Ex-NBA forward Robinson, 53, dies
Former NBA player Clifford Robinson has died at 53, the University of Connecticut confirmed on Saturday. A cause of death has not been provided.
Robinson, who later became a marijuana advocate in his post-NBA career, played 18 years in the league, starting in Portland, where he played a key role on the Blazers’ Western Conference championship teams in 1989-90 and 1991-92. The Blazers lost to Detroit in the 1990 NBA Finals and Chicago in the 1992 Finals.
At 6-foot-10, 225 pounds, Robinson played center, power forward and small forward during his career in which he averaged 14.2 points and 4.6 rebounds. He made a name for himself as a scorer and defender. He averaged at least 20 points three times during his NBA career, including a career-high 21.3 in 1994-95. He made the All-Star team in 1994, was named Sixth Man of the Year in 1992-93 and was second-team AllDefense in 1999-2000 and 2001-02.
In a statement released Saturday, the Golden State Warriors said, “Clifford was the consummate professional who loved the game and played with an incredible sense of both joy and intensity during his outstanding 18-year career, including two seasons with the Warriors.”
In today’s game, he would have
found a spot as stretch four or five with his ability to make three-pointers. In 2000, he scored a career-high 50 points on 17-for-26 shooting. Though not a big deal now, he made four 3s in a game 12 times in his career, including seven in a game in 2004.
In addition to the Blazers, he played for the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Warriors and New Jersey Nets and retired following the 2006-07 season.
Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1966, Robinson played college ball at UConn.