Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson, known as “The Big O”, was born in Charlotte, Tennessee on November 24, 1938. In 1942 his family moved to Indianapolis where was he learned to play basketball on dirt courts from his two older brothers. He graduated in the top 10% of his class at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis in 1956. While in high school he led his team to a 45 game, two season winning streak and was named “Mr. Basketball” of Indiana. After leading his school to a state championship, he attended the University of Cincinnati to play basketball. While at UC he earned his Bachelor of Science Business Degree, as well as becoming a nationally recognized basketball phenomenon. He played basketball for UC from 1957-1960 and during that time he led the team to two appearances in the NCAA Final Four. In Oscar’s last season at UC, the post-season record was 28-2, and they finished third in the NCAA tournament. Robertson was voted Associated Press Player of the Year for two years in a row and he made All American First Team for three straight years. While at UC he led the NCAA in scoring for three years in a row, and today he still holds UC’s records for scoring and rebounds.After college, Robertson went on to co-captain the “Dream Team” that won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. It is argued that this “Dream Team” is the greatest basketball team to ever be assembled.

UC basketball team in 1960. Oscar Robertson is number 18, third from the right on the bottom row (1960 Yearbook, The Cincinnatian. UC Archives).

Robertson went on to play in the NBA for 14 seasons. He spent his first ten years with the Cincinnati Royals, but he just could not win a championship while there. In his first year after moving to the Milwaukee Bucks, he won an NBA championship in 1971. Robertson was named Rookie of the Year his first year, and was awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times throughout his career. He also was named an NBA All-Star for twelve years in a row. He is the only player in “history to average a triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game.” To this day, he is still ranked as the All Time Leading Scorer in the NBA. In 1980, his first year of eligibility, Robertson was inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Robertson playing on the Cincinnati Royals. ( Photographer Unknown. http://blog.mitchellandness.com/?tag=/oscar+robertson.)

Robertson also has a lasting legacy off of the basketball court. In 1976, he sued the NBA over the right of players to negotiate the terms of their employment. Robertson contested the right of teams to keep players from switching teams, resulting in what came to be known as the Oscar Robertson Rule. Following his suit, NBA players were the first professional athletes able to be “free agents”. This took control away from the team owners and put bargaining power in the players’ hands. Oscar Robertson also is the founder of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, an organization that helps provide pensions and medical care for retired players. Also, Oscar Robertson is a major advocate and fundraiser for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). In 1997, Robertson’s daughter, who was suffering from Lupus, required a kidney; Oscar donated one of his to her. After that event he took a role in being an advocate for the NKF Through his efforts, money raised at the US Basketball Writer’s Breakfast, held on the night before the Final Four, goes to the National Kidney Foundation. Robertson, who now lives in Cincinnati with his wife, also is active in the local community. He works with the NBA Legends Foundation, the Boys Club of Cincinnati, and he and his wife sponsor an annual scholarship for minority students wanting to attend the University of Cincinnati

The bronze statue erected in Varsity Village on UC’s campus was sculpted by Blair Russell and installed in 1994.

. Bennet, Paul. The University of Cincinnati. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2001. p.51

Cacciola, Scott. "Fighting for Everything: Oscar Robertson to be Honored for Work On, off

Court." The Commercial Appeal [Memphis], January 2010. Accessed October 2, 2011

O'Daniel, Michael. Oscar Robertson Media Ventures. Accessed October 24, 2011.

http://www.thebigo.com/main.php.