Glenn Robinson , selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks , was touted to be a significant new generational talent in the league. He stood tall on the hype by averaging 21.9 points per game in his rookie season, leading the Bucks team. He was the runner-up for the ROY award behind Grant Hill and Jason Kidd. During the next seven seasons, Big Dog guided the Bucks to three postseason appearances, including a trip to the conference finals after 15 years, in 2001.
However, his legacy was stained after getting involved in a domestic violence case with his ex-fiancée. The gravity of that incident was so harsh that a judge reprimanded the 6'7" small forward for ruining his image and discussing the severity of his actions.
Things went downhill for Robinson
Throughout his 8-season spell in Milwaukee, Robinson established himself as a quality scorer, having averaged 21.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game; deservingly earning two All-Star selections against his name. In the summer of 2002, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, where he continued his stellar scoring prowess, by leading the team with 20.8 points per game.
However, upon the conclusion of the regular season, after which the Hawks failed to secure a berth in the playoffs, things went haywire for the Indiana native.
On May 16, 2003, Glenn was found guilty of domestic battery and assault by a Cook County jury. The charges were related to an indent with his ex-fiancée - Jonta French. As per The Chicago Tribune, the two-time All-Star showed up at French's house at 3 AM on July 20, 2002, with an intention to meet their 3-year-old daughter. Jonta mentioned in the court that Robinson forced her into her bedroom and punched her. He then demanded a gun that he had given her prior, only to threaten to shoot himself.
Luckily, French managed to escape to a neighbor's house and eventually called the cops. The judge - Christopher Donnelly sentenced the 6'7" forward to a year of conditional discharge, instructed him to take anger management classes, and made him serve five days in the Cook County sheriff's work program.
Donnelly also took the opportunity to deliver a firm admonishment to Robinson regarding his conduct.
"It's shocking what you did," Judge Donnelly told Robinson. "You might have had some grievances, but you had no right to take it out on the mother of your daughter."
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Didn't matter that he won a championship
Two months following the verdict and subsequent hearing, Glenn was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for a lone-season spell. After which, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Despite participating in merely nine regular season games with the Spurs, though featured in 13 contests during the 2005 playoffs, and maintained an average of 3.8 points per game across these contests to hold some contribution to the franchise winning the Larry O'Brien trophy, none of it held great significance.
Even though he ended his career on a high note, the fact that he had to end his career at the age of 32 - just two years after the case, made sure that fans best remembered his legacy in a negative light.
It's safe to say that no matter how well you play on the court if an athlete cannot control his emotions, even the slightest transgressions off the court could tarnish his legacy forever.
Related: “Who are you calling shorty?” — Glenn Robinson III recalls his epic first meeting with Allen Iverson
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