C5 + CCIM Global Summit SPEAKERS

David Robinson, “The Admiral,” is living proof of the old adage that good things come to those who wait. Robinson was a star at the U.S. Naval Academy, earning All-American honors twice, and winning college basketball’s most prestigious honors, the Wooden and Naismith Awards, in his senior season – but waited two seasons before debuting in the NBA.

Robinson graduated from the Naval Academy in 1987 with a mathematics degree and was selected first overall in the 1987 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs; however, he honored a commitment to serve two years in the Navy before joining the Spurs in 1989. As one of the most gifted and versatile athletes, the former Navy Midshipman was an easy choice for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award at season’s end.

Within his first three seasons, Robinson established himself among the best in the league. His early achievements included All-NBA First Team selections in 1991 and 1992, an NBA All-Defensive First Team nod in 1991 and the 1992 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. Robinson was also the first player in NBA history to rank among the top five in rebounding, blocks and steals in a single season. His excellence earned him a second consecutive All-NBA First Team selection and a third-straight trip to the NBA All-Star Game. Additionally, he won an Olympic Gold Medal with the NBA Dream Team at the Barcelona Games that year.

After winning the 1995 NBA MVP award and being named one of the 50 greatest players of all time, Robinson had accomplished all that he could as an individual, but he longed to earn basketball’s ultimate team honor – an NBA Championship. This finally came in 1999 when he teamed up with future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan to earn the trophy. The pair would repeat this feat in Robinson’s final season in 2003.

Over the course of Robinson’s decorated career, he was a two-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, ten-time NBA All Star, NBA Sportsmanship Award recipient, ten-time All-NBA honoree, eight-time All-Defensive team honoree, and named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary 50 Greatest Players list. In 2009, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility.