Cliff Robinson, a former star at UConn who played 18 seasons in the NBA, died at the age of 53, his alma mater announced Saturday.
The cause of death was not immediately known.
The 6-foot-10 forward/center played at UConn from 1985-89, helping the Huskies win the 1988 NIT. He was a second-round pick (38th overall) of the Trail Blazers in 1989 and spent the first eight years of his career in Portland, helping the franchise reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.
“He was our first great player,” former UConn coach Jim Calhoun told Hearst Media. “He came from a difficult background in Buffalo, I watched him evolve as a man. … He was a good man, had a great career, and was instrumental in a lot of the great things that happened at UConn.”
Robinson suffered a stroke in March of 2017 that paralyzed the left side of his body, but he eventually regained much of his arm and leg movement. He also had a tumor removed from his jaw in March of 2018.
Known as “Uncle Cliffy,” Robinson was named to one All-Star game in 1994 and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. He also was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1993.
He later played for the Suns, Pistons, Warriors and Nets before retiring with New Jersey in 2007. His 1,380 NBA games played rank 13th all-time, according to the website Basketball Reference.
“Devastated with the passing of one of the best teammates ever – Clifford Robinson,” tweeted Rex Chapman, who played with Robinson in Phoenix. “Guy absolutely loved to hoop. Never missed practice. Guarded the toughest guy every night and was a walking bucket. A great dad. Laughed every day.”
Donyell Marshall, who played with Robinson at UConn, tweeted: “I’m so glad it’s raining today. I’m gonna need it to hide my tears. Not my big bro man. Uncle Cliffy taught me all I needed to know to be a stretch 4 in the NBA. UConn family has lost another great one. RIP Uncle Cliffy.”
Following his NBA career, Robinson starred on the CBS reality show “Survivor” and became an activist for legalizing marijuana, even becoming a proprietor of the drug.
“If you play 18 years in the NBA and perform over an 82-game schedule, you’re going to deal with anxiety issues and your ability to relax,” Robinson told the Las Vegas Sun in 2018. “Cannabis has always helped me with that.”
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost...-robinson-former-nba-all-star-dead-at-53/amp/
The cause of death was not immediately known.
The 6-foot-10 forward/center played at UConn from 1985-89, helping the Huskies win the 1988 NIT. He was a second-round pick (38th overall) of the Trail Blazers in 1989 and spent the first eight years of his career in Portland, helping the franchise reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.
“He was our first great player,” former UConn coach Jim Calhoun told Hearst Media. “He came from a difficult background in Buffalo, I watched him evolve as a man. … He was a good man, had a great career, and was instrumental in a lot of the great things that happened at UConn.”
Robinson suffered a stroke in March of 2017 that paralyzed the left side of his body, but he eventually regained much of his arm and leg movement. He also had a tumor removed from his jaw in March of 2018.
Known as “Uncle Cliffy,” Robinson was named to one All-Star game in 1994 and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. He also was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1993.
He later played for the Suns, Pistons, Warriors and Nets before retiring with New Jersey in 2007. His 1,380 NBA games played rank 13th all-time, according to the website Basketball Reference.
“Devastated with the passing of one of the best teammates ever – Clifford Robinson,” tweeted Rex Chapman, who played with Robinson in Phoenix. “Guy absolutely loved to hoop. Never missed practice. Guarded the toughest guy every night and was a walking bucket. A great dad. Laughed every day.”
Donyell Marshall, who played with Robinson at UConn, tweeted: “I’m so glad it’s raining today. I’m gonna need it to hide my tears. Not my big bro man. Uncle Cliffy taught me all I needed to know to be a stretch 4 in the NBA. UConn family has lost another great one. RIP Uncle Cliffy.”
Following his NBA career, Robinson starred on the CBS reality show “Survivor” and became an activist for legalizing marijuana, even becoming a proprietor of the drug.
“If you play 18 years in the NBA and perform over an 82-game schedule, you’re going to deal with anxiety issues and your ability to relax,” Robinson told the Las Vegas Sun in 2018. “Cannabis has always helped me with that.”
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost...-robinson-former-nba-all-star-dead-at-53/amp/
