We started off our Robinson tribute week with Jeff Garcia’s post about the NBA’s wasted opportunity in using David Robinson as a player who could have helped the NBA’s image crisis. We’ll finish off today the same way we’ll finish off every day this week, with a guest post by a who’s who of NBA bloggers. We start with Natalie Sitto of Need4Sheed. Be sure to visit Natalie’s site for some great Pistons content and follow her on twitter.
By Natalie Sitto
I come from a different place when I look back and reflect upon the career of David Robinson. Why? Though an avid fan of the NBA I am beyond loyal to one of the most hated teams in the league, the Detroit Pistons. I wasn’t a fan of the Spurs, ESPN didn’t have 47 different channels, TNT was barley a network and NBA League Pass wasn’t even something that was imaginable, so I was limited to watching Robinson only two games a year.
So how did a Pistons fan come to love The Admiral? His personality and his game.
What first comes to mind when I think about Mr. Robinson is not his awesome fade, but the fact that he single-handedly turned around his franchise as soon as he stepped on the court. I was hooked from his rookie season where I got to see him take the Trail Blazers to seven games in 89-90 playoffs. The Rookie of the Year trophy wasn’t even a question.
His game was never a question, he was a joy to watch and one of the few players I dreaded to watch when he was going against my team. Just lock down the Admiral and we can pull it out was a regular mantra. What can you say about a man who in his first six seasons won Rookie of the Year, NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Tack on to that a rebounding title, a scoring crown, six All-Star appearances (10 total), three selections to the All-NBA First Team and three selections to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
He’s the only player in NBA history to win the rebounding, blocked shots, and scoring titles and Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP and one of only four players to have recorded a quadruple-double. Add on his NBA titles and Olympic gold medals to his resume and you get one of the greatest basketball players to play the game.
His game was unlike no other, and his charitable work and humble nature was what set him apart from your typical NBA player. His defense and dunks hooked you but his heart kept you coming back for more.
We literally salute you Admiral as you deservedly get inducted into those hallowed halls.
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