David Robinson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Robinson's path to stardom began at Osbourn Park High School, where he was only 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) as a junior before growing to 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) his senior year. He attended the United States Naval Academy, majoring in mathematics, and grew to 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m), earning a waiver from the academy's height restriction. A compromise with Secretary of the Navy John Lehman allowed him to serve as a staff officer in the Civil Engineer Corps rather than an unrestricted line officer, limiting his active duty to two years. He was drafted first overall by San Antonio in 1987 but waited until 1989 to play, leading the Spurs to a historic 35-game improvement from their previous 21–61 record. His dominance included winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 and capturing the scoring title in 1994 with a career-high 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers.

In Their Own Story

Early in the 1996–97 season, Robinson's championship hopes seemed dashed when he broke his foot six games into the regular season after injuring his back. The Spurs finished 20–62, but this injury proved a blessing; it secured the franchise the first overall pick in the 1998 draft to select Tim Duncan. The combination of Robinson and second-year power forward Duncan propelled San Antonio through the 1998–99 lockout-shortened season. They posted an NBA-best 37–13 record and swept past Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Portland to reach their first Finals. There, they defeated the New York Knicks in five games to claim their first title. Robinson continued his success, winning a second championship in 2003 before retiring after 14 seasons with San Antonio.

Reader's Guide

David Robinson played exclusively for the San Antonio Spurs from 1989 to 2003; he never played for the Dallas Mavericks. His legacy includes being named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and the 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. Off the court, Robinson earned a Master of Arts in Administration from the University of the Incarnate Word in 2011. For any fan tracking his career, it is crucial to note that all 14 years of his professional tenure were spent in San Antonio, where he helped build a dynasty alongside Tim Duncan.

Did You Know?

• Robinson was only 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) tall during his junior year of high school before a massive growth spurt took him to 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m).
• He spent two years fulfilling active-duty obligations with the U.S. Navy after being drafted, delaying his NBA debut until 1989.
• In 1994, Robinson scored a career-high 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers to win the scoring title.
• Robinson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice: once individually in 2009 and again in 2010 as part of the 1992 'Dream Team'.
• Despite his nickname, the highest rank Robinson earned during his military service was lieutenant (junior grade).