Those three attributes have been a constant description of Charlotte Bobcats General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff’s perfect player since the organization began putting together its inaugural roster.

When it came time for the Bobcats to make their second-round selection in the 2004 NBA Draft, there couldn’t have been a player available that fit that description better than the University of Michigan’s Bernard Robinson.

Appearing in 120 of a possible 121 games during his collegiate career, Robinson became the first player in Wolverines history to record at least 1,400 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 steals. He twice won the team’s Outstanding Defensive Player Award, and added Most Valuable Player honors, the Loy Vaught Rebounding Award and Gary Grant Assist Award to his collection as a senior.

“I pride myself in my defense,” said Robinson. “Coach (Tommy) Amaker taught me a lot of things defensively and he was a very good defender. I think I’m also an all-around good player. I can create my own shot and help my teammates get into the game. I think that’s what I’m going to be looking for, not more or less scoring, I just want to be able to create a good flow for the team.”

As a senior at Michigan, Robinson averaged 12.1 points and led the team with 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per outing while earning Third Team All-Big Ten honors.

“Robinson represents what we like in a basketball player – versatility, toughness, the ability to put the ball on the floor. He represents all those things,” said Bickerstaff. “The one thing I’ve noticed is that the guy makes plays – he makes his teammates better. Guys in the league who can do multiple things and can defend multiple positions, there’s a chance for them.”

Bickerstaff and his staff thought Robinson would be taken late in the first round of the draft and were pleasantly surprised when he was available with the 45th overall pick. Robinson said the wait to hear his name on draft night was nerve racking, but he felt positive he would be selected.

“I felt confident that my name would be called, but it definitely made me nervous,” said Robinson. “I thought I would go a little earlier, but the key thing is that I’m with a basketball team that really wants me. I think Coach Bickerstaff really likes me and wants to see me do well.”

The 6-6, 210-pound guard/forward feels that he couldn’t have landed in a better spot than with the expansion Bobcats. Starting with a clean slate, every player in camp is competing for a job.

“I’m very excited,” said Robinson on the first day of the team’s summer mini-camp. “There’s a great opportunity for me here in Charlotte and I want to make the best of it. I have some things that I can do to help this ballclub. It’s a very good opportunity to get playing time, but we all have to compete. I think that’s the key thing that the coaches wanted to emphasize, that we have to compete because everyone here in camp wants a job.”

by Bo Hussey, BobcatsBasketball.com
Posted: June 29, 2004