SIDELINES : Robinson NBA’s Pivotal Player

Center David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, unanimously selected last week as the NBA Rookie of the Year, added the league’s Pivotal Player award today.

Robinson, who led the Spurs to the Midwest Division championship and a franchise-record 56 victories, was 10th in the league in scoring with 24.3 points per game. He was second in rebounding with 12 per game and third in blocked shots with 3.89.

The award is given to the player who contributes the most to his team’s overall success. A computer analysis of key offensive and defensive statistics is used to determine a winner.

Robinson, with 106.51 points, finished ahead of Chicago’s Michael Jordan, who won last year. Jordan had 101.43 points. Charles Barkley of Philadelphia, a three-time winner, was third, followed by Magic Johnson of the Lakers and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz.