Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson, the “Big O,” is the player against whom all others labeled “versatile” are judged, and he may remain the standard forever.

Statistically, one need look no further than the numbers Robertson put up in 1961-62, just his second year in the league: 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game — a triple-double average for an entire season. He remained the only player to do so for more than 50 years until Russell Westbrook matched his feat in 2016-17.

During his 14-year NBA career with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson became the top-scoring guard of all time, amassing 26,710 points, which ranks 15th in NBA history.

His average of 25.7 points per game ranks as the seventh-highest mark ever among retired players, and he averaged 30 points or more in six seasons. Although six players have surpassed Robertson’s career record of 9,887 assists, some argue that Robertson’s total came in an era when an assist was credited much less generously than it is today. Robertson also averaged 7.5 rebounds for his career and led his team in rebounding once, a rare feat for a guard.

Robertson’s playmaking and scoring brilliance were rewarded with commendation after commendation, and finally with an NBA title in the twilight of his career. He was Rookie of the Year in 1960-61, played in 12 straight All-Star Games, was selected to the All-NBA First Team nine consecutive seasons, won the MVP award in 1963-64, and helped the Milwaukee Bucks win the championship in 1971. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 and named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996-97.

At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Robertson was the first big guard. Magic was only one year old when Robertson made his NBA debut.

Born in 1938, Robertson grew up dirt-poor in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis. In the projects he not only learned basketball but also learned firsthand about racial discrimination and economic inequality. He was drawn to basketball instead of baseball, which was more popular in the neighborhood, because it was “a poor kids’ game.” He learned how to shoot by tossing tennis balls and rags bound with rubber bands into a peach basket behind his family’s home.

Robertson left the NBA with 26,710 points, 9,887 assists and 7,804 rebounds collected in 1,040 games. He shot 48.5% from the field and 83.8% from the line. In 86 playoff games Robertson averaged 22.2 points, 8.9 assists and 6.7 rebounds. He led the league in assists six times and in free throw percentage twice. His teams made the playoffs in 10 of his 14 years in the league.

After his retirement Robertson worked to improve the living conditions of African-Americans in his hometown of Indianapolis by helping to build affordable housing. He remained a harsh critic of social policies that adversely affect minorities, particularly African-Americans.