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Robertson was voted by a distinguished panel of 48 journalists, historians, observers and administrators as No. 36 on the list of the 50 greatest North American athletes of the past 100 years as part of ESPN's SportsCentury. He will be featured on the network on Friday, May 14.
Robertson chatted live on NBA.com. He talked about his legendary career as well as this year's NBA Playoffs and his book, "The Art of Basketball."
Chris Sharp, Minneapolis from daily.umn.edu at 12:58pm ET
Oscar, everyone knows that you averaged a triple double for an entire season. Why do you think that the triple double is so rare nowadays, and what do you think the triple double says about a player's versatility? For instance, how good is Jason Kidd compared to every other player in the league?
Oscar Robertson at 1:00pm ET
Lets go with the first question: The triple-double is just a stat. t's a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really. You've got to put a lot of time on the court. When I did it I didn't think that much about it, to be honest. Now, I guess, people want stars. People are trying to invent stars. I don't think you can really do that. Jason Kidd is a terrific player, but he needs people around him. He needs a little bit better inside person than they have there. Then he can play. If he's got to do as much as he is doing now, he's going to wear out. But I think he's doing an outstanding job. But when I did it (the triple-double), I didn't even know it until someone told me. But people want stars.
Chuck Barrett from access.one.net at 1:00pm ET
What active NBA player do you feel plays most like yourself and why?
Oscar Robertson at 1:01pm ET
Well, lets see. I don't know hardly any of the players who have the in-between game like me, who can go to any position on the court. I think Jason Kidd could probably do it. He's developed an outside shot, but he needs that inside game, the little jumshot off the dribble that Michael Jordan had. That's what you need to make yourself a threat. If you're able to pull up and make those shots, it's great. The defense can't even find you then.
scott from kent.wednet.edu at 1:02pm ET
What was your most memorable game?
Oscar Robertson at 1:04pm ET
In college, high school or the pros? A lot of people aren't going to like this, but I'm going to put it in two stages. Going undefeated and winning the High School State Championship of Indiana, and winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics Those were the two best sports moments for Oscar Robertson. It was not the pros. By then, when you've gone through the rigamaroles of travel, and you've got the family, it's not the same anymore. The Olympics were great, because you had to make the team, and then go to the games. Now, I don't know, these guys today don't want to do anything like that. They want a million bucks to go there, stay in a suite, play golf. I'm sorry that the young athletes in basketball will not get the chance to play (in the Olympics) anymore, and live that dream. Why do they have amateurs at all? They say amateur in track, but they're not really amateurs. Why can't Evander Holyfield fight? Why can't they take an all-star team in baseball to the Olympics? But is it coming to that? I hope not.
Sebastian Trila from ssdnet.com.ar at 1:05pm ET
What message do you want to give with the book, "The Art of Basketball"?
Oscar Robertson at 1:07pm ET
I think "The Art of Baskeball" is a very good basketball book. It's easy to read and understand, and you have to understand this: This is not for a Michael Jordan, a very accomplished basketball player. There's so many young peoople who start to play basketball and never learn the fundamentals. When I started playing, I wasn't fast, I was gangly, my jumpshot was terrible. I worked hard, and the things I worked hard at are in the book. And look at girls basketball. Young girls have to learn the fundamentals too. You've got to learn the footwork, the positioning, how to box out, how to pass, how to shoot your free throws. All these things are necessary, not to be the No. 1 player in the world, but maybe you can play against him.
Bob Johnson at 1:07pm ET
Oscar, what rule changes do you think have had the greatest impact on the game since you played?
Oscar Robertson at 1:10pm ET
The 24-seond rule has had the greatest impact on pro basketball. t created situations, especially in the past, where you've got to get the ball up the floor and shoot it, of course, but when I played, we thought speed was essential, but you had to have a half-court game. Today, teams want more control, and you see a lot of low-scoring basketball games. Really, is it because the guys are poor shoooters, or is it because the coach wants to control the game, or is it because some players in certain situations can't shoot? You've got a lot of players today who, like, they say, you're a point guard, so you don't have to shoot. If you're a basketball player, you've got to shoot. For instance, what if your two guard has the ball? Can he handle the ball and make a play? Maybe I should give all the two guards in the NBA my book. I'll give it to them, it'll help them.
Aaron M. Smith from aldenisl.ohiou.edu at 1:10pm ET
Hello Mr. Robertson. I'm working on a persuasive paper in my college English course and my argument is that Oscar Robertson is the best to have ever played the game of basketball. First of all, do you think that you are the best? And second, who do you think is the best all around player, besides yourself, to ever play in the NBA?
Oscar Robertson at 1:12pm ET
Am I the best? Probably not. It's not for me to say. I played when I played, and played, I think, against the greatest players in the greatest time in the history of basketball. I'll let my record speak for itself. Actually, I hope my kids and wife think I'm the greatest (laughs). Who do I think was the greatest? This might shock you: Elgin Baylor. He did so many great things. Nobody could guard him, playing in the forward spot. I'd love to see some of today's greats playing against Elgin. They couldn't guard him. Nobody could.
ROBERT ADAMS at 1:12pm ET
Oscar, which teams do you think are going to the Finals?
Oscar Robertson at 1:14pm ET
Let's see. From the East, I think the Pacers might make it. From the West, I'm going to lean towards Utah. Even after last night. That's going to be the biggest shocker out there. I think the Lakers are coming back, and Portland! And look at San Antonio! That's a horse race out there. It's going to be tough. Whoever can hang in there, has the intestinal fortitude, it'll be hard. I'm not going to say that if you play harder than anyone else, you'll win, because everyone plays hard, practices hard. To me, an intangible is a guy who comes off the bench and scores 10, when he usually scores 1. When a Duncan or a Karl Malone gets in foul trouble. What wins is the unexpected. I saw a game the other day, Lakers against Houston, and these guards shot the lights out! Where were these guards all season? These are the things that win for you. The people coming into the game have to make a contribution to win.
Fetu Trila from ssdnet.com.ar at 1:14pm ET
Which is the best team in NBA history?
Oscar Robertson at 1:17pm ET
The consensus is that the best team was one of the Celtic teams. I don't know if that's true or not. I thought Philadelphia had a great basketball team. Before I got involved in basketball, there was the great Rochester Royals teams. I thought the Bucks had a great team. We could put pressure on opponents, we could score. And look at the '72 Knicks. Who is the best? Oscar Robertson does not know. I think it's kind of sad and ironic at times. Take a Heisman Trophy race. Some of the people who vote for the winnner, never see him play. It's all stats. The same thing is true in all sports. They should have a rule: in order to be a sportswriter, you have to have played that sport, at some level; high school, college, junior college, somewhere. Or, you should have had to have been around the game for a long time. Not just come right out of school and write about sports. It's amazing how you see all of these experts after you get beat.
Xing Li-Lan at 1:18pm ET
Hello, Mister Roberston. How was it working with the ex-NBA stars in China?
Oscar Robertson at 1:20pm ET
It was a great time for us, to be able to be there. Unfortunately, our players could have been the fathers of the players we played! (laughs) Chinese basketball is really coming on the scene. We don't know that much about it, which is another problem in sports. Sure, we know European basketball, but what about Chinese basketball? I think it's right there with other countries. They've got to promote it (outside the country) more. I was in Taiwan and I couldn't believe how much they love basketball. They have the professional leagues. They even have the girls who come on the court, just like they do here. I thought it was fantastic.
mma1 from splitrock.net at 1:20pm ET
Do you think that the age of free agency has taken away an important part of the game, that being the development of teams with the same players over years?
Oscar Robertson at 1:23pm ET
I think free agency has hurt quite a bit. But, why did we get free agency? I think that's the question that should be asked. When I came into the league, once a team drafted you, they owned you forever. If they didn't like the clothes you wore, or the car you drove, they could blackball you. This is why free agency came into effect. Now, no one faction should have the power. You should share the power, to make it a better game for everybody. Look at the recent lockout? Come on! You can't pay a player $30 million a year, and expect the 12th man to make $50,000! He wants a few million, too. But you can't get the money back at the gate. It's impossible. Then you've got to go out and market the stuff, sell TV and radio rights. Obviously you can't. Look at the Bulls. They've gone from the lighthouse to the outhouse, in a very short time. I'd say every smart team, every smart management, they've learned how to overcome this. It's just like on the court. You've got to make adjustments.
Luc Lafontaine from dsuper.net at 1:23pm ET
Suppose they kept track of blocks and steals back in your day. We all know triple-doubles came easy for you, but do you think you`d ever have gotten a quadruple or, dare I say it, a quintuple-double?!
Oscar Robertson at 1:25pm ET
Not for blocked shots. Maybe once in awhile some steals. When you play guard, you're not going to block a lot of shots. Inside, you're going to block shots. Russell, Nate Thurmond, Kareem, those great shot-blockers, they could stand inside and block shots, but when you're outside, it's a different situation. As a guard, you hope to get position, deny the ball, but to block a jumpshot? You can do it sometimes, but it's not something you're going to do all the time.
ron williams at 1:25pm ET
Oscar:
Why do you think the players in your era had morerespect for coaches than the players of today's era?
Oscar Robertson at 1:27pm ET
I think they had more respect when I played because they were taught that. They were taught not to speak back to coaches because they were like your parents! I didn't talk back to my father, and I didn't talk back to my coaches. I called them "Mr." You look at the situation today. If you're not going to give any respect at home, you can't expect it in the streets. We as a society, don't respect our elders. We think the buck gives someone special status. They may be the worst people in the world, but they've got money. Should they be respected for character, morals? When I played, I think my father told me, "look around; if you cause any trouble, you're not going to play."
Kelly from tnt6.new-orleans.la.da.uu.net at 1:27pm ET
Big O, do you think that the NBA can get back to its "good old days" — playing for the love of the game and not for the money?
Oscar Robertson at 1:28pm ET
I hope they will play for the love of the game, but as far as not for the money, no. That will never happen again. They're playing for the money now. It's almost like a business for them. It's the way things have evolved. You can't remain the same, you become stagnant. The game has to go forward, and I think it is going forward; sometimes a bit faster than I like. When a coach offers you five million dollars and you're only worth a million, I hope you'll say, "I'll take that."
Gil David from proxy.aol.com at 1:29pm ET
What impact do you feel you have had on the game of basketball and how would you like to be remembered?
Oscar Robertson at 1:30pm ET
The impact I've had on the game? I don't really know. I guess that my impact was that I lived at a time when a 6-9 guy could play guard. Or a 7-foot kid could dribble in the backcourt without being laughed at or booed off the court. The impact I may have had is that if you work on your fundamentals, no matter what size you are, you can play basketball. I'd like to be remembered as a true professional basketball player in every respect, both on and off the court.
Oscar Robertson at 1:31pm ET
I'd like to thank everyone for sending in your questions. think "The Art of Basketball" is a good book. It's easy to read, and it works for young basketball players. ou can get it by calling 1-888-BEARCAT.
