Cliff Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers legend, dies at age 53
Robinson was Unheralded Leader of Trail Blazers
Sad news for the NBA world as on Saturday, August 29th, it was announced that Portland Trail Blazers legend Ciff Robinson, died at age 53.
Robinson had a remarkable NCAA career at UConn, where he is still remembered as one of the greatest to have ever played for the Huskies. Later, he went on to play in the NBA for 18 years, for 5 different teams, averaging 14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, in a grand total of 1380 professional games.
Cliff Robinson’s career by teams
As we already said, “Uncle Cliff” played for a total of 5 teams in the NBA, but what we all remember the most was his stay in the Portland Trail Blazers, where we even went on to play in the NBA Finals against Michael Jordan’s and Scottie Pippen’s Chicago Bulls, in the 1992 season.
These are his numbers by team:
– Portland Trail Blazers: 1989-1997, 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
– Phoenix Suns: 1997-2001, 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists per game.
– Detroit Pistons: 2001-2003, 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists per game.
– Golden State Warriors: 2004-2005, 10.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game.
– New Jersey Nets: 2004-2007, 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists per game.
During his 18-year career, Robinson was a 2-time NBA All defensive team member, he was elected NBA’s Sixth man of the year in the 1992-1993 season, and was voted once to the NBA All-Star game, in 1994.
Born in Buffalo, New York, on December 16th 1966, with a listed height of 6 ft and 10 in, and a listed weight of 225 lb., Robinson played as a Forward or Center in the NBA, using only numbers 3 and 30 throughout his entire career.
Cliff Robinson´s life after NBA retirement
After 2007, when his NBA career was over, Robinson became an advocate for marijuana legalization, and established the “Uncle Cliffy” brand of cannabis products. This business was his main project, and then in 2013 he appeared in the reality TV show “Survivor”.
Regarding his health issues, Robinson had suffered a brain hemorrhage back in 2017, and that led to a stroke. The next year, in 2018, he had a tumor removed from his jaw.
Now the NBA world mourns the death of one of its own, and celebrates the life of a great player, who had a remarkable career and tried to make a difference in the different teams he played for. He died on August 29th, 2020, in Portland, Oregon, the city that saw him grow and become a basketball icon, with his trademark, of course, his headband, a feature that many would wear after him, including superstars like LeBron James, to mention one of many.
As the NBA playoffs keep going in this unique and strange season we’re living, players and teams will, for sure, remember Cliff Robinson and what he did for this sport. As always, life goes on, but the legend stays and pushes current players to be better every day.