Why is David Robinson Underrated?

Dealing in the realm of opinion precludes us from ever truly knowing the greatest at anything, but Robinson is very likely the greatest two-way center since the NBA/ABA merger. He is what everyone thinks Bill Russell was. Robinson wasn’t just a defensive wall who led the NBA in defensive rating a record five times, but he was also an offensive force who is one of only three centers in the last 45 years to lead the league in scoring. In fact, Robinson’s two-way prowess is so unique that he is the only player in NBA history to have led the league in defensive rating and scoring. His impact on the NBA was swift and stunning. Prior to his rookie season in San Antonio, the Spurs were coming off a dreadful season in which they won just 21 games. With Robinson, that total ballooned to 55 wins the following season. This was the largest year over year improvement over the first 40+ years of the NBA. The team that beat that record? The 1997-1998 San Antonio Spurs, who improved their win total by 36 games when Robinson returned after missing all but six games the prior season due to injury (Note: The Spurs also had the luxury of adding Tim Duncan through the draft, which, come on!).  

Speaking of Duncan, Robinson’s greatness is often overshadowed by The Big Fundamental’s extraordinary career. However, Robinson’s trophy case is impressive in its own right. He won an NBA MVP, finished 2nd twice, and 3rd twice. He won the Defensive Player of the Year, and finished 2nd three times. All this despite missing two years of his prime serving in the Navy and his age-31 season due to injury. Robinson’s two-way dominance, stacked trophy case, and the eye-popping ledger below easily places him among the 20 greatest basketball players in NBA history.

David Robinson’s Resume

1). Only center in the last 50 years to have a season of 20+ Win Shares

2). Only center in the last 50 years to have two seasons of 18+ Win Shares.

3). Only center in the last 50 years to have three seasons of 17.5+ Win Shares

4). Only center in the last 50 years to have four seasons of 17+ Win Shares

5). Only center in the last 50 years to have five seasons of 15+ Win Shares

6). Only center in the last 50 years to have six seasons of 13.5+ Win Shares

7). Only center in the last 50 years to have seven seasons of 13.5+ Win Shares

8). Only center in the last 50 years to have eight seasons of 13+ Win Shares

9). Only center in the last 50 years to have nine seasons of 12.5+ Win Shares

10). Only center in the last 50 years to have 10 seasons of 12+ Win Shares

11). Led the NBA in Defensive Rating a record five times. 

12). Led the NBA Playoffs in Defensive Rating a record five times.

13). Most points by a center in a single game since 1962 (71).

14). 20 point margin between Offense Rating (116) and Defensive Rating (96) is the largest of any player in NBA history with a career ppg average of at least 14 points.

Editor’s note: This is my favorite David Robinson stat.

15). Only player in NBA history to have led the league in Defensive Rating and scoring. 

16). Only player in NBA history to have career averages of 21+ points, 10+ rebounds, 3+ blocks and a .515+ field goal percentage. 

17). Only player in NBA history to lead the NBA in scoring, blocks, rebounds, free throw attempts, free throws made, Win Shares, Value over Replacement Player (VROP), and Player Efficiency Rating. 

18). All-time leader in Defensive Box Plus/Minus

19). 3rd all-time in Win Shares/48 minutes

20). 4th all-time in Defensive Rating

21). 6th all-time in NBA Playoffs Defensive Rating

22). 6th all-time in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) 

23). 6th all-time in Box Plus/Minus

24). 10th all-time in free throws per 100 possessions

25). 12th all-time in Value over Replacement Player (VORP)

26). 16th all-time in Win Shares

27). Only player in NBA history with 170+ Win Shares while playing fewer than 1,000 games.

28). Only player in NBA history with 80+ VORP while playing fewer than 1,000 games. 

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Hi (hopefully) awesome reader! I welcome your comments. However, please be aware that I make all of my arguments using facts, statistics, and logic. Unfortunately, the average comment on a top-100 list goes something like this:

"UR StooPid. (Insert player) is trash. I've watched (pick a sport) for (pick a number of years) and (pick a player) is better than everyone. UR DUMB. HAHA6969."

–Some Jabroni

As cognitively stimulating as this species of comment is, it ends up being a missed opportunity to share a nuanced perspective. I reply to all comments that show even the most basic levels of thought and humility. The people who make the comments like the example above are under the assumption that the three seconds of thought that popped into their brains after reading the list is more than the 1000s of hours that I put into creating and maintaining the lists. I would be happy to defend any placement, or make an adjustment if one is warranted. If you are a jabroni, like the one above, then your comment will die in the lonely void of the unpublished comments section.

For everyone else, I look forward to your comments!

P.S. The theme of this site and the top-100 lists is that athletes from previous generations have historically been grossly overrated by sports publications in a way that is statistically improbable. Click on the "About" dropdown menu to see just how badly the average top-100 list disproportionately favors athletes from older generations when leagues were smaller, race quotas existed, and globalization wasn't a thing. Also, please consider reading "The History" section of the sport you are commenting on.

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