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Rick Roberson
Rick Roberson (July 7, 1947 – May 3, 2020) was an American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers (1969–1971), Cleveland Cavaliers (1971–1973), Portland Trail Blazers (1973–1974), New Orleans Jazz (1974–1975) and Kansas City Kings (1975–1976).
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Roberson played basketball at Mitchell High School, from which he graduated in 1965. Roberson's son, Chris, played in the MLB for two seasons in 2006 and 2007, and had a long professional baseball career from 2001 to 2023.
Roberson said he had a chance to be the first African-American basketball player at Memphis State, but he chose to attend the University of Cincinnati.
As a sophomore in 1966–67, he led the 17-9 Bearcats in scoring with 14.3 points per game (ppg) as well as rebounding with 12.5 rebounds per game (rpg). On January 17, 1967, he notched a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Bradley University. No Bearcat would have another triple-double for 30 years, when Kenyon Martin accomplished the feat in 1997. Roberson's 10 blocks remains a Cincinnati single-game record, tied two years later by his Bearcats teammate Jim Ard as well as by Eric Hicks and Martin. He was named All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
In 1967–68 as a junior, he again led the 18-8 Bearcats in both scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (12.3 rpg). In his senior year of 1968–69, for the third consecutive season he paced the team in both scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (12.6 rpg) as the Bearcats went 17–9. He was again named All-MVC.
For his career, Roberson ranks fourth in all-time career rebounding average (12.4), behind only Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman and Connie Dierking.
Roberson was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 1969 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and the New York Nets of the ABA.
A 6'9" and 231 lb (105 kg) center/forward, he helped the Lakers win the 1969–70 NBA Western Division with a 46–36 record and advance to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the New York Knicks in seven games. With Wilt Chamberlain limited to 12 games due to a knee injury, Roberson helped shore up the Lakers' front line and he saw significant playing time. In 74 games, he averaged 27.1 minutes per game, 8.7 points per game (ppg)and 9.1 rebounds per game (rpg). He scored a season- and then career-high 26 points on February 8, 1970, against the San Diego Rockets.
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Rick Roberson
Rick Roberson (July 7, 1947 – May 3, 2020) was an American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers (1969–1971), Cleveland Cavaliers (1971–1973), Portland Trail Blazers (1973–1974), New Orleans Jazz (1974–1975) and Kansas City Kings (1975–1976).
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Roberson played basketball at Mitchell High School, from which he graduated in 1965. Roberson's son, Chris, played in the MLB for two seasons in 2006 and 2007, and had a long professional baseball career from 2001 to 2023.
Roberson said he had a chance to be the first African-American basketball player at Memphis State, but he chose to attend the University of Cincinnati.
As a sophomore in 1966–67, he led the 17-9 Bearcats in scoring with 14.3 points per game (ppg) as well as rebounding with 12.5 rebounds per game (rpg). On January 17, 1967, he notched a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Bradley University. No Bearcat would have another triple-double for 30 years, when Kenyon Martin accomplished the feat in 1997. Roberson's 10 blocks remains a Cincinnati single-game record, tied two years later by his Bearcats teammate Jim Ard as well as by Eric Hicks and Martin. He was named All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
In 1967–68 as a junior, he again led the 18-8 Bearcats in both scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (12.3 rpg). In his senior year of 1968–69, for the third consecutive season he paced the team in both scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (12.6 rpg) as the Bearcats went 17–9. He was again named All-MVC.
For his career, Roberson ranks fourth in all-time career rebounding average (12.4), behind only Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman and Connie Dierking.
Roberson was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 1969 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and the New York Nets of the ABA.
A 6'9" and 231 lb (105 kg) center/forward, he helped the Lakers win the 1969–70 NBA Western Division with a 46–36 record and advance to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the New York Knicks in seven games. With Wilt Chamberlain limited to 12 games due to a knee injury, Roberson helped shore up the Lakers' front line and he saw significant playing time. In 74 games, he averaged 27.1 minutes per game, 8.7 points per game (ppg)and 9.1 rebounds per game (rpg). He scored a season- and then career-high 26 points on February 8, 1970, against the San Diego Rockets.