Robinson: Time to Take On the NBA

Glenn Robinson returned to his hometown Monday to say he is ready for the NBA, where he is expected to be one of the brightest--and wealthiest--young stars.

Across the street from the rickety house where he grew up, in the high school gym where teammates called him Lurch before Purdue fans called him Big Dog, the Boilermaker All-American announced that he will forgo his senior year to try his hand at the NBA.

Robinson, college basketball’s player of the year, probably will be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, and his agent speculates he could sign a contract of close to $100 million.

But Robinson said money is not the reason he is leaving college.

It is simply the right time to take his game to a higher level, and Gary Roosevelt High was the right place for his long-awaited announcement.

“I want everyone to know in the city of Gary that I’m leaving because I’m in a unique situation,” Robinson, who led the nation in scoring with a 30.3-point average, told about 300 people. “A lot of people don’t have the opportunity to go into the (draft) lottery, or maybe be the No. 1 pick.”

Admittedly more nervous behind a cluster of cameras and microphones than in front of 20,000 basketball fans, the 6-foot-8 forward probably can expect another uncomfortable day at the NBA draft June 29 in the Indianapolis Hoosier Dome.

He is among a talented group of underclassmen who have declared their eligibility, including Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard of Michigan, Donyell Marshall of Connecticut and Jason Kidd and Lamond Murray of California.

But Robinson is considered by many the best player in that group, and Donnie Walsh, the Indiana Pacer general manager, said he never even got a chance to show his full range of skills in college.

“He obviously can score, but I really believe he has better all-around abilities than have been shown at this point,” Walsh said.

Robinson was the Big Ten’s leading rebounder in 1993-94, averaging 10.2. It was the first time the same player had led the league in both scoring and rebounding since Minnesota’s Mychal Thompson in 1978.

Robinson led an otherwise average Purdue team to a 29-5 record, the conference championship and the top-seeded status in the NCAA’s Southeast Regional. Purdue advanced to the regional final, losing, 69-60, to eventual NCAA runner-up Duke.

He is the eighth-leading scorer in Purdue history with 1,706 points. He also is the only Boilermaker with at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 steals, 100 assists and 50 blocks.

Walsh compared Robinson with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and Robinson said he hopes to have the same impact in the NBA that Michael Jordan had when he joined the Chicago Bulls.

Some believe Robinson’s contract could top the packages Chris Webber and Anfernee Hardaway signed last year. Webber agreed to a 15-year, $74.4-million deal, and Hardaway signed a 13-year, $65-million contract.

Robinson’s agent, Dr. Charles Tucker, said a longterm deal pushing $100 million is possible.

“Anything is realistic nowadays,” he said. “I would certainly say he is worth that because he brings more than basketball to the game. He brings a personality.”

Robinson said he hopes to use his fortune to help Gary, a crumbling steel city with double-digit unemployment and the highest murder rate in the nation last year.

Although he didn’t say so Monday, Robinson has been critical of the cold shoulder pop star Michael Jackson gave Gary after leaving as a child star in 1969.

Along with basketball camps for youths and a big new house for his mother and stepfather, Robinson said he would like to build a recording studio in Gary.

“I love Gary, and I don’t think the people in the past have served their community after they left,” Robinson said. “I’m going to turn that around.”