Oscar Robertson - the Man the Game Forgot 

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Seriously, when was the last time ESPN dropped any content even 1/2 as good as what Clayton is putting out on a regular basis?

“Without him, the game wouldn’t be what it is today. That will always be true, even if the game does forget it” Wow.

Oscar Robertson was scarred by the racism that he suffered even when he did so much for his city. After a while that kind of hate just infects you and defines you, it's tragic. It doesn't take away from who he was as a player (or a person in my eyes as he didn't hurt anyone) but it is sad. I grew up in a very racist part of England in the 90s and it took me years to unlearn the animosity I felt towards white people but that's only a spec of what Oscar Robertson went through. He'll always be one of the best to ever do it

Now 75, I was a 9 year old white kid watching the IHSAA basketball tournament in Indianapolis on black and white TV. I was mesmerized and awestruck watching the Crispus Attucks Tigers take the floor at Butler Fieldhouse. They looked so powerful just warming up. And then the game began and they were stunning. It was much later in life that I learned some of their story of what those teams endured just trying to get in a season schedule of games. That was gut wrenching to learn their truth so many years later. I was just a kid in Indiana that was trying to emulate Oscar Robertson on my neighborhood basketball court. Never made my high school team(last cut though). Now, so many years have passed and then I stumble upon this video. Now, I find out so much more about "The Big O's" life off the court during college recruitment, as a Bearcat and as a Cincinnati Royal. More gut punches! I mourn the passing of the great Bill Russell whom I watched on TV as a professional and admire as a human being. It will be with great personal sadness if Oscar Robertson and Bill Bradley pass before I do as those were the heroes who I tried to emulate on that neighborhood court some 60 years ago. Thank you Mr Crowley for telling so much more of this man's story.

Make no mistake oscar WAS THAT DUDE. This archetype of Bird, Bron, and now Luka, STARTS with Oscar

Oscar Robertson just became one of my favorite players ever.

Think about it, he was more statistically dominant than russel and more team oriented than wilt. Imagine if he had been drafted to a great team. I can totally imagine him winning 3-5 championships and that changes the whole goat debate on its head.

With all due respect to Oscar, I feel like the fact that most don't know his story makes him even more legendary than he already is. It adds this sort of mystique around him that not many have

It can be argued that Oscar Robertson was the most significant person in basketball history when you account for his greatness as a player and contributions as President of the NBAPA.

Oscar Robertson is the most perfect player for this series ever in my opinion. He's incredible and one of the greatest players and point guards to ever grace the game. His shooting ability, up fakes, pull-ups and so on were so effiecent for his time which is why his team always trusted him most with the ball. Great Video. I think this video was very well made on Robertson life and opinions on the media and people in general. His career (especially in college) isn’t highlighted at all and I didn’t know how historically great of a college career he had. Again great video.

The part about the other legends sticking with their franchises and Oscar's jersey hanging in Sacramento makes me sad for him. He probably won't live to see the Kings become contenders again, but it also wasn't really his franchise. He does attend Bucks games sometimes with Kareem, but that's kind of like KG's relationship with the Celtics as opposed to the Wolves. He hasn't had his franchise since he left, and that's sad...

Truly a great Basketball RU-vidr

Oscar Robertson is awesome. He excelled in conditions that would have broken most and people that want to believe that every single bit of his bitterness is not justified can go eff themselves.

I'm a 36 year old white man from Europe and I know who Oscar Robertson is. I will never forget him. I have done my research on him and on basketball's rich history. For me Oscar Robertson is a top 15 player of all time and will probably be a top 15 player of all time forever for me. The things he went through to get into the NBA, the things he did while playing and after playing are something that should never be forgotten. Those things have cemented his place on the highest peak of players for me forever. If there was only one all time legend basketball player I was allowed to meet and spend a day with it certainly would be Oscar Robertson. There would be so many things to discuss, both basketball and the state of the world during the last 100 years it would probably be the greatest day of my life. I would want to hear the stories what Big O would have to tell. Some people probably call him 'bitter' or 'angry' but to me it would be a history trip and I would get first hand knowledge how the things actually were in this world when he was playing. Salute and high honors to Big O, one of the greatest players of all time.

Clayton, I really look forward to your videos. My father, the same age as Oscar Robertson, raised me on stories of Indiana basketball. To this day, he can name the Crispus Attucks' starting five on the 1956 team that beat his Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos in the final. He told me time and time again how Robertson was the smoothest player. He went full speed, but was never in a hurry. He was all over the floor, but kept his head in the game. He always said the Big O was the most complete basketball player to ever lace 'em up. All of us, at some point in our playing careers, have to realize our contributions are more and more limited. Other teammates are better at shooting, passing, interior defense, etc. At the highest level, only a few don't have limitations... and Oscar Robertson is the prime example. Anyway, while watching the Bulls and Knicks in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, my dad turned to me and said, "You know how I've always said the Big O was the most complete basketball player I've ever seen? Well, now there's Jordan." NAIA is the highest level in which my father ever coached and that I ever played, but basketball is one of our shared passions. As my connection to the current NBA grows more distant, I love watching videos like this one... not to say it was all roses back then... and not to close my eyes to the current game.... but to gain persepective of the history of the greatest game ever invented. Thanks again for a great channel.

Look how far he got with virtually no positive praise from fans/organization/ and his country. Imagine how great he would have been in an encouraging healthy environment. Legend.

Great video. Though I'd argue that Elgin Baylor was just as forgotten as Oscar. Also, Oscar may have been the original Big Fundamental. Nothing flashy, but he dribbled without carrying the ball and had a killer mid-range game. I even saw a step-back jumper, fadeaway, and Euro step in your highlights. I can see from your video that that Oscar's game could easily translate to the current era of basketball.

I think Julius Erving would be a good fit for this series, another legend of the game under the radar

I've been watching basketball for more than 60 years & he is still the greatest player I have ever seen. When Oscar played there was no palming, no drop step (which is jumping twice on one possession), no double pivot feet or no extra steps to the hoop. The game was played by the rules. He was quite simply the greatest college player ever & the greatest combination of college & pro player of all-time in any sport. The triple double stuff wasn't even among his greatest accomplishments as a pro. In his MVP 1964 season he came within 17 rebounds of amassing 800 FGs, 800 FTs, 800 assists & 800 rebounds which is an astounding unapproached feat to this day. He is the only player to average for a career: at least 7.0 FGPG, 7.0 FTPG, 7.0 APG & 7.0 RPG (14 seasons). He is the only NBA player to lead the league in FTM & FT% in the same season TWICE. He is the only player in NBA history to average at least 30.0 PPG, 10.0 APG & shoot .475 FG% in the same season more than once and he did 5X. Oh, and he led his NBA team to a season win% above .500 as many times as Jordan did.

Jerry West and Oscar Robertson are the two players I would just love to see in the modern NBA including everything that comes with it: training methods, diet plans, tatics etc. They seem to have been just pioneers of the game as it is today. Btw. the 1960 draft had Robertson, West, Lenny Wilkens, Tom Sanders and Al Attles (5 hall of famers) plus Darrall Imhoff and Lee Shaffer (2 All Stars)... Just as a fun fact if you want to be extra smug when discussing best drafts of all time. ;)

I saw him play. He was clearly the best player on the floor in every game. Simply ahead of his time. I still have him in my top 5. His game was chiseled to simple eloquent of form.

This is Clayton's best work, IMO, and long overdue. Born in Indianapolis in 1954, I was too young to remember the Big O's back-to-back Indiana state high championships, but by the time I got into basketball in the early 1960s, those Crispus Attucks teams were legendary-and not just because of their dominance (61-1 in Robertson's junior and senior seasons). Crispus Attucks was the last segregated high school in Indianapolis-and would remain so until the early 1970s, when Mayor (later Senator) Richard Lugar desegregated the school by sending his own kids there. As Clayton implies, a lot of people were not happy watching Oscar and his teammates dominate. As such, it is not surprising that has said that he hates the movie Hoosiers (which, by the way, features Ray Crowe, Oscar's Attucks coach, as the South Bend coach in the final game), no doubt remembering the way the Attucks teams were relegated to second class status in the state despite their-and his-brilliance.

Please do Moses Malone! One of the few 3 times MVP, had 2 in a row for different teams and there's almost no RU-vid content about him

As a Kings fan, I have accepted that he is definitely the greatest player this franchise has ever held.

Him and Jerry west it’s sad how underrated these guys are

Robertson AND West at the guard positions! At the same time! That Olympic team was the real dream team.

The best basketball RU-vidr of them all video quality is unmatched. You are truly a legend

I'm 30 and got into basketball in 09, around 12-14 I got REALLY into basketball history. Was in awe in what the players in the 60s/70s had to go through. I was lucky enough to see him in person at King vs OKC game a while back and still to this day one of my fav moments even though I just walked passed him lol. I encourage any who loves basketball to look into the past because it's very interesting and I think important for people to know.

The King returns and graces us with the story of a legend

Clayton, you did a fantastic job with this, a fantastic job indeed. I grew up in Cincinnati and went to many games at the Cincinnati Gardens. He was indeed special and you've given him more recognition in these 32 minutes than the NBA ever has..As you you said, his story deserves to be told. I don't think anyone will tell it better than you just did...Bravo my man...

Posting before I watch. When I saw this on my feed, my first flash of thought was: "30 minutes of Oscar Robertson from Clayton Crowley!? YES PLEASE!!" I'm already confident this will be the most satisfying basketball click of the day. Thank you Clayton, great choice for content. Anything more like this would be awesome.

I know a lot about Oscar Robertson because we were about the same age. Basketball was king in the mid west back in our days. I knew Oscar lived in Indianapolis and what high school and college teams he played for. He was one of the greatest to ever play basketball. When I lived in Cincinnati from 1975-85 I knew exactly where his office was at because it had his name on the building. A great video because a lot of people today do not know a lot about the great older players. I was in the Army at FT. Sill, OK in 1979 when I saw Elgin Baylor who was in the Army there too.

Thank you for this video, Clayton. I am a Cincinnati man, and this one is close to my heart. This is a proud sports town that hangs its hat on some of the greatest baseball teams ever (the 1970s Reds), the greatest offensive lineman in NFL history (the Bengals’ Anthony Muñoz), and the college basketball tradition at the University of Cincinnati. Even here though, the *start* of that legacy has been lost. Perhaps the single greatest athlete in the history of the city, both collegiate and professional, is Oscar Robertson. And that is forgotten. I’ve long wished that the NBA could return to Cincinnati, so that the city could embrace professional basketball in a way that it failed to when Oscar was in its lap. Even Dayton to the north is a basketball mecca, and this region belongs in the consciousness of the sport. We owe so much of that to this man, and I greatly appreciate that you took the time to honor him.

Clayton I don’t know if you are going to read this but I’ve been watching you since your Tim Duncan video and have had the pleasure of watching you evolve into the best basketball RU-vidr out there. You’ve made some truly moving and amazing videos but I think that this along with bill Russell’s video are the two single greatest tributes to greatness I have ever seen and I think this video in particular is tragic yet beautiful and an amazing video that Oscar should watch

I truly adore your videos. I love basketball, but I wouldn’t call myself a historian of the game specially since my beloved SuperSonics no longer exist. The videos you put out help me bridge the gap between the history of the game that is meant to be remembered and celebrated and the game we all enjoy today. Thank you.

His autobiography was one of the most intelligent and insightful sports books I have ever read. He was not bitter, he simply expected from childhood to be treated equally to everyone else, and he certainly noticed whenever he was not. Truly a man's man in every sense of the word. Brilliant on the court and off.

These kind of videos are so much more interesting than just another video about MJ or LeBron (no offense, I know your first videos were about MJ and LeBron). You were absolutely right that I knew who Oscar Robertson was, but didn’t know anything about him. Just the triple double stat. *Request* : A video on Wes Unseld. Like Robertson, I know the name, I know he was the only player to win MVP as a rookie. But other than that I can’t really tell you anything about the guy. Keep the history lessons coming! Loving this

Dude I always come knowing Im in for a treat, but holy... this one was particularly poetic. Great freaking job Clayton, this was marvelous.

Ayyyy, another all-time great given his props by one of basketball RU-vid's GOATs. You should do Elgin Baylor in one of your future videos.

What a fantastic video. I must admit that I'm one of the many people who have only associated Oscar with those pieces of trivia, but my respect for what he did on the court has grown tremendously.

Oscar is one of the GOATs. Put him on any team in any era and he will excel. Not too many like that.

This video actually makes me mad at how fans treat players. Both then and now. These are human beings. Not just pieces of a team. Robertson was being called racial slurs in his playing days and is being called a plumber today. Nba fans are so toxic

The kings point could not have been better articulated! The tumultuous wake that franchise has left has created a fog around the incredible careers of players that played in Cincinnati and KC

this series is so good, seriously amazing production quality looking forward to more

YESSSS DAWG! It has been too long since we've gotten new content from you! Best basketball RU-vid channel, hands down!

Another masterpiece Clayton! I just run out of words to praise your work, amazing

Outstanding video. My Mom grew up in Indianapolis and her high school was a rival to Oscar's high school team. He beat them like a drum lol but she remembers a game he played so well that they gave him a standing ovation out of respect. I followed the Cincinnati Royals until they moved and got to see Oscar in person his last year in Cincy. This is one long time NBA fan who knows how great the Big O was and was honored to be a fan of his. Thank you for this video as I can tell you get it. Good job!

This video has officially made you the best basketball RU-vidr in my opionion (even over me and my 2 shitty basketball shorts) your quality , intrigue and damn near perfect storytelling stile makes your videos feel like a high budget documentary. Your informed , and non heavily biased views of the game make the videos so enjoyable

Dude, that was one of the best sports RU-vid videos I've seen and I've seen a lot. Thank you sooo much. By the way, most real sports fans know that the 2002-2003 Sacramento Kings were cheated out of a trip to the finals. Thanks for giving the Big O his props. He was AWESOME!!!!! (I pray he gets past his anger)

The big O as a youngster admired him on and off court , my idol always forever tried to emulate him on court watching him lead Bucks to championship with Kareem hell of a floor general one of the greatest points guards ever period

I said it before and ill say it again. The way you marry the stats and the human element of sports is truly remarkable.

LETS GOOOO CLAYTON COWLEY W

Clayton you never release as many videos as I'd like but they are always worth the wait. Many other content creators on youtube not just in the NBA space, could learn from you. If you really put in the work and aim for the highest possible standard it's truly amazing just how good the final result can be. Sometimes quality of quantity is everything.

I have been waiting for this video from you! 🔥

this is a super important video Clayton thank you for making it.

With no NBA team in Cincinnati, the Reds should occasionally invite Oscar to throw out a ceremonial first pitch, or the Bengals should invite him to toss the coin. Not sure he'd accept, but the invitations should be issued.

The first time I saw Oscar on video was that response he had to Barkley who said Lebron wasn't close to Jordan. Oscar responds with "Lebron's in a class of his own" that was like 2008 or 2009. I couldn't believe some old player actually liked Lebron's game that much and when I poured through what was available on him, I became an immediate fan. The only guy who gets forgetten more from the 60s is Elgin Baylor. That man brought the swag to the NBA.

It’s a treat every time you post a new video. Amazing work that is truly appreciated. Thank you 🙏🏾.

Clayton Crowley, the only thing in basketball that everyone can agree on. Holding out hope for a Gregg Popovich Legends video.

Thank you for making this one in particular. I’ve been wanting to know more about Robertson.

He was of an era that wasn't televised, good job..

Love your videos man! That intro always gives me chills. U deserve 100k Subs!

Oscar Robertson suffers from never playing on a coastal team. Before the age of endless TV sports coverage, it was extremely difficult for the greatest of mid western players to get any notice, regardless of the sport. That his team was seldom in contention for a championship also hurts his place in NBA history.

Beautiful! There was much talk about who the GOAT was before prime Jordan, but, at least until Bird and Magic came along, Oscar's name was always mentioned first.

I remember many years ago seeing another African American icon, the musician Charles Mingus. People said that Charles Mingus was an ogre, someone who terrified music critics and someone who was borderline insane, despite his brilliance as a composer and bass player. When I made eye contact with Mr. Mingus as he was entering an open amphitheater for a performance, I instinctively reached out to shake his hand. Despite carrying his upright bass, he reached out to shake my hand. We struck up a brief conversation and during the course of our chat, I said "Sir, Mr. Mingus" at least six times. He jokingly said to me that I was going to live a long life and told me to enjoy the performance. I did. Like Charles Mingus, Oscar Robertson spent much of his life being disrespected and mislabeled. Robertson is not an angry curmudgeon or some crazy African American misfit. He doesn't hold grudges; he's just not willing to play games that promote false narratives. I am happy that in some small way that Charles Mingus and Oscar Robertson have been part of my life. While some say that musicians and athletes are not role models, the fact is they are. What they choose not to do is often as important as what they choose to do. Neither Charles Mingus nor Oscar Robertson lived or have lived perfect lives. However, those of us who wish to learn and learn without judgment or inherent bias can learn a great deal from them and others. If we study the likes of Charles Mingus and Oscar Robertson in totality, perhaps we will be better persons. If we are better people, maybe our world will be a better place. Still imperfect, but striving towards a more perfect one.

Always high quality videos very happy to have found you. One of my favorite RU-vidrs!

Awesome as always, thanks Clayton

Amazing. I've been loving this game since I was 12 but due to knee and aging no longer play it now. But this video just shows how much more passionate you are about basketball than me, and believe me I LOVE THIS GAME, so to see this level of work and love towards basketball from someone, idk man it just makes me tears up a lil. Please never stop doing what you are doing!

Great video! , thank you for making this and shinning a light on his story

Excellent work Clayton. I’m always impressed by your documentaries.

Perfect example of why context is so important

He played for the Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, when I was at Purdue. Purdue needed him. I saw him play as he led his school to be State Champion.

Your channel is extremely underrated! I love your channel and your commentary. I'm glad I found your channel!

This is great, one of my absolute favourite channels on RU-vid! I've been searching so long for any kind of Oscar Robertson content! I loved your Making the case episode on the 1972 Lakers, and it would be great to see a stand-alone episode on Elgin Baylor being the most important Laker in history, as you established in that video:) A couple of other suggestions for this series: Jerry West, John Havlicek, Nate Thurmond, Willis Reed, Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, among others. Keep this up, it's really refreshing to see content of this quality!

I'm so happy every single time u make a video I look forward to them every month u really could be an amazing documentary director or writer

You did it again, as always! You just keep killing these videos.

Those of us old enough to remember him know how great Oscar Robertson was. I was raised in Indiana and recall back to his high school days at Indianapolis Attucks, being Indiana's "Mr. Basketball" in 1956, and his college career with U of C. Anyone who ever saw him play knows incredible talents. I, for one, will never forget him.

Wonderful, as usual, Clayton.

I’m 67 and the Big “O” was the reason I love basketball. I have so many of his trading cards.

I think from another angle Oscar Robertson is a man who lives by his convictions. Like he's fought his whole life to be able to, so why should he sell out for a converse shoe deal or why should he not say what he thinks when the media straight up didn't platform him because he'd speak his truth in his heyday? Franz Kafka has a quote I think applies to Oscar: "Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly" His obsession is speaking his mind and being totally authentic and he's not gonna edit himself to be a good PR opportunity for a league he had to fight tooth and nail to get rights from. He's going to remember all his slights because they honestly bother him. And you can't fault a man for being totally authentic imo.

You are one of the greatest basketball RU-vid channels I’ve come across. Acknowledgement of greatness and just appreciating the game and it’s players. Great video

Awesome video as always Clayton!

Oscar would make such a great helio centric star. He made every passing read outta the pick and roll, and would have just thrived in the spread PnR a la Harden/Luka/Nash, except he was a much better off ball player than any of them, and a much better defender.

Thanks for this! Oscar is hella underrated!

This video deserves more views. You did an amazing job on this.

Great video looking forward to all the rest keep crushing it 10 mins in and I already know this is a great video

You’re headed to greatness. These videos are great. 🙏🏻

Love your chanel!!!! You have a way with words that just gives me gusbumps.

Clayton Crowley - the man NBA RU-vid loves.

Great story brother I'm surprised that took me so long to learn it but I'm so glad that I have now keep up the good work from another trucker over the road

He was the Wilt Chamberlain of the backcourt: put up amazing, individual numbers, but struggled to lead his teams to championships. Like Wilt, he eventually got there, but it was only after he joined up with another who was even greater than he was. However, there are very few PGs who have ever led any team to a championship, so I’m willing to give him somewhat of a break. Either way, he’s absolutely one of the all-time greats and he was revolutionary, as well.

As a graduate of Crispus Attucks High School and someone who knew/knows Oscar, I will filled with angst, pride, disappointment and grateful with your video that tells the story of this basketball icon. Understand that many of the things that Oscar had to deal with we had the same barriers before us. I graduated from CAHS in 1966 and it was only a year or two prior to my graduation that our school was able to have home games in basketball or football because we did not have the proper facilities to host varsity events in those sports. Meaning we did not have a proper gym or football/track stadium. Thus I fully know and understand how he felt and feels. Indiana was/is a tough place to be Black. Thanks so much for this tribute to the Big "O". It moved me...

Cannot wait for the Yao and Pistol Pete episodes of this series. Thank you Clayton, you are truly an amazing NBA youtuber.

That was an amazing video compilation of one of the NBA's al time greats!

Fantastic job Clayton! I truly enjoyed this documentary on The Big O! 👏

outstanding work as usual clayton. idk if you already have it in the works but a video on jerry west would be awesome, keep up the great work.

Exquisitely written production. Thank you.

Remember the big O' . As a celtic fan the 74 series they made Oscar push the ball up the court trying to wear him out,Bucks didn't really have anybody else who could do it. What a man & player.

Thank you for an excellent video. Well done.