The Portland Trail Blazers and UConn Huskies announced Saturday that star big man Clifford Robinson has died at the age of 53. Robinson, who played under Jim Calhoun at UConn, emerged as a centerpiece of the Trail Blazers’ organization after being selected in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft.
Robinson helped lead the Blazers to the playoffs in each of his eight seasons with the team, which included two trips to the NBA Finals. Robinson earned the Sixth Man of the Year award in 1993, and was an NBA All-Star the following season. Robinson later played for the Suns, Pistons, Warriors and Nets before retiring in 2007.
Current and former NBA players paid tribute to Robinson on Twitter.
