How Good Was Oscar Robertson REALLY? 

Is Oscar in your top 10 greatest players of All Time?

The original. Walking triple double..

Oscar was incredibly efficient. He didn't try to be flashy at all. Nobody understood basketball geometry better. Oscar also made his teammates better. The reason he got in bad with management is that he was a pioneer in civil and players rights. Plus, he was highly critical of the team's inept talent acquisition and drafting. It was really a shame that better players were not put on the floor with him.

Celtic great Bill Russell said Oscar Robinson was the best player he EVER SAW! A man with 11 Championship rings said that.

This shouldn't even be a question or a issue and I had the pleasure to watch him play. He was the truth. He was getting triple doubles in a era when they weren't even talking about triple doubles. It a shame he spent so many seasons on those mediocre Cincinnati Royals teams

He's definitely better than Westbrook, he wasn't obviously chasing after rebounding stats and wasn't jacking up as many shots. Plus he has a championship ring.

I saw him in high school and beyond. When considering his stats, remember that there was no 3 point shot then. He simply had it all.

He definitely is one of the greatest that has played the game in any generation!

He's still the best player I've ever seen and Iv'e been watching basketball for 60 years. He was so good that I would enjoy him just bringing the ball up court vs the full court press that Red Auerbach would use with 3 different Celtics to try to tire Oscar out. It never really worked, especially in his early prime 1960-65. In 1963 he produced the greatest playoff series in NBA history vs the greatest dynasty of all-time and came very close to taking them down. It took a magnifcent 47 point performance by the most under-appreciated great Celtic of all-time to prevent him from winning a game 7 in Boston. Sam Jones had scored 30 in game one in Boston but Oscar hit 17 of 23 to score 43 to steal the opener. Oscar forced a game 7 with a 36-14-15 performance. In the game 7 Auerbach chose to foul the Big O as a means to keep him from controlling the game. Well Oscar made 21 of 22 FTs to again score 43 but Sam's huge effort offset Oscar this time to save the Auerbach-Russell dynasty. Oscar Robertson produced the greatest combination of college and pro careers in American team sport history. He's the only college player to ever lead the nation in scoring and lead his team to the final four in the same season 2 consecutive times. By the end of his Jr season he was the best player in all of basketball and by the end of his 2nd NBA season he was the greatest player of all-time. Then by the end of his NBA MVP season (only time between 1960&68 it was won by someone other than Wilt or Russell) he was the greatest player the world would ever see. Remember in those days the game was played by the rules. No palming. no drop step, no double pivot foot & no extra steps with the ball. The game is much more challanging when it has to be played under those conditions not to mention the elite 9 team league that the NBA was at the time when there were concensus all-Americans on the benches of teams. For those of us who are basketball eficionados Oscar was the ultimate player to watch play. He played the game the correct way. What do I mean by that. Well he would always move the ball up the floor to an open man instead of keeping the ball to give himself a better chance to score. He would rarely make a poor shot selection for himself or on a pass to a teamate. He was the best at the pick&roll and he knew how to run his man into a pick which has been a lost art for quite a while now. If top players in recent years had to play by the rules Oscar had to adhere to, they would look very similar to him on film.

A Triple Double for 5 seasons? News to me. Crazy how now one ever points that out

I always enjoyed watching Oscar Robertson back in the days. His style of playing made him stand out. Was very glad when he finally got that elusive NBA Championship.

Different time. Different era. Oscar was as effective in his as Michael Jordan and LeBron in theirs. Their styles were different, but, individual results are quite similar. As a 60 year old Cincinnatian, I’ve seen all three, live, and hundreds of times on TV. Oscar Robertson definitely deserves to be in the conversation of the greatest players of all time.

Oscar Robertson was the Willie Mays of basketball. Loved to watch him play.

I grew up in a time when the only exposure I had to the NBA was the Sunday game of CBS. That said, I remember watching Oscar Robertson playing. He was so fundamentally sound, always under control and great.

So underrated by the younger generation

I remember Oscar from his Milwaukee Bucks days. Alcindor and Oscar were dominant. There championship season was a no doubter from the beginning, as long as both stayed healthy. He was not flashy, and didn't get the love shown to guys like Jerry West, Havlichek or Elgin Baylor but he was the best all around player of that era. Definitely top 10 all time

Bill Russell said in his book that one time Oscar stared him in the eye and shot the ball catching Bill flatfooted and scoring. One of smartest players ever.

When I was young back in the early to mid 70s during a time when I could have played basketball morning noon and night if my mother would have allowed it, ha, hahaha. I in my impressionable youthful exuberance and love of the game. Tried to emulates the big O's game even down to the way he wore his socks. And during those winter, summer, fall, and spring days long past from my life and never to return. I can still vividly recall those fierce teenage battles we use to have in Brooklyn and all over. And me trying to deliver the goods (mostly, assist and rebounds, l loved those parts of the game) like my man Oscar 😄.

He's a player that when you selected him on your team, he could control a complete game without any problems. He had No weakness and never tired in the fourth quarter. He would overpower a person who was strong. He would put up 30-40 points with ease. He's truly the best basketball player I ever saw.

Yes, the Big O is a top ten player. The younger generation are sometimes blinded by the flash and dunking. I’m in my Sixies, and was blessed to see Oscar on TV.

2:03 Nasty crossover. Damn near averaged a triple double AS A ROOKIE!!! Let that sink in.

Oscar was so smooth you hardly noticed him, plus he made the game seem so easy he never recieved his just due.

Without doubt...The Big "O", Is one of the top 10 NBA players of all times!...no more talk!

Just one of many great underrated players!!! Loved to watch him play. Made everyone else better!!!

Still gets my vote as best player of all time. 30 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds was an average game. Even in All Star games his teammates' attitude was "Let Oscar do it." Willis Reed was once asked in a close All Star game if he was worried? "Worried? What for? We had Oscar."

In Kareem's autobiography "Giant Steps" he praises Robertson like crazy, just heaps kudos on him left and right.

I'm 62 I've watched the NBA since 1964 so I saw Oscar play a good bit and yes he is a top ten player for sure. He would be my starting point guard.

He's the best I ever saw. Saw in in high school and college . Smart, fundamentally sound, athletic, and a competitor . A good human being on top of all that .

Yes! I was in Milwaukee enjoying the pleasure of watching the Bucks with Oscar win the Championship. They were a great Team!

You had to be there to understand...Big O was official 💯

As a Sophomore through Senior student at the U. Cincinnati, I attended every home game where Oscar amazed by dribbling through triple teams and made sure his team won as many games as possible. As a long time Boston Celtic fan Oscar and Larry Bird are on the same level. Don’t forget Jerry West too from Oscars era.

He cracks my list of the 10 most greatest players of all time. I was a young boy when I first saw him in Milwaukee playing with Kereem and he was a great floor general and I love his jump shot and free-throw-shot style greatly!

I wish we could have watched more of him, it increases player appreciation.

I saw Oscar play. I was a young Man who played a lot of Basketball. He was my hero with his one handed jump shot. He controlled the floor like no other player. I cheered when they Won the championship. I was from NY and I liked Lew (Kareem) also.

The Mr. OG Triple Double. One of the greatest ever. I have him in my Top 15. Very efficient scorer and underrated rebounder and great playmaker. Great video as always Jonny.

I'm glad you put the Big O on it.

Unlike today Oscar played when you had to keep you hand ON TOP of the ball. Ironically his middle name is Palmer.

When you say "NBA fans", you're about "today's " fans. Those of us who actually watched him play, and those who playrd against him KNOW the deal. He was legit, and legitimately one of the greatest of all-time. Essentially , his approach to the game was "play the game how White guys play better than they play it"; at least, that's what he personally told me, as I got the chance to meet him and get to know him a bit. That's why his highlights aren't flashy. His attitude was "anything you can do, I can do better". Be better than an opponent at their own game. 'O' may have been ball-dominant with the Royals, but, aside from a few years with Jerry Lucas, Wayne Embry, and Bob Boozer, Robertson led a team that was truly mismanaged from a business and coaching standpoint, with a roster of mostly glorified journeymen and role players. The local press here had a horrible relationship with him because he'd call them out on their bull💩. His stint with the Bucks showed what he could do with great talent and coaching stability.

Man is the reason why free agency exists.

As a Cincinnati native and sports fan, I think he was an awesome player.

Oscar was the most complete player ever. His first five years were a composite 30-10-10 or better. He could go wherever he wanted with the ball. The master of body control and efficiency.

As Abdul-Jabbar once said, "We have the best pair of guards in the league, but Oscar Robertson and my grandmother would also be the be the best pair of guards."

forever in my top 10 if you watch the old games in full, he was just different

I grew up in Milwaukee and watched Oscar and Kareem...Lew win the Title at the old arena. Oscar, even an aging star, DOMINATED.

Another great video. Never knew much about Oscar. Now I do. Thanks!

I heard Oscar Robertson once say that Elgin Baylor was the best player he ever play it against. I saw a Cincinnati play the Lakers and Cleveland one time. Oscar was truly great the Elgin stole the show that day. Before the top third of his knee cap broke off for three years he averaged 35, 17 + 8. He had a style of play and it was truly exciting to watch.

The Big O was always the Man!

Love those basketball shorts with the built in belt buckle. High time we brought those back...

Yes. He stands out, no doubt about it.

Dangerous man! Could go top 10. 30 points as a rookie is nuts!

Oscar is by far THE GREATEST ALL-AROUND BASKETBALL PLAYER THEIR EVER WILL BE IN HISTORY

I watch Oscar as a kid and he had these eyes that look like they stuck out of there socket at times I think he could see behind him his defense was what impressed me as a child

Thank you again for telling a story that won't reach the airwaves of ESPN or Turner sports because that story you just told has kept me in on correct path when relying on information to these knucklehead nerds who don't have a clue on Big O, Kareem, Wilt,, Hondo, DrJ, Jerry West, Eglin Baylor, Bill Russells, or Moses Malone? Will you do one on Hondo for me please

Skilled beyond words but also a humanitarian 🏀

The more and more time passes, the more tempted I am to put Oscar #1. Man literally had no weaknesses. Just almost the perfect basketball player.

In addition, Oscar played when the refs called palming, extra steps and you were killed if you went to the rack . Oscar is underrated also because he made it look so easy. Think Big Easy type. Could play three spots and be all star at ALL of them- triple double average ? Averaging a triple double for five seasons ??!

Robertson was a great defender, too.

Give me Oscar and Jerry West along with Wilt, Rick Barry and Bob Petit against any Dream Team from any era.

He's top 5 in my opinion...top point guard period...with deep respect for magic Johnson and a few others...that's my 50 plus years NBA fan opinion

Oscar Robertson is one of the reasons I loved basketball growing up in Indiana. Nothing has changed as his style and abilities are the definition of how the game should be played!

another great vid Jonny

2:22 that's one epic rebound. Talk about clearing the boards.

The office and breaking bad are my favorite tv shows too. And btw your content is amazing but you intro theme would be better if it was 10 seconds long

As a kid who grew up in Milwaukee during the 60's and early 70's, Dad and I went to our share of Bucks games and I got to see the Big O. He may not have been flashy, but he always seemed to be in control. A master ball handler, playmaker, and a helluva shot.

He's good enough to be in the GOAT series.

Glad I did this one! Wasn't really sure where to put in on my all time PGs list, but now I got him 2nd or tied 2nd with steph

Oscar Robertson is the 2nd best pg ever behind magic

You can’t explain how good Oscar Robertson was. You have to see it to believe it. No one, no one played the game any better. I don’t care what era he played in. He was the best.🏀🏀

Assists were harder to get back then too. Back then assists had to lead DIRECTLY to a score. If the player held it, or made a move: no assist. so all those assists led directly to a basket. That's even more impressive to me!

The Big O is the reason the triple double is what players strive for today. I remember he made it look effortlessly. I think it was the great Micky Mantle that said, if he knew they were going to make a huge deal about the 40-40 club in baseball, 40 HR's and 40 stolen bases, he would have done it a few times himself. The Big O would have done it a few more times if he'd have wanted to.

Well, also we have to know the impact that Robertson have in the NBA as a league. Lets no forget how the relationship between the players and the team owners and managers was pretty bad, but the Big O really help to improve the relationship with the free agency and the unionization of the NBA players too.

The Big O was what I consider one of the most beautiful B'ball players of the time . His form was his own, eloquent to say the least, he had a finesse to his game without any flash whatsoever. He did everything , offensive killer , rebound killler , assist man, the whole 9 yds. I wore # 14 throughout my childhood, HS, college b'ball career wearing # 14 ......that says it all.....

Russell Westbrook should not even be mentioned in the same sentence with Oscar. Westbrook shoots a horrible % from the floor and doesn't make his teammates better. What current NBA player wants to play with him? Players try to get away from him as soon as possible. That speaks for itself.

I was too young to ever watch Oscar Robertson play but based on what my dad says about him and his statistics he is definitely one of the top ten players ever.

My favorite pg in 2k

71 years old. I saw The Big "O" play in his prime. No one player could stop him from doing what he wanted offensively. Great defender, bigger and stronger than most of the guards in his era and able to defend forwards due to his strength. Kareem was well served playing with The Big "O" during the Bucks championship run. With the 3 point line there is no telling how many point he would have scored.

Him, Magic and Jordan are probably the best 3 guards of all time.

Big O is top 5 PG of all time and #1 for the 60s.

Oscar Robertson dominated the NBA and retired to live a quiet life afterwards. What a legend

The Big O truly was the greatest all-around basketball player of all time.

Any discussion debating who the greatest basketball player is has to include Oscar Robertson or it’s not worth having.

...what a beautiful Jumpshot and methodical movement...an inspiration on many levels.

As a youngster, I wore my "Big O" basketball sneakers with great pride. 😎

Even Elgin Baylor, Jerry West's friend and teammate, thought Oscar had the advantage over Jerry because he was so big and strong (like Elgin, actually).

If it were only possible to drop prime Wilt and Prime Oscar into the worst team in the NBA just so they could shut up the naysayers who call their stats a byproduct of a weak era.

Without A Doubt The Greatest All Around Basketball Player In The History Of Basketball ! The Big O Oscar Robertson !

He is one of my favorite players ever !!"

I grew up in Cincinnati and was lucky to see him play in college and on the Royals. Later in life we moved to Los Angeles but I was always an Oscar fan. Had a family and told my son he was the best I ever saw. My son grew up an old school basketball fan played in high school and patterned his game after these pros. I wrote Oscar a note about my admiration for him and ordered his book. He wrote my son a note inside the book to my son. Class act an my son at 27 cherishes this book.

I didn't know any of this about Oscar. Sounds like my man was a walking bucket.

Another Outstanding Job Mr. Arnett! I have Mr. Robertson in my top 5. I have heard only one other basketball gentleman in 30 years that also bring insight into the legends of the game of yesteryear bring out the incomparable first 5 years of his career averaging a triple double. Thank you for sharing that. The feat is so great that I realize no other NBA player has done it in their 5 years being in their absolute prime as well!!! And Mr. Arnett in one of YOUR next tremendous videos on somebody like Mr. Cousy and. Mr. Guy Rodgers you and I know the truth how challenging it was during the 60s to rack up high assists totals because of how strict the rules were in obtaining an assist according to the rules at the time! Can't thank you enough showing love to our living legends to our younger fans.

I don’t personally have Oscar in my Top 10, but I can see sound arguments for him being in the 10-15 range, on a similar level to other all-time greats such as KD, Steph, Jerry West, and Dwyane Wade

At 2:03 how is that move even possible in that era? Dude was way ahead of his time.

Oscar is a mix between magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook

I seen the big O play he is one of the best or not the best. All I can tell you is wow! It's just he was good!

GOAT Team Center: Bill Russell Forwards: Larry Bird, LeBron James Guards: Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson

Imagine a quarterback having a 120 passer rating, 5,500 passing yards, 55 passing TD’s, 5 INT’s, 1,000 yards rushing, and 7 rushing TD’s for a season! That’s what Oscar did on the court!

The Big O is arguably the greatest guard of all time. He measured 6'5" barefoot which would put him at 6'6" in today's game (players are measured in thick bball shoes today, adding a little over an inch) which is a big guard in any era, especially a guard as strong as Oscar. His moves weren't flashy but he had great fakes and his ball handling and passing skills were excellent. His one handed shot was smooth, had a high release point, and was rarely blocked. Any all time team without the Big O is questionable, that's how good he was.

Nice work! Keep them coming 🏀💯👍

Video idea: How good was Dennis Johnson really? He won a finals MVP and won more championships on the 80’s Celtics. I don’t think he’s ever brought up in any NBA discussion at least I’ve heard

I landed here because I kept seeing Oscar Robertson's name mentioned in just about every comparison of stats, must have been special.