Oscar Robertson: The Greatest Basketball Player of All Time

Oscar Robertson, also known as the “Big O,” is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players ever. He changed how people saw the role of a point guard, turning it from just passing the ball to being a powerful scorer and a key player in the team’s attack.

Robertson started his impressive career at the University of Cincinnati, where he broke 19 school records and 14 national records. He led his team to a great record of 79 wins and only 9 losses, reaching the NCAA Final Four twice.

When he entered the NBA in 1960 with the Cincinnati Royals, later moving to the Milwaukee Bucks, he quickly made a name for himself. In his first season, he scored an average of 30.5 points per game and was named Rookie of the Year.

His best season was in 1961-62 when he made history by averaging a triple-double for the whole season—that means he averaged 30.8 points, 11.4 assists, and 12.5 rebounds per game. No one has ever done that again in a single season.

Throughout his 14 years in the NBA, Robertson scored a total of 26,710 points and made 9,887 assists. He left a lasting impact on basketball, showing that a point guard can be much more than just a passer, and continues to inspire basketball players around the world.

In addition to a Championship ring, his famous triple-double season and a MVP year, he made 12-straight All-Star Games and still graces NBA annals in several statistical categories. Currently, Robertson ranks 12th in total points, fifth in total assists and third in minutes played per game.

Early Life and Education

Oscar Robertson was born into a poor family in Charlotte, Tennessee, on November 24, 1938. When he was about a year and a half old, his family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana.

There, he grew up in Lockefield Gardens, a segregated housing project. In his neighborhood, baseball was the popular sport, but Robertson preferred basketball because it was more accessible for kids without much money.

He taught himself how to shoot by using tennis balls and rags tied with rubber bands, practicing by throwing them into a peach basket at the back of his family’s home.

Oscar Robertson’s journey into basketball history began at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, an all-black institution where coach Ray Crowe’s focus on the fundamentals profoundly shaped Robertson’s gameplay.

His high school career was marked by significant achievements and challenges. As a sophomore in 1954, Robertson led Attucks to the semi-state finals, losing to Milan, the eventual state champions—a story that inspired the 1986 movie “Hoosiers.”

By his junior year, Robertson and his team dominated the court, achieving a 31–1 record and securing the 1955 state championship—the first ever by an all-black school nationwide. This victory also marked the first state championship for an Indianapolis team in the Hoosier tournament.

In 1956, Robertson’s team maintained an impeccable 31–0 record, winning their second consecutive IHSAA Men’s Basketball Championship and recording a state-best 45 consecutive wins.

However, their celebration was marred by racial tensions; unlike other teams, they were redirected from downtown Indianapolis to a park outside the city for their victory celebration, a decision fueled by racial prejudices.

During his senior year, Robertson excelled personally, averaging 24.0 points per game and earning the title of Indiana Mr. Basketball. His high school successes paved the way to the University of Cincinnati, where he continued to break records.

At Cincinnati, Robertson’s prowess on the court was undeniable. He averaged 33.8 points per game, maintaining the third-highest scoring average in college history. Throughout his college career, Robertson won the national scoring title three times, was named an All-American each year, and received the College Player of the Year award.

His time at Cincinnati led the Bearcats to an impressive 79–9 record and two Final Four appearances. Despite these successes, a national championship eluded him during his tenure.

Robertson’s impact extended beyond the court; he faced significant racial discrimination, especially during road games in the segregated South. He later expressed his enduring resentment towards universities that upheld these racial barriers.

After leaving college as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer—a record later broken by Pete Maravich—Robertson’s legacy continued to resonate. His college records still stand, including single-game points (62) and career triple-doubles (10).

His experiences with racism did not overshadow his accomplishments, however, and in 1998, the United States Basketball Writers Association honored him by renaming their NCAA Division I Player of the Year award the Oscar Robertson Trophy.

Robertson’s Legacy

Oscar Robertson, often called one of the best NBA players ever, changed the role of a point guard with his amazing ability to score and assist. In his first season, he scored an average of 30.5 points per game, which is the third-highest score for a rookie in NBA history. Throughout his early career, he consistently scored over 30 points per game.

Robertson was the first NBA player to average more than 10 assists per game at a time when assists were harder to earn. He also was the first guard to average more than 10 rebounds per game, a record he set three times, which Russell Westbrook only matched many years later in 2017.

During his career, Robertson won many awards, including the MVP award in 1964 and three All-Star Game MVPs. He also led the league in assists six times. When he retired, he had scored more assists and free throws than anyone else in the NBA, and he was the second-highest scorer ever at that time.

Robertson was also known for being a “big guard,” which means he was taller and stronger than most others at his position. This helped him pave the way for other tall guards like Magic Johnson. He even invented some basketball moves like the head fake and the fadeaway jump shot, which Michael Jordan would later make famous.

Robertson has been honored many times for his skills and contributions to basketball. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and was included on the NBA 35th and 50th Anniversary Teams. His name was also given to the NCAA Division I Player of the Year trophy in 1998, which is now called the Oscar Robertson Trophy.

Recently, his legacy has been celebrated with a bronze statue at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Robertson’s influence on basketball is significant, and he is remembered as a player who greatly impacted the sport.