Top 50 NBA players of the past 50 years: David Robinson ranks 23rd – FOX Sports

Editor’s Note: As part of a new series for his podcast, “What is Wright with Nick Wright?” FOX Sports commentator Nick Wright ranks the 50 best NBA players of the last 50 years. The countdown continues today with player No. 23, David Robinson.

David Robinson Career Highlights:

• Most Valuable Player of 1995
• 10 times All Star
• Four-time All-NBA First Team, two-time Second Team, four-time Third Team
• 1992 Defensive Player of the Year
• Four-time All-Defensive First Team, four-time Second Team
• 1994 goalscoring champion
• 1991 rebound champion
• Block champion in 1992
• 1990 Rookie of the Year

There were two distinct versions of David Robinson, and perhaps neither is accurately remembered.

Young Robinson was one of basketball’s finest players who won just about every individual award and was rounded out by Sean Elliott as an occasional All-Star for a Spurs franchise that saw limited playoff success. The former Robinson was an occasional All-Star who turned into a productive role player and complemented rising superstar Tim Duncan for a Spurs franchise that evolved into a dynasty.

“I think historically speaking, [Robinson] is a bit underrated when you really dive into what he’s done and what he’s achieved,” Wright said. “He’s an iconic player.”

David Robinson is No. 23 on Nick Wright’s 50 Best NBA Players of the Last 50 Years

Before Tim Duncan became the face of Spurs, David ‘The Admiral’ Robinson was. The legendary center averaged 21.1 points and 10.6 rebounds over his 14-year career, laying the foundation for San Antonio to become a dynasty. He won two NBA championships, an MVP award and was a 10-time All-NBA selection.

Over 14 seasons, Robinson ticked just about every box. But the surrounding circumstances are worth noting. After playing four years in the Navy and serving two years in the Navy, Admiral didn’t begin his NBA career until he was 24 years old.

Sculpted like a 7-foot-1 Greek god, Robinson ran like a gazelle and covered as much ground as any center. He was an immediate sensation both ways, averaging 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks to win Rookie of the Year. Then he led the league in rebounding. Then he won Defensive Player of the Year while averaging an NBA-record 6.8 interceptions plus blocks.

Then he won the scorer’s title.

Then he won the MVP title.

Spurs also won a lot, but not in the playoffs. They fell to three Western champions in six seasons, despite the Dream Team starter producing at his usual All-NBA level. The high point was an average of 30 and 16 with five interceptions plus blocks against the Lakers in the 1995 conference semifinals. The low point was the following series against the Rockets, as Hakeem Olajuwon completely dominated Robinson after expressing his disbelief that he didn’t win the MVP title.

Robinson had been a darling of the machine and early analysis for the first seven years of his career, averaging 26 and 13 with more than five interceptions plus blocks. He was a two-time runner-up MVP, twice a runner-up, and finished in the top seven every year. His player efficiency rating at this point was 27.8, which would be second all-time behind Michael Jordan.

“It’s kind of a testament to one of the flaws, even in the early 90s, with some of the basketball algorithms,” Wright said. “They’re going to reward high-performing, high-rebounding big men and make them look a little bit better than they are.”

Everything changed for Robinson and San Antonio in the 1996-97 campaign. He was sidelined for most of the season due to a foot injury, then general manager Gregg Popovich appointed himself head coach and, after the 17-win team won the first draft pick, Spurs selected Tim Duncan.

The Twin Towers proved to be an ideal pair, making Spurs an eternal title contender. Although Duncan did the heavy lifting, the aging Robinson was by far the second best player. In a Finals win over the Knicks, he averaged 17 and 12 with four blocks plus steals.

“The idea that he didn’t play a big role in that is ahistorical,” Wright said.

An injury to Duncan in 2000 marred Spurs’ repeated bid amid Robinson entering the twilight of his career and the emergence of Shaquille O’Neal-Kobe Bryant Lakers. Robinson’s last games came in the 2003 Finals against the Nets, where he went 11 and seven with three blocks plus steals to help San Antonio win a second title.

“Robinson doesn’t have a bunch of jaw-dropping playoff moments, but incredible playoff consistency,” Wright said. “I think people these days forget how good he was during his heyday.”