NBA Rookie Award Goes to Robinson Unanimously

SAN ANTONIO — For David Robinson, the wait was worth it.

Robinson, who waited two years to play for the San Antonio Spurs while finishing a Navy commitment, was unanimously named NBA rookie of the year Friday.

Robinson, who led the Spurs to the greatest single-season improvement in league history, said the two-year layoff from organized basketball helped more than it hurt.

“I learned to be patient, not to fight things and (to) keep my stress level down,” he said. “It’s helped me greatly this season. I’m mellow and I refuse to let things bother me.”

Robinson, who averaged 24.3 points, 12 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game this season, was the first unanimous selection as top rookie since Ralph Sampson in 1984. The award was voted by 92 sportswriters and broadcasters nationwide.

“This is one more thing in a great line of things that have happened to me this year,” said Robinson, a 7-foot-1 center who won every rookie of the month award this season. “All this stuff is just coming so fast it’s almost hard to appreciate it all right now.”

The Spurs made Robinson the No. 1 pick of the 1987 draft, but he spent the next two years stationed at a submarine base in Georgia. The delay apparently hasn’t affected him. He led the Spurs to the Midwest Division title with a 56-26 record--a 35-game improvement over the previous season.

Robinson finished 10th in the league in scoring, second in rebounding behind Akeem Olajuwon and third in blocked shots. Robinson also led all rookies in shooting at 53.1%.

Even Spur Coach Larry Brown has been surprised by Robinson.

“I had no idea he’d be such a force at both ends of the court,” Brown said. “There are times he plays like he’s inexperienced and hasn’t played a lot, but when you consider his overall year he stacks up with anybody in the league.”