Leonard Eugene " Truck " Robinson (born October 4, 1951) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played at the National Basketball Association (NBA) for Washington Bullets (1974-77), Atlanta Hawks (1977), New Orleans Jazz (1977-79), Phoenix Suns (1979-82), and New York Knicks (1982-85).
He helped Bullets win the NBA East Conference Conference in 1975 and the Suns won the 1981 NBA Pacific Division.
Robinson was named for the 1978 East All-Star Team and the 1981 Western All-Star Team.
He was named for the All-NBA Team in 1978.
Robinson led the NBA in played minutes (3,638), defensive rebounds (990), total rebounds (1,288) and rebounds per game (15.7) during the 1977-78 season.
He ranks 86th in the list of NBA/ABA offensive career rebounds (1,985), ranked 43rd in the list of career defensive rebounds (5,282), ranked 81th on the list of total rebounds (7,267) and 73 on career rebounds per match list (9,4).
In 11 seasons Robinson played in 772 matches, lived 25,141 minutes on the field and had.483 percent of field goals (4,816 for 9,971).662 free throw percentage (2,355 for 3,556), total rebounds 7,267 (1,985 offensive and 5,282 defensive), 1,348 assists , 533 steals, 510 blocks, 2,253 personal offenses and 11,988 points.
He was recently hired as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings.
Video Truck Robinson
Biography
Known throughout the league as a "Truck", Leonard Robinson uses his rugged body, clever games, and is sure to become one of the best forward players of the 1970s and 1980s. Fundamentally audible in every area, it has the strength and physical attributes of forward forces along with the mobility of small attackers. He sent a consistent cargo of offensive weapons and an incredible rebound for 11 years in the NBA. Two-time All-Star, Robinson underwent his best season with the New Orleans Jazz in 1977-78, when he scored 22.7 points on average and led the NBA with 15.7 rebounds per game.
After starring in Tennessee State University, Robinson was taken by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the 1974 NBA draft. As a beginner in 1974-75, Robinson had to wait his turn behind Elvin Hayes and Mike Riordan and averaged only 5.8 points in 13, 1 minute per game. He made a small contribution to the Bullet team that reached the NBA Finals that year, losing to the Golden State Warriors in four games.
Robinson's playing time doubled in the sophomore season, and the score and the number of rebounds improved. But it was not until the 1976-77 campaign, when Bullets sent Robinson to Atlanta for Tom Henderson and the draft of choice, that Robinson proved himself to be a star. In a double duty between Bullets and Hawks, Robinson averaged 19.0 points and 10.8 rebounds.
Prior to the 1977-78 season, Robinson signed a free agent deal with New Orleans Jazz, and the Jazz sent Ron Behagen (and cash) the Hawks as compensation. In his only full season with Jazz, Robinson changed his best performance in his career. At just 6-foot-7, he became one of the first non-centers to ever lead the league in a rebound, grabbing 15.7 boards per game. He also scored his best goal of his career (22.7 ppg), making his first All-Star appearance, and was named the All-NBA First Team at the end of the season.
The Jazz, under Elgin Baylor coach, went 39-43 but missed the playoffs for the fourth time in their four-year history. Robinson started well in 1978-79, averaging 24.2 points and 13.4 rebounds through the first 43 games. But on January 12, the Jazz traded Robinson to the Phoenix Suns for two players and two draft first-round drafts. The Suns boast a deeper list of Jazz, and during the last 26 games of the season, Robinson averaged just 16.0 points in 29.1 minutes per game. Phoenix won 50 games that year and advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing to Seattle in seven games.
For the next three seasons with the Suns, Robinson averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds each year. After the 1981-82 campaign he traded to the New York Knicks for Maurice Lucas. In 1982-83 Robinson suffered through the worst slump in his career, averaging only 9.5 points and 8.1 rebounds. Fans started complaining about "their truck with four flat tires" and often chanted "Dump Truck." He played a full season for New York - with similar results - before retiring from 1984-1985.
In 11 seasons NBA Robinson collected 11,988 points and 7,267 rebounds.
Maps Truck Robinson
NBA career statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
See also
- List of annual leaders of the National Basketball Association
- List of annual rebel leaders of the National Basketball Association
References
- Career and player information statistics from Basketball-Reference.com
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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