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Robinson’s Dream a Thrill for Kids
Growing up in Seattle, Nate Robinson attended countless basketball camps, dreaming of one day holding his own. Just weeks away from only his third NBA season, Robinson has already seen his dream come to fruition as the Nate Robinson Skillz and Drillz Youth Basketball Camp, which ran last week from Aug. 20-25. The camp, held at Mt. Kisco's Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester, was open to boys and girls ages 6-16. Robinson personally attended to each and every detail of the camp, ranging from what drills to run to what each camper would eat for lunch. Robinson put the entire camp schedule together by drawing on his favorite parts of the camps he attended when he was younger, as well as those he worked at as an instructor. He then added his own unique flavor to create a truly one-of-a kind experience for his campers. Working together with his good friend and high school teammate, David Hudson, Robinson created the model for the numerous camps he plans to run in the years to come. "This whole thing is important to Nate," said Hudson. "We were just talking about how we want to have a 30th Annual Skillz and Drillz camp." While this has been a lifelong goal for Robinson, this year's camp actually came together at the last minute. "This all came together really quickly in a month and a half," Hudson explained. "It is harder to start in the summer because the kids are all spread out. Some are away on vacation; others are already in basketball camps. But this camp wasn't about making money. We wanted the camp to pay for itself, and then we pay for the kids and have a great camp." In just six weeks, Robinson and Hudson put together a camp that drew 140 kids in its inaugural outing. "I'm real happy with how it's turned out," Robinson said. "A lot of kids showed up. I wasn't expecting some big number because this is my first camp. There are a lot of kids playing football and going on family vacations, but the turnout's been good. We've done a lot of competition drills and the kids are enjoying themselves, and that's the main thing. That's what is important. That's what counts." "Coach Nate" has an infectious personality that resonated with the campers. "My favorite part is learning and the drills," said 11-year old Terrell. "Nate is a good teacher. He's the best at dunking!" 10-year old Chris agreed, saying: "The best part is playing with Nate because he is fun." Hudson says it is also important to Nate that the kids apply the camp to the real world as well as to basketball. "We want the kids to know that if you want something in life you've got to work hard. Whether it's basketball, or if you want to get an A on a test, or if you want to be a doctor, you just go hard, and good things come to you." Robinson reinforced the importance of having the right work ethic by handing out an autographed a pair of personalized sneakers to the camper who cleaned up after herself, and others, each day after lunch. During a Q & A session with his campers, the 5-foot-9 Washington native talked about his path to the NBA and the struggles he encountered along the way. Sitting in a hot gymnasium in the middle of August, each camper hung on every word he uttered, enthralled by his life story. The point guard spoke about how Gary Payton sponsored him and his brother to attend the former Sonic star's camp when Robinson was a kid, because their mother could not afford to send the boys. Inspired by Payton's selflessness, Robinson himself paid the way for dozens of kids who could otherwise not be able to afford the camp.
"Nate had an appearance at the Tarrytown Boys and Girls Club last December when they were about to close down. They needed some money, and he did a fundraiser. The director over there told me how Nate left an impression on the kids, and then we pulled up at the place there were Nate Robinson posters everywhere. So I looked in there and he told me that the kids wouldn't be able to afford the camp. I told Nate, and he said 'I want to sponsor them. I want to bring those kids in.'" Robinson clearly practices the values he preaches to each camper, exemplified by the following story that brought tears to Hudson's eyes as he recounted it: "Yesterday a kid had a pair of sneakers on with some holes in the bottom," he began. "Nate was doing some drills and the kid's feet were touching the ground. Basically it was a shell of a shoe. Nate goes over to him and asks what size he is and a few minutes later I am leading the drills and I can't find Nate. All of a sudden Nate comes back from his car with a crisp pair of brand new Jordans he just bought and gave them to the kid. The kid just gave Nate a card, and it really shows what kind of guy Coach Nate is and the values he teaches." For more information on additional camps, call the Nate Robinson Skillz & Drillz Youth Basketball hotline at (347) 327-4995.
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Nate Robinson received this thank-you note from the mother of one of his campers last week.
