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Glenn Robinson III (Getty)
For the first time in his professional career, Indiana Pacers guard/forward Glenn Robinson III took part in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. And for the first time in his career, Robinson won the competition.
Even though he was the underdog in the contest, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that he walked out of New Orleans with the first-place trophy. Through his young career, Robinson has become known for his athleticism and high-flying.
On his final dunk of the dunk contest, Robinson’s head was near the rim as he threw it down.
He was faced with some stiff competition during the dunk contest, going toe-to-toe against Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic, DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers and Derrick Jones Jr. of the Phoenix Suns. He ended up pulling off the victory in the final against Jones Jr.
Here’s what you need to know about Robinson:
1. Robinson is the Son of an NBA Great
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Glenn Robinson, right, and Sam Cassell, left, of the Milwaukee Bucks rest on the bench during a game. (Getty)
Robinson’s dad, Glenn, was a very successful and highly-rated player out of Purdue University. He was selected No. 1 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1994 NBA Draft. After a brief holdout, Robinson and the Bucks came to terms on a 10-year, $100 million contract, the richest for a rookie in NBA history. In his first season, he led all rookies with 21.9 points per game.
Robinson was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2002 and finished his career in Milwaukee being the second-leading scorer in Bucks franchise history. He posted 20.8 points per game in Atlanta, but was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers after one season. On the Sixers, Robinson’s scoring dropped a bit to 16.6 points per game, but he missed the next season with an injury. He was traded to the New Orleans Hornets, but never played a game.
Robinson was able to finish his career on a high note, though, signing a deal with the San Antonio Spurs and winning an NBA Championship in 2005.
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2. His Brother Plays Football at Purdue
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(Twitter)
Robinson is the older brother of Gelen, who is also a successful athlete. Gelen just finished his junior year playing for Purdue University as a defensive end.
He was suspended for two games during the 2015 season because of an alcohol related incident.
During the 2016 season, Gelen recorded his first interception of his career, and he took it 78 yards all the way to the opposing team’s end zone.
At Lake Central High School in Indiana, Gelen wrestled and threw discus, winning state championships for both sports — wrestling twice. He won 101-straight matches to round out his high school wrestling career. In addition to those personal feats, Gelen helped his high school football team win a sectional championship. He is listed at Purdue at 6-foot-1, 275 pounds.
3. He Had a Successful Career at Michigan
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Glenn Robinson III played at the University of Michigan. (Getty)
Out of high school, Robinson was a five-star recruit rated by Rivals.com. He went on to play basketball for the University of Michigan.
As a freshman for the Wolverines, Robinson’s play impressed. He averaged 11 points per game and shot 57 percent from the field. During that season, Michigan played in the NCAA Championship Game against Louisville, but lost 82-76. He scored 12 points in the game.
As a sophomore, Robinson averaged 13.1 points per game as the Wolverines had another good year. The team made it to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight round, but was eliminated by Kentucky. Following the season, he and teammate Nik Stauskas held a joint press conference to declare for the NBA Draft.
Robinson and Stauskas contributed to the best two seasons in Michigan men’s basketball history.
4. Robinson Had 1 of the Top Verticals At the Combine
Glenn Robinson III of the Indiana Pacers in a game. (Getty)
Prior to being drafted, Robinson showed off his talent in front of NBA scouts at the 2014 NBA Draft Combine. His vertical leap of 41.5 inches was tied for third out of the 53 participants and was the highest measurement of all the small forwards. Even with the high marks, Robinson said he wasn’t pleased with his performance. He had previously jumped a personal best of 45 inches.
In addition to those marks, the 23-year-old Robinson posted solid days of shooting in front of the scouts in attendance. He was projected to be drafted anywhere from late in the first round to middle of the second.
5. The Timberwolves Drafted Robinson in 2014
Glenn Robinson III speaks with the media during media availability for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Getty)
Robinson was selected 40th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He ended up being waived by the team near the end of his rookie season and was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia 76ers. He had spurts of good play, but was ultimately not re-signed by the franchise after the season. He then signed a three-year deal with the Indiana Pacers in 2015.
In his first season for the Pacers, Robinson averaged 3.8 points per game while receiving 11.1 minutes per game. So far in the 2016-2017 season, he is averaging 6.2 points.
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