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Former Trail Blazers great Cliff Robinson dies at 53

NBA's standout sixth man played first eight seasons in Portland

By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer
Published: August 29, 2020, 10:20am
3 Photos
Portland Trail Blazers' Cliff Robinson drives on Chicago Bulls' Horace Grant during Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals in Chicago. Robinson, an early star on UConn’s rise to power and longtime top sixth man in the NBA, has died. He was 53. Robinson’s death was confirmed by UConn, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020.
Portland Trail Blazers' Cliff Robinson drives on Chicago Bulls' Horace Grant during Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals in Chicago. Robinson, an early star on UConn’s rise to power and longtime top sixth man in the NBA, has died. He was 53. Robinson’s death was confirmed by UConn, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/John Swart, File) Photo Gallery

Cliff Robinson, a fan favorite during the Trail Blazers’ run to two NBA Finals in the early 1990s, died Saturday at the age of 53.

Robinson was one of the NBA’s best sixth men, a versatile player who became a predecessor of the modern center.

Not bad for a guy who was warned he might not even get a second season at the University of Connecticut.

“He averaged five points as a freshman and I remember I told him, ‘You have two choices: I can kick you out if you keep doing what you do, or I’m going to watch you play a lot of years in the NBA,’ ” former UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. “He chose the latter, which was good.”

Robinson remembered as much for his personality as his skills by the teams he played for during an 18-year career.

“His personality and energy were unmatched, and his contributions on the court were unmistakable, helping the Trail Blazers into the playoffs each of his eight seasons with the team,” the Blazers said.

“His streak of 461 consecutive games played with the Trail Blazers still stands as a franchise record, which is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the team. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Cliff’s family and loved ones. Uncle Cliffy will be greatly missed by the Trail Blazers and all of Rip City.”

No cause of death was given, though Calhoun said Robinson had a stroke 2 1/2 years ago.

“It’s really sad to hear of this, because he was one of my kids, my players, a guy I watched grow into a man,” Calhoun said. “It’s not an easy thing.”

Robinson’s son, Isaiah Robinson, played basketball at Union High School for three years before transferring to Jefferson of Portland for his senior year in 2014. He went on to play college basketball at Houston Baptist.

“This … still don’t feel real,” Isaiah Robinson tweeted Saturday. “I appreciate everyone who has reached out. Just know I am reading everything and it means more than I can explain. With the being said, I may not be responding, but just know I do see and appreciate the kinds words.”

Robinson helped the Blazers reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. He not only never missed the postseason in Portland but hardly missed any games at all, playing all 82 in each of his first five seasons and never appearing in fewer than 75.

“RIP Clifford Robinson – some of my earliest memories of NBA basketball were of you as the lifeblood to those early/mid 90’s Blazers teams. The Memorial Coliseum days!! RIP to a Portland legend,” tweeted Cleveland star Kevin Love, who grew up in Oregon.

Clifford Robinson was born on Dec. 16, 1966, in Buffalo, N.Y. He was the centerpiece of Calhoun’s early teams at UConn. He played in Storrs from 1985-89, helping guide the Huskies from the bottom of the Big East to the 1988 NIT championship.

Robinson averaged just 5.6 points as a freshman but scored 20 a game as a senior before becoming a second-round pick of the Blazers.

“He was our first great player,” Calhoun said. “He gave legitimacy to the program.

“As a player coming in, here’s this guy playing on TV for the Trail Blazers, watching him play, watching UConn being mentioned. You could not pay for the exposure that he gave us.”

Robinson was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1993 and made his lone All-Star appearance the following year. At 6-foot-11, he had the size of a center but was a skilled outside shooter.

He played 1,380 games in the league, ranking in the top 15 all-time. Besides the Blazers, Robinson also played for Phoenix, Detroit, Golden State and the Nets.

“Clifford was the consummate professional who loved the game and played with an incredible sense of both joy and intensity during his outstanding 18-year career, including two seasons with the Warriors,” Golden State said.

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Associated Press writer Pat Eaton-Robb in Hartford, Conn., contributed to this report.

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