-96) Most three-point field goals, rookie, season 158-Kerry Kittles, New Jersey, 1996-97 Most three-point field goals made, one half 8-Tim Thomas, Milwaukee at. Portland, January 5, 2001 8 - Michael Redd, Milwaukee vs. Houston, February 20, 2002 8 - Ray Allen, Milwaukee vs. Charlotte, April 14, 2002 8 - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers vs. Washington, March 28, 2003 8 - Tracy McGrady, Orlando at Cleveland, January 26, 2004 Most three-point field goals made, one quarter 7-Michael Redd, Milwaukee vs. Charlotte, April 14, 2002 Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage Most seasons leading league 2-Craig Hodges, Milwaukee, 1985-86; Milwaukee, Phoenix, 1987-88 2 - Steve Kerr, Cleveland, 1989-90; Chicago, 1994-95 Highest three-point field-goal percentage, career (minimum 250 made) .454-Steve Kerr, Phoenix, 1988-89; Cleveland, 1989-90-1992-93; Orlando, 1992-93; Chicago, 1993-94-1997-98; San Antonio, 1998-99-2000-01; 2002-03; Portland, 2001-02 Highest three-point field-goal percentage, season (qualifiers) .524-Steve Kerr, Chicago, 1994-95 (89/170) .5224-Tim Legler, Washington, 1995-96 (128/245) Most three-point field goals, none missed, game 9 – Latrell Sprewell, New York vs. L.A. Clippers, February 4, 2003 11-Antoine Walker, Boston at Philadelphia, December 17, 2001 Most three-point field-goal attempts, none made, game Three-Point Field-Goal Attempts Most seasons leading league 4-Michael Adams, Denver, 1987-88-1990-91 Most three-point field-goal attempts, career 6,486 – Reggie Miller, Indiana, 1987-88 – 2004-05 Most three-point field-goal attempts, season 678-George McCloud, Dallas, 1995-96 Most three-point field-goal attempts, game 21 – Damon Stoudamire, Portland at Golden State, April 15, 2005 20-Michael Adams, Denver at L.A. Clippers, April 12, 1991 20 - George McCloud, Dallas vs. New Jersey, March 5, 1996

Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee), nicknamed "The Big O" or O-Train, is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks.^[1] The 6-foot-5, 220-pound ^[2] Robertson played the shooting guard/point guard position, and was a twelve-time All-Star, eleven-time member of the All-NBA Team, and one-time winner of the MVP award in fourteen professional seasons. He is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season.^[3] He was a key player on the team which brought the Bucks their only NBA championship in the 1970-71 NBA season. His playing career, especially during high school and college, was plagued by racism.^[3]
For his outstanding achievements, Robertson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980, and was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.^[4] The United States Basketball Writers Association renamed their college Player of the Year Award the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor in 1998, and he was one of five people chosen to represent the inaugural National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame class in 2006.^[5]
Robertson was also an integral part of the Oscar Robertson suit^[6] of 1970. The landmark NBA antitrust suit, named after the then-president of the NBA Players' Association, led to an extensive reform of the league's strict free agency and draft rules and, subsequently, to higher salaries for all players.^[3]
Early years
^{Robertson was born in poverty and grew up in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis. In contrast to many other boys who preferred to play baseball, he was drawn to basketball because it was "a poor kids' game." Because his family could not afford a basketball, he learned how to shoot by tossing tennis balls and rags bound with rubber bands into a peach basket behind his family's home.[3] Robertson attended Crispus Attucks High School, a segregated all-black school.}

^{[edit] High school career}

^{At Crispus Attucks, Robertson's coach was Ray Crowe, whose emphasis on a fundamentally sound game had a positive effect on Robertson's style of play. In 1954, as a sophomore, he starred on an Attucks team that lost in the semi-state finals (state quarterfinals) to eventual state champions Milan, whose story would later be the basis of the 1986 movie classic Hoosiers. But with Robertson leading the team, Crispus Attucks proceeded to dominate its opposition, going 31–1 in 1955 and winning the first state championship for any all-black school in the nation. The following year the team finished with a perfect 31–0 record and won a second straight state title, becoming the first team in Indiana to secure a perfect season along the way to a state-record 45 straight victories. The state championships won by the all-black school were the first-ever for Indianapolis. However, the celebrations were cut short by the city's leaders. The players were driven outside of town to hold their party because, said Robertson in the Indianapolis Star, "They said the blacks are gonna tear up downtown." Robertson was also named Indiana "Mr. Basketball" in 1956, after scoring 24.0 points per game during his senior season.[3] After his graduation that year, Robertson enrolled at the University of Cincinnati}
College career
Robertson continued to dominate his opponents while at the University of Cincinnati, recording an incredible scoring average of 33.8 points per game, the third highest in college history. In each of his three years, he won the national scoring title, was named an All-American, and was chosen College Player of the Year, while setting 14 NCAA and 19 school records.^[4] Robertson's stellar play led the University of Cincinnati Bearcats to a 79–9 overall record during his three varsity seasons, including two Final Four appearances. However, a championship eluded Robertson, a phenomenon which would become a repeated occurrence in his later career. When Robertson left college he was the all-time leading NCAA scorer until fellow Hall of Fame player Pete Maravich topped him in 1970.^[3]
Despite his success on the courts, Robertson's college career was soured by racism. He was the University of Cincinnati's fifth black player, preceded by Chester Smith (1932), London Gant (1936), Willard Stargel (1942), and Tom Overton (1951). Road trips to segregated cities were especially difficult, with Robertson often sleeping in college dorms instead of hotels. "I'll never forgive them," he told the Indianapolis Star years later.^[3] Decades after his college days, Robertson's stellar NCAA career was rewarded by the United States Basketball Writers Association when, in 1998, they renamed the trophy awarded to the NCAA Division I Player of the Year the Oscar Robertson Trophy. This honor brought the award full circle for Robertson since he had won the first two awards ever presented.^[7]

[edit] 1960 Olympics

Medal record
Competitor for  United States
Men's Basketball
Pan American Games
Gold	1959 Chicago	Team Competition
Olympic Games
Gold	1960 Rome	Team Competition

After college, Robertson co-captained the United States basketball team at the 1960 Summer Olympics with Jerry West. The team, described as the greatest assemblage of amateur basketball talent ever, went undefeated during the competition to win the gold medal. Robertson was a starting forward along with Purdue's Terry Dischinger, but played point guard as well. He was the co-leading scorer with fellow NBA legend Jerry Lucas, as the United States team won its nine games by a dominating margin of 42.4 points per game. Ten of the twelve college players on the American squad later played professionally in the NBA, including future Hall-of-Famers West, Lucas, and Walt Bellamy.^[8]

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Cincinnati Royals

Prior to the 1960–61 NBA season, Robertson made himself eligible for the 1960 NBA Draft. There, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals as a territorial pick. The Royals also gave Robertson a $33,000 signing bonus, a far cry from his childhood days when he was too poor to afford a basketball.^[3] Robertson soon proved worthy of their trust, continuing to dominate his opposition on the professional level. In his rookie season, Robertson finished with incredible all-around stats of 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists (leading the league), almost averaging a triple-double for the entire season. For his spectacular performance, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year, was elected into the All-NBA First Team – which would happen in each of Robertson's first nine years – and made the first of 12 All-Star Game appearances.^[1] In addition, he was named the 1961 NBA All-Star Game MVP following his 23 point, 14 assist, and 9 rebound performance in a West victory. However, the Royals finished with a dismal 33–46 record and stayed in the cellar of the Western Division.
In the 1961–62 season, Robertson wrote NBA history. In that season, he became the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for the entire season, averaging 30.8 points, 11.4 assists and 12.5 rebounds per game.^[1] He also convincingly broke the assists record by Bob Cousy, who had recorded 715 regular season assists two seasons earlier, by logging 899 of them. The Royals earned a playoff berth; however, they were eliminated in the first round by the Detroit Pistons.^[9] In the following season, Robertson further established himself as one of the greatest players of his generation, averaging an impressive 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 9.5 assists, narrowly missing out on another triple-double season.^[1] The Royals would charge into the Eastern Division Finals, but then succumb in a grueling seven games series against a great Boston Celtics team led by Bill Russell.^[10]
In the 1963–64 season, the Royals achieved an impressive 55–25 record,^[11] which meant second place in the Eastern Division. Under new coach Jack McMahon, Robertson flourished, and for the first time in his career, he had a decent supporting cast: second scoring option Jack Twyman was now supplemented by blossoming frontcourt players Jerry Lucas and Wayne Embry, and fellow guard Adrian Smith helped Robertson in the backcourt. Robertson had another magnificent season, leading the NBA in free-throw percentage, scoring a career-high 31.4 points per game, and averaging 9.9 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game—just missing another triple-double season.^[1] In fact, the averages for his first five seasons in the NBA are a triple-double again: 30.3 points per game, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists. For his feats, he won the NBA MVP Award and became the only player other than legendary centers Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to win this title from 1960 to 1968.^[3] Robertson also won his second All-Star Game MVP award that year after scoring 26 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing off 8 assists in an East victory. In the postseason, the Royals defeated the Philadelphia 76ers led by Wilt Chamberlain, but then were dominated by the Celtics losing four games to one.^[3]
From a win–loss perspective, however, this season would be Robertson's last successful Royals season. From the 1964–65 season on, things began to turn sour for the franchise. Despite Robertson's stellar play, never failing to record averages of at least 24.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists in the six following years,^[1] the Royals were eliminated in the first round three times in a row from 1965 to 1967, and then even missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons from 1968 to 1970. In the 1969–70 season, the sixth disappointing season in a row, fan support was waning. To attract the public, 41-year old head coach Bob Cousy even made a short-lived comeback. For seven games, the legendary Celtics point guard partnered Robertson in the Royals' backcourt, but they still missed the playoffs.^[3]

[edit] Milwaukee Bucks and the 'Oscar Robertson suit'

Prior to the 1970–71 season, the Royals stunned the basketball world by trading Robertson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk. Officially, no reasons were named, but many pundits suspected head coach Bob Cousy was jealous of all the attention Robertson was getting.^[3] Robertson himself said: "I think he [Cousy] was wrong and I will never forget it."^[3]
However, the trade proved highly beneficial for the veteran Robertson. After being stuck with an under-performing team for the last six years, he now was paired with the young Lew Alcindor, who would years later become the all-time NBA scoring leader under the name of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. With Alcindor in the low post and Robertson running the backcourt, the Bucks charged to a league best 66–16 record, including a then-record 20-game win streak, a dominating 12–2 record in the playoffs, and crowned their season with the NBA title by routing the Baltimore Bullets 4–0 in the 1971 NBA Finals. For the first time in his career, Robertson had won a championship on the NCAA or NBA level.^[3]
From a historical perspective, however, Robertson's most important contribution was made not on the court, but rather in court. It was the year of the landmark Oscar Robertson suit, an antitrust suit filed by the NBA's Players Association against the league. As Robertson was the president of the Players Association, the case bore his name. In this suit, the proposed ABA-NBA merger between the NBA and the American Basketball Association was delayed until 1976, and the college draft as well as the free agency clauses were reformed.^[3] Robertson himself stated that the main reason was that clubs basically owned their players: players were forbidden to talk to other clubs once their contract was up, because free agency did not exist back then.^[12] Six years after the suit was filed, the NBA finally reached a settlement, the ABA-NBA merger took place, and the Oscar Robertson suit encouraged signing of more free agents and eventually led to higher salaries for all players.^[3]
On the hardwood, the veteran Robertson still proved he was a valuable player. Paired with Abdul-Jabbar, two more division titles with the Bucks followed in the 1971–72 and 1972–73 season. In Robertson's last season, he helped lead Milwaukee to a league-best 59–23 record and helped them to reach the 1974 NBA Finals. There, Robertson had the chance to end his stellar career with a second ring. The Bucks were matched up against a Boston Celtics team powered by an inspired Dave Cowens, and the Bucks lost in seven games.^[3] As a testament to Robertson's importance to the Bucks, in the season following his retirement the Bucks fell to last place in their division with a 38–44 record in spite of the continued presence of Abdul-Jabbar.^[13]
Robertson was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.

[edit] Post-NBA career

After he retired as an active player, Robertson stayed involved in efforts to improve living conditions in his native Indianapolis, especially concerning fellow African-Americans.^[3] In addition, he worked as a color commentator with Brent Musburger on games televised by CBS during the 1974-75 NBA season.^[14] His trademark expression was "Oh, Brent, did you see that!" in reaction to flashy or spectacular situations such as fast breaks, slam dunks, player collisions, etc.
After his retirement, the Kansas City Kings (the Royals moved there while Robertson was with the Bucks) retired his number 14 jersey; the retirement continues to be honored by the Kings in their current home of Sacramento. The Bucks also retired the number 1 jersey he wore in Milwaukee. Since 1994, a nine-foot bronze statue honors Robertson outside the Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center, the current home of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball.^[4] Robertson attends many of the games there, viewing the Bearcats from a chair at courtside. After many years outside the spotlight, on November 17, 2006, Robertson was recognized for his impact on college basketball as a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was one of five, along with John Wooden, Bill Russell, Dean Smith and Dr. James Naismith, selected to represent the inaugural class.^[5]

[edit] Legacy

Robertson is regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history, a triple threat who could score inside, outside and also was a stellar playmaker. His rookie scoring average of 30.5 points per game is the third highest of any rookie in NBA history, and Robertson averaged more than 30 points per game in six of his first seven seasons.^[1] Only two other players in the NBA have had more 30+ point per game seasons in their career. Robertson was the first player to average more than 10 assists per game, doing so at a time when the criteria for assists were more stringent than today.^[3] Furthermore, Robertson is the only guard in NBA history to ever average more than 10 rebounds per game, doing so three times. In addition to his 1964 regular season MVP award, Robertson won three All-Star Game MVPs in his career (in 1961, 1964, and 1969). He has the all-time highest scoring average in the All-Star Game for players participating in four or more games (the league standard for the record) at 20.5 points per game. He ended his career with 26,710 points (25.7 per game, ninth-highest all time), 9,887 assists (9.5 per game) and 7,804 rebounds (7.5 per game).^[1] He led the league in assists six times, and at the time of his retirement, he was the NBA's all-time leader in career assists and free throws made, and was the second all-time leading scorer behind the legendary Wilt Chamberlain.^[3]
Robertson also set yardsticks in versatility. If his first five seasons are strung together, Robertson averaged a triple-double over these 400+ games, averaging an incredible 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists.^[15] For his career, Robertson had 181 triple-doubles, a record that has never been approached.^[16] These numbers are even more astonishing if it is taken into account that the three-point shot did not exist when he played, which was introduced by the NBA in the 1979–80 season and benefits sharpshooting backcourt players. In 1967–68, Robertson also became the first of only two players in NBA history to lead the league in both scoring average and assists per game in the same season (also achieved by Nate Archibald). The official scoring and assist titles went to other players that season, however, because the NBA based the titles on point and assist totals (not averages) prior to the 1969–70 season. Robertson did, however, win a total of six NBA assist titles during his career. For his career, Robertson shot a high .485 field goal average and led the league in free-throw percentage twice—in the 1963–64 and 1967–68 seasons.^[1]
Robertson is recognized by the NBA as the first legitimate "big guard", paving the way for other over-sized backcourt players like Magic Johnson.^[3] Furthermore, he is also credited to have invented the head fake and the fadeaway jump shot, a shot which Michael Jordan later became famous for.^[17] For the Cincinnati Royals, now relocated and named the Sacramento Kings, he scored 22,009 points and 7,731 assists, and is all-time leader in both statistics for the combined Royals / Kings teams.^[3]
Robertson was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame on April 28, 1980. He received the "Player of the Century" award by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2000 and was ranked third on SLAM Magazine's Top 75 NBA Players in 2003, behind fellow NBA legends Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Furthermore, in 2006, ESPN named Robertson the second greatest point guard of all time, praising him as the best post-up guard of all time and placing him only behind Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson.^[15]
In 1959, the Player of the Year Award was established to recognize the best college basketball player of the year by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award during the NCAA Final Four. In 1998, it was renamed the Oscar Robertson Trophy in honor of the player who won the first two awards because of his outstanding career and his continuing efforts to promote the game of basketball. In 2004, an 18" bronze statue of Robertson was sculpted by world-renowned sculptor Harry Weber.^[7]

[edit] NBA statistics

[edit] Career highs

[edit] 40 point games

77 times in the regular season

[edit] Top assist games

Assists	Opponent	Home/Away	Date
22	Syracuse Nationals	Home	01961-10-29 October 29, 1961
22 (OT)	New York Knicks	Home	01966-03-05 March 5, 1966
21	New York Knicks	Home	01964-02-14 February 14, 1964
20	Los Angeles Lakers	Home	01961-02-19 February 19, 1961
20	Chicago Packers	Neutral	01961-12-11 December 11, 1961
20	San Francisco Warriors	Home	01964-12-28 December 28, 1964
20	New York Knicks	Neutral	01965-02-28 February 28, 1965
20	Phoenix Suns	Away	01969-03-04 March 4, 1969
19	St. Louis Hawks	Home	01961-12-08 December 8, 1961
19	Philadelphia Warriors	Home	01962-01-11 January 11, 1962
19	Chicago Zephyrs	Neutral	01962-12-13 December 13, 1962
19	San Francisco Warriors	Home	01963-01-04 January 4, 1963
19	Baltimore Bullets	Home	01964-01-05 January 5, 1964
19	Detroit Pistons	Neutral	01964-12-01 December 1, 1964
19	Baltimore Bullets	Home	01965-03-18 March 18, 1965
19	Los Angeles Lakers	Away	01966-12-14 December 14, 1966
19	Philadelphia 76ers	Home	01967-12-06 December 6, 1967
19	San Diego Rockets	Neutral	01968-01-18 January 18, 1968

[edit] Regular season

Stat	High	Opponent	Date
Points	56	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	01964-12-18 December 18, 1964
Points	50	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	01965-02-06 February 6, 1965
Field goals made
Field goal attempts
Free throws made, none missed	18—18	at St. Louis Hawks	01962-01-30 January 30, 1962
Free throws made, one missed	22—23	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	01964-12-18 December 18, 1964
Free throws made, one missed	22—23	vs. Baltimore Bullets	01966-11-20 November 20, 1966
Free throws made	22	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	01964-12-18 December 18, 1964
Free throws made	22	at Baltimore Bullets	01964-12-27 December 27, 1964
Free throws made	22	vs. Baltimore Bullets	01966-11-20 November 20, 1966
Free throw attempts	26	at Baltimore Bullets	01964-12-27 December 27, 1964
Rebounds
Minutes played

[edit] Playoffs

Stat	High	Opponent	Date
Points	43	at Boston Celtics	01963-03-28 March 28, 1963
Points	43	at Boston Celtics	01963-04-10 April 10, 1963
Field goals made	17	at Boston Celtics	01963-03-28 March 28, 1963
Free throws made, one missed	21—22	at Boston Celtics	01963-04-10 April 10, 1963
Free throws made	21	at Boston Celtics	01963-04-10 April 10, 1963
Free throw attempts	22	at Boston Celtics	01963-04-10 April 10, 1963
Assists	18	at Philadelphia 76ers	01964-03-29 March 29, 1964
Assists	16	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	01964-03-22 March 22, 1964
Assists	16	at Los Angeles Lakers	01974-04-02 April 2, 1974
Minutes played	58 (2 OT)	at Boston Celtics	01974-05-10 May 10, 1974

[edit] Personal life

Robertson is the son of Mazell and Bailey Robertson. He has two brothers, Bailey Jr. and Henry. He remembers a tough childhood, plagued by poverty and racism.^[18] Due to his troubled childhood, Robertson was known to be sullen and prone to violent outbreaks. However, after winning the Olympic gold medal, then signing his first big contract with the Royals and marrying his sweetheart Yvonne Crittenden within several months, he blossomed into a calm, content young man. His U.S. Olympic teammate Jerry West remarked amicably how much Robertson had "grown up" in that year.^[17] In the following years, Robertson fathered daughters Shana Yvonne (b. 1962) and Tia Elaine (b. 1964), and led a private life without scandal; when a biography was going to be written about him in the 1990s, Robertson joked that his life had been "dull", and that he had been "married to the same woman for a long time"^[17] In 1997, Robertson donated one of his kidneys to his daughter Tia, who suffered lupus-related kidney failure.^[17] He has been an honorary spokesman for the National Kidney Foundation ever since. In 2003, he published his own biography, The Big O, after his own nickname. Robertson also owns the chemical company Orchem, based in Cincinnati, Ohio.^[19]
Regarding basketball, Robertson has stated that legendary Harlem Globetrotters players Marques Haynes and "clown prince" Goose Tatum were his idols.^[12] Now in his seventies, he refrains from playing basketball, although he still follows it on TV and attends most home games for the University of Cincinnati, his alma mater. He now lists woodworking as his prime hobby.^[12] Robertson adds that he still could average a triple-double season in today's basketball, and that he is highly skeptical that anyone else could do it. On June 9, 2007, Oscar received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Cincinnati for both his philanthropic and entrepreneurial efforts