NBA Legends Explain Why David Robinson Was Better Than You Know 

I met Robinson once. Nicest guy ever. I was doing Jamm’n Against The Darkness in Portland with Steve Jamison in 1995. I was shooting hoop and I heard “can I shoot with you?” I turned around and it was David Robinson… I gotta shoot hoop with David Robinson, Buck Williams, Avery Johnson, and David Wood. Great memory

Walked off the floor a two time Champion in 2003 on Father's Day holding his son in his arms. A fitting ending to the career of a class act.

David robinson was the admiral. His skill in his position was admirable.

Robinson was my favorite player growing up. I mailed my Robinson NBA Hoops rated rookie card to a Spurs address when I was a kid and it was mailed back to me SIGNED.!Maybe he signed it ,maybe he didn't but that made my day when I was a little kid. Still have the card back in NC at my parents house.

David Robinson spent 4 years in the Naval Academy and served 2 years as a civil engineering Officer at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia after graduation. He could have transferred after his freshman to any D-1 school before incurring a obligation to serve but chose to stay. There has never been a player as classy, intelligent and generous as David Robinson who a truly good man.

His rookie year he averaged 24.3 points, 12 boards, 3.9 blocks, 2 assists, and 1.7 steals...in an era where rookies were lucky to even see the floor.

Once in a generation talent along with a humble , hard working and team player mindset. King

He’s my favourite centre ever, has been since I started watching the NBA in 1989 - a true gent.

The Admiral David Robinson. He's tall, quick and built like a tank! 👍

Loved David Robinson. A true officer and gentleman. A renaissance man, multi talented and true nice man.

I love this channel, because it keeps forgot great players relevant. Salute to the Admiral David Robinson.

So athletic, a legit 7"1"" that has a speed of a 'small forward', amazing shot blockers, rebounder, scorer, his mid-range was excellent! One of the few with quadruple-doubles..

Robinson is really underrated. The Spurs until Duncan came, I was pulling the team with Robinson's one-man team. I think he wasn't really blessed with his teammates until Duncan came.

David Robinson's arms deserve to be in a Hall of Fame all on their own.

David Robinson was a beast back in the day. He was the second best center during the 90s and still one of the top 10 centers of all time. #Theadmiral #DavidRobinson

Robinson is one of those people that you cant dislike. He is just that overtly nice dude that if you tease you feel bad for doing it.

My favorite in the 90's for sure. I grew up watching. So fun to watch him play. Such greatness 🙌

My favorite player ! The admiral makes me loves these game !

Robinson's legacy keeps improving with time. He was one of the few superstars of the Jordan era who won a championship. He won the championships shortly after Jordan retired, but he still won championships during the era when there with all those great players - Barkley, Drexler, Ewing, etc. Of those top players during that time it was basically Jordan, Hakeem (and Drexler) and Robinson who won championships. He's similar to Hakeem, because his legacy seems to get better as the years go by as people realize what a great player he really was.

As a kid in the late 80s and early 90s, MJ was my favorite player. But for whatever reason, after he retired the first time, I felt like I had to choose a new favorite player and stick with whomever I chose. I had an entire set of Dream Team cards and knew they were supposed to be the best players in the NBA. David Robinson just stood out…if the Dream Team had been wrestlers in the WWF heyday, Robinson looked like Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior rolled into one being. He was my favorite from that day on, and became even more so when I found out about his background and our common faith. But around 97, I had a problem…Tim Duncan had quickly become my favorite college player at WF. I assumed he would go to another team besides the Spurs and I’d have to root for two teams…well, obviously we all know what happened with the draft lottery that summer. I don’t think I’ll ever know as great a joy in sports as having my all time favorite players play for the same team. I don’t believe Robinson ever reached his full potential in the ways that his contemporaries Olajuwon and O’Neal did, nor do his accomplishments match the level of Abdul-Jabbar, Russell, or Chamberlain. But I do believe he was one of the most gifted centers ever to play the game, and it’s refreshing to see him get some recognition in hindsight. PS: I’m still somewhat ticked after all these years that Olajuwon and Ewing both got 9 ratings in the Speed, Power, and Dunk categories on NBA Jam TE whereas Robinson got 8s in those categories. He definitely should have had a 9 in power and probably speed as well…there is no way he was not stronger than both of those guys when he was in his prime.

Of all the 90s centers I got to see play, I really loved David Robinson a lot, though I think Shaq and Hakeem were better. But the San Antonio's current team culture really started with David Robinson.

So true! We forgot that DRob missed the finals from a nail when he was just a rookie (Spurs were short by a basket to win the game7). After his tremendous rookie season, the chemistry and supporting cast rapidly faded away (Departure of Larry Brown, Rod Strickland, retirement of Cummings, transfer of Sean Elliot, etc). Nowadays, he ruined his body by carrying year after year a team - without any stats - above 55 wins a season. Too often, I hear that Olajuwon stepped over him in 1995 … it is not completely true: at the time, Spurs were poorly coached and they add no other offensive system that systematically give the ball to David who was constantly double teamed; at the other side, the Rockets were playing with 4 sharp shooters making all rotation/double team on Olajuwon impossible and acting like this, they were spacing the game … this is not only Olajuwon that beat up Robinson but well Rudy Tomjanovich. I don’ t want to discredit Olajuwon legacy … but from this defeat, Robinson was unfairly criticized. Think 5 seconds about it: before Duncan, the starting 5 of the Spurs was made of DRob, Denis Rodman, Vinny Del Negro, Dale Ellis and Avery Johnson … most of those - no disrespect - wouldn’t play 6th or 8th man for any team eying a playoff spot. Legend of the Spurs started there : build your team on a solid player surrounded by courageous and tenacious player whom strength comes from cohesion

I saw him dunk two handed one day in game , so hard and straight down that the ball bounced higher than the ring after it went through . Never seen it before or again , just a freak moment .

The people who say David Robinson is underrated didn't get to see him play from college until retirement, he just didn't scream look at me which makes him seem underrated, the underrated center is Moses Malone........

Like always the disrispect for San Antonio is very high with national Media, Robinson is probably the most underrated player in NBA history and an incredible man. Lieutenant San Antonio salute you.

David Robinson was the pillar of that Spurs dynasty. Arguably the greatest of all sports dynasties.

Growing up in the 90’s I had the chance to witness the literal titans of the NBA: Hakeem, Robinson and Ewing battle for big man supremacy. Prototypical centers of the highest caliber. Post-up game, jump shot and elite shot blocking. Franchise cornerstones.

Him a Pop were both Military Service guys. Perfect match!

David Robinson is underrated as a NBA player. He was so great getting up the court and having a great post game to compliment that game. Definitely one of the best centers of all time. It was a great point that Steve Smith made about his unselfishness to take a back seat to Tim Duncan.

We need more David Robinsons among us today - not only the player, but even more so the person.

He is one of the most dangerous players of all time. He is on my top five list of guys I wish I could have seen play in person

David was one of my favs back in the days...he was a top tier center alongside Hakeem, shaq and Ewing

David Robinson only won 2 championships but in my eyes he’s responsible for all their championships

Growing up in SA I had the pleasure of watching him starting with his rookie season. Anyone who had the fortune of following his career as it unfolded knows his understated, graceful greatness. BTW he should def have won some awards for best guns in the NBA over the years 😄😄😄

At that size, Robinson is still the quickest, most athletic center I have ever seen (not Bill or Hakeem). No big man ran the floor like him. Ridiculous shot blocker. So much raw ability.

The Admiral was such a stud athlete. Probably still is realistically. Dude always had a great attitude. Giannis reminds me a lot of him.

David Robinson is one of the best players and persons in the NBA history. He should have a very special place in the basketball hall of fame. I was there recently and you see things from him, but I don't think there is enough about him there.

I always remember david Robinson deserving a championship... the admiral.

David Robinson for next NBA Commissioner

An incredible two way player. One of the greatest centres and I watched videos from years back of him posterising or outplaying Hakeem and Shaq, but we never see those videos🤔. Pure athleticism, strength and speed. Incredible defence also. Imagine if this guy had an aggressive character and was not such a nice guy. He would be even more ruthless. The Spurs were 21-61 the season before he arrived, then 56-26 when he arrived the following season. Some people don’t even know that his teammates weren’t that good for a majority of his prime career. Salute to the Admiral, David Robinson. My favourite centre of all time

David Robinson was so jacked, so quick and athletic that you would forget how tall he was. He was amazing.

David Robinson was my favorite player. I remember I had 50 of his bball cards....would be worth a lil something today

Shaq's story about David is the best. If you lived in the 90s you used to think Shaq and David hated each other. And it wasn't true, at all!

Shaq was one side of Wilt. David was the other side. Some of the descriptions of David were exactly the ones used for Wilt.

David was the definition of carrying the franchise. 50-60 win seasons by himself(one season with Rodman as next best player) Gets injured and the team goes 20-62 and becomes a lottery team that drafted Duncan.

One of my favourite 90's big men.

I remember watching Robinson play before Tim Duncan joined the team and Sean Elliot was probably their 2nd best player.

My favourite centre of all time. And a great, great person.

My favorite player of all time. The GOAT 🐐 THE ADMIRAL

I so agree, he's so overlooked and he was the complete package. A man that I've always looked up to, appreciated, and respect. A man with great integrity.

The Admiral was the quickest big man!

David Robinson autographed an all star card for me

He is the Most Agile and Athletic BIGS to ever play the game of Basketball🏀he was one of the First Hybrid BIGS to play the game✅

David Robinson was my favourite player when I was a kid... 😀👍🏻

71 back in those days... gezz

Daves the man. Had the pleasure of working on his saxophone several years back when all the Kawhi crap was going down. Got some cool insight to that topic. Very cool guy.

Thank u , thank u , and thank u Sean zillion times thank u on this video😀 .Huge fan of Admiral and Spurs. Many love 4 all NBA fans 🏀 all over the Globe from Belgrade, capital city of Serbia 🇷🇸.

David Robinson The Admiral was My Favorite Center No other C had His style on the court . He actually had style in His Game Shaq was brute , Hakeem’s long arss arms , Pat & Mourning just had No Flavor That’s how I saw them all in the 90’s I see it a bit different now Looking back but …. Still David had style For a Center Hakeem was Thee Sheeeit His shake was dope af, for a Center But in the middle of all of the going after it , before they had any titles Or when Hakeem was the only dope C with any Thats when David was definitely My favorite Center as a kid. Which was kind of funny that The Admiral was the one that played with some style some flavor to His Game. He didn’t just look like a Big Dude.

I remember D. Robinson very very Vivid ! Way underrated 💯, love your channel, Shawn W in Akron Ohio Tks for the memories young man !

I live in the Alamo City. He still lives here as do his parents.

Por este jugador es que me hice fan a los SPURS desde hace ya mas de 30 años, soy y lo sere siempre.

Robinson truly dominated on both ends of the floor. The Spurs dynasty began when he stepped on the floor.

David Robinson was one of my favorites

One of my favorite Centers ever behind Olajuwon!🤘

David Robinson is among my top 20 centers. that also includes Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Jabar, Tim Duncan, Bill Russel, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Patrick Ewing, Mutambo, Rik Smits, Ben Wallace, Bob McAdoo, Wes Unseld, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, Dave Cowens, Artis Gilmore, Nate Thurmond, Chris Webber. These centers are in my opinion are simply great.

Had the chance to see him play couple times when living in San Antonio. It was Mr Robinson’s Neighborhood!!! Won’t you be mine, will you be mine (slam dunk) Wont you be my Neighbor! lol

One of my favorite centers definitely in my top 5

It's evident that David Robinson was one of the most underrated players during those days. He is better than we thought. Who scores 71 points in any game?!

Robinson was a leader. No doubt. He was a smart and athletic player in a 90's basket ball league.

I'm telling you guy's when David first came into the league he transformed our entire team and city he was dominating every aspect of the game. You've Never seen energy like this especially from a big man so...to me growing up in the early '90s he was more like a superhero than a basketball player. He's ONLY guy I've ever seen block a point blank dunk by Jordan in his prime...no one did Jordan like that back than.. let's just say that. Dave led us to our first title. God bless him.

David, the "Ad-Me-Rul", Robinson.

6:20 Reggie's top 5 were on point. the five MVP's of 91-99. I can throw in Pip, Ewing, and may be Stockton and Drexler just outside of those. Shaq was already a power house but he started winning from 2000 on.

He was a class act. And awesome to watch!

My favorite player when I was a kid. Dam Hakeem schooled him and that's what we remember unfortunately

Mr David Robinson was a phenomenal athlete and his greatest achievement was showing men how to be successful without talking mess. Let your game, your life and your numbers speak for themselves.

Bro... I didn't like him because I was a heat fan but Dawmn he demanded respect. So solid. Seemed like a good dude. Tough as. Respectful. Nothing but respect for DR

Shaq pissed he went to Finals in 90s got overlooked by Reggie lol

As accomplished as Robinson was, David easily would be receiving far more historical attention (not including Olajuwon) had he been in the situation of his all-time peers at center. - Duncan played nearly his entire career with incredible depth of top-end teammates (Parker, Ginobili, Kawhi, and even post-injury Robinson) plus stable excellence at coaching, not to mention playing in a thin era for big men (only Shaq and Dwight with a short run of Yao). - Bill Russell had unparalleled depth of top-end teammates, which means he could really focus on defense, to which Admiral was similarly talented while being the clear superior on offense and overall game. - Shaq, like Duncan, played the majority of his prime with few threats at the center position, not to mention being mostly paired with a top-three wing player in any given year (Kobe/Dwyane/Penny)--light-years better than David's best teammate for most of his career (Sean Elliott). - No doubt Kareem and Wilt deserve their standing as top 3-centers of all-time (with Hakeem), but let's not ignore that their team success were predicated on having stacked line-ups of in-prime perennial all-stars/hall-of-famers. How many MORE rings would Robinson (or Olajuwon) have won had he been blessed with an arsenal teammates on the level of Oscar/Dandridge/Magic/Worthy/Wilkes/Nixon/Cooper or Arizin/Cunningham/Greer/Chet Walker/West/Baylor/Goodrich...

One of the best and one of my favorites! Respect The Admiral! Great and yet soo humble. I rare breed.#RobinsonNeighborhood💘💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾👑💕

Chris Mullin. You have to do Chris Mulilin. No one remembers the flat-top. Totally underrated like The Admiral. Love your channel.

David Robinsons prime matched up well with Hakeem and Shaq's prime. Id still take Hakeem.

Oh man, I thought I would of seen an epic interview again! lol. I am sure you will get one with the Admiral soon. Thanks for the Video like always. 👍

Kenny Smith is such a good guy man. And he's so humble

But but the 80s 90s didn’t have athletes smh 😂

My favorite player of all time my first favorite player! The reason I gained a serious interest in hoops

A man of class and honor who happened to also play amazing basketball.

Young NBA fans sleep on a guy like David Robinson but praise a guy like Giannis who is basically a modern day version of David Robinson.

Do Sean Elliott next!

David seemed like a better person than a basketball player. That's kinda hard to top considering he is one of the best basketball players ever.

Wore #50 in school and was The Admiral because of him.😊💯

If David Robinson played then with today's rules He would've been Giannis Antetokounmpo

Channel deserves more subs 👏

I would think David Robinson is quite content with being underrated.

Robinson won the 1986 world championship as a college player dominating the European top centers back in the day,including sabonis.another product of the best era of college basketball.you knew he was gonna be a hof.that us team was loaded with great players.

David was so underrated, he and duncan are equals.

Score a lot. Block a lot. Steal a lot. Take many rebounds. Sounds like a pretty good player to me.

Love it. Thank you, man!

Good video. He was better than any of us gave him credit for. His game was really economical and very athletic. He was so cool with his teammates.

my God Those arms are things of legend

The Admiral is like Giannis with a mid range shot.