Former Portland Trail Blazers star Clifford Robinson dies at 53 – ESPN

Clifford Robinson, an early neatly-known person in UConn’s rise to vitality who helped lead the Portland Path Blazers to two NBA Finals, has died on the age of 53, the teams confirmed Saturday.

No reason unhurried demise used to be given, though weak Huskies coach Jim Calhoun talked about Robinson had a stroke 2½ years ago.

Nicknamed “Uncle Cliffy” and identified for his trademark headscarf, Robinson spent 18 seasons in the NBA, successful the 1993 Sixth Man of the Year award and incomes an All-Superstar nod.

At 6-foot-11, he had the dimensions of a heart nonetheless used to be a knowledgeable outside shooter, a predecessor of the in model NBA colossal man.

The Path Blazers group is deeply saddened by the passing of Path Blazers monumental Cliff Robinson. We lengthen our heartfelt condolences to Cliff’s family & family individuals. Uncle Cliffy might be vastly neglected by the Path Blazers & all of Rip Metropolis.https://t.co/X4ixK1XCPT pic.twitter.com/0njgpimiBH

— Portland Path Blazers (@trailblazers) August 29, 2020

His skedaddle of 461 consecutive video games performed with the Path Blazers calm stands as a franchise file, and Robinson ranks among the team’s all-time leaders in blocks (2nd), factors (fifth), video games performed (fifth), steals (sixth), 3-pointers (Seventh) and rebounds (10th).

“The Path Blazers group is deeply saddened by the passing of Path Blazers monumental Cliff Robinson,” the team talked about in an announcement. “… His persona and vitality were unmatched, and his contributions on the court were unmistakable, helping the Path Blazers into the playoffs every of his eight seasons with the team. … We lengthen our heartfelt condolences to Cliff’s family and family individuals. Uncle Cliffy might be vastly neglected by the Path Blazers and all of Rip Metropolis.”

Robinson furthermore performed for the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Golden Tell Warriors and Modern Jersey Nets. He made the 1994 NBA All-Superstar Game and used to be named to two NBA All-Defensive 2nd teams while averaging 14.6 factors and 4.6 rebounds in 1,380 occupation video games — the 13th-most in NBA ancient previous.

The UConn Basketball family mourns the lack of a legendary player and person, Clifford Robinson. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cliff’s family at this advanced time 🙏

Leisure In Peace, Cliff. pic.twitter.com/Bp6Z5hbVUb

— UConn Males’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) August 29, 2020

Robinson, a native of Buffalo, Modern York, used to be the heart-piece of Calhoun’s early teams at UConn from 1985-89, helping manual the Huskies from the bottom of the Colossal East to the 1988 NIT championship.

“It is basically unhappy to hear of this, because he used to be one among my formative years, my avid gamers, a guy I watched develop proper into a man,” Calhoun told The Associated Press. “It is miles no longer an easy thing.”

UConn retired Robinson’s No. 00 in 2007.

“He used to be our first monumental player,” Calhoun talked about. “He gave legitimacy to the program. As a player coming in, here’s this guy having fun with on TV for the Path Blazers, searching at him play, searching at UConn being talked about. You have to perhaps no longer pay for the publicity that he gave us.”

The Associated Press contributed to this file.