Salute to The Admiral’s NBA Career

David Robinson played 14 seasons in the NBA. Amazingly, the number should be 16 seasons. However, the San Antonio Spurs legend, living up to his honorable nickname, The Admiral, finished his duties with the US Navy for two years before dedicating the rest of his life to the NBA.

The Hall of Fame center turns 59 today, and such a fine career warrants revisiting.

Immediately upon entering the NBA, Robinson took the league by storm. The Spurs center earned All-Star nods for seven consecutive seasons. It seems the military training conditioned for the NBA as Robinson played all 82 games for three seasons.

Robinson earned 10 All-NBA nods in his 14-year career.

The Spurs center averaged 27 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks for the 1994-1995 season. Missing only one game, Robinson earned the MVP award. For the first time in his career up to that point, the 1995 MVP led the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals.

Although they lost to the eventual NBA champions, the Houston Rockets, Robinson showcased his importance to the franchise.

Robinson appeared prime for NBA domination following the MVP campaign which parlayed into a Western Conference Finals appearance.

However, 1996 was both one of Robinson’s worst years, but twistingly the Spurs' blessing in disguise.

Robinson only played six games for the 1996-97 season as the MVP center broke his foot. Yet, a grand prize awaited the championship-hopeful franchise. The NBA Draft gave Spurs fans hope for the future as they had to witness their favorite player inactive on the sidelines.

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The Spurs drafted Wake Forest star Tim Duncan in 97, and the rest is history. Before Robinson retired, he won two NBA championships with Duncan, helping build the Spurs as a formidable dynasty.

Robinson finished career with averages of 21 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3 blocks.