He was a fearless man, having devoted 18 years of his life to the NBA. His setting age, in particular, was irrelevant to him, as was his fitness, as long as he was allowed to play whatever he pleased.
While it has been a few months since Clifford Robinson’s ascension to heaven, he is most remembered for his undeniable on- and off-field personality.
As I recall, he was a basketball forward for the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He has played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets since his 1989 NBA Draft pick.
Additionally, during his 18-year NBA career, Robinson has been dubbed the ‘predecessor of the modern center.’ Additionally, he currently has a career total of 19,591 points, 6,306 rebounds, and 3,094 assists.
“Thirty-nine or 49, it makes no difference. Age is irrelevant. I will continue to play basketball as much as I enjoy it. I’m just relieved to be out on the floor.”
-Robert C. Robinson
Earnings
Clifford Robinson is estimated to have a net worth of $20 million as of 2020. Robinson received $62.5 million as an NBA player, according to reports.
Among those salaries, his highest was $8.42 million in 2002-2003 with the Pistons.
Additionally, his cannabis company has expanded into the global market, establishing him as the “face of Sports Cannabis.”
Clifford Robinson’s Childhood
Robinson (full name Clifford Ralph Robinson) was born in Sagittarius on December 16, 1966. According to his mother, Helena Horne, he was born in Buffalo, New York.
According to accounts, Robinson was orphaned at a young age and grew up without siblings. Additionally, his complete childhood and family history are unknown.
Senior High School
Clifford Robinson attended Riverside High School and was inspired to play basketball by his mother.
Robinson was reportedly a small child, and no one ever intended for him to grow tall.
However, he has experienced a growth spurt since high school, and as a result, he began experimenting with basketball. Robinson, it seems, was also a member of the Big East Conference.
Robinson’s youth
In total, Robinson’s breakthrough occurred during his sophomore year, when he improved and a the number of colleges expressed interest in him.
University
During Robinson’s senior year of high school, the University of Connecticut sent him the first letter of recruitment.
As a result, Clifford Robinson considered committing to that college, as former UConn assistant coach Howie Dickenman expressed considerable interest in him.
Clifford began his career in 1985 with UConn, where he played for four seasons.
His finest hour came in 1988, when the Huskies won the National Invitation Tournament. Robinson was immediately named to the tournament’s all-tournament team.
Robinson was also named to the All-Century men’s basketball team at UConn. Following that, he was a member of the “Huskies of Honor” on February 5, 2007, at Gampel Pavilion, where Clifford’s number “00” was retired.
“Because we lacked the talent that other teams possessed, my junior year, when we broke through and won the NIT, is my fondest memory.”
-Robert C. Robinson
Professional Career of Clifford Robinson
Clifford Robinson entered the 1989 NBA draft following his college graduation, and according to him, the transition from college to professional basketball was difficult. However, he was picked in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 36th overall selection.
Robinson appeared in every playoff game during his time with the franchise. He also appeared in the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, earning him the Sixth Man of the Year Award in the process.
He averaged 19.1 points, 6.6 assists, and a career-high 1.99 blocks per game. Additionally, he was an All-Star in 1994.
During the 1992 Western Conference Finals against the Utah Jazz, he was apparently dubbed “Uncle Cliffy.” To explain, the nickname was earned during his victory dance following the game, when he revealed the name of his dance to the journalists.
Uncle Cliffy, on the other hand, stayed with him for the remainder of his career due to his iron man streak. His streak, however, was snapped during the game against the Golden State Warriors.
In total, his run was the longest in franchise history, where he spent eight seasons.
Suns of Phoenix
As he bid farewell to the Blazers, he was signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Suns, where he spent four years.
Equally important, Robinson became the NBA’s oldest player (33 years old) to record a 50-point game against the Denver Nuggets.
Pistons de Detroit
Clifford Robinson was sold to the Detroit Pistons on June 29, 2001, in exchange for Jud Buechler and John Wallace.
Warriors of the Golden State
Robinson played 82 games for the Golden State Warriors during the regular season after being acquired in exchange for Bob Sura.
Clifford Robinson ended up with the New Jersey Nets after a lengthy journey from team to team. He was then released in July 2007 and retired from the NBA.
“I have a lot of fond memories, but I believe the most memorable was probably my rookie season with the Portland Trailblazers; our team reached the NBA finals that season.”
-Robert C. Robinson
Clifford Robinson | Basketball and Beyond
Clifford Robinson, for those unfamiliar with his name, is one of the proponents of cannabis legalization (marijuana). He also lobbied for the legalization of cannabis in the states of Oregon and Connecticut in the United States of America.
He is, as previously said, a cannabis business entrepreneur who goes by the moniker Uncle Cliffy in the market. Robinson also made an appearance in the 2013 film Survivor (an American reality television series that premiered in 2014).
Clifford was a contestant on the show Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty, where he played a Brawn tribe member. He was rated 14th overall at the end of the series.
Clifford Robinson | Professional Career Highlights
Clifford Robinson traveled to North Korea after his NBA retirement to participate in a match against the Northern Korean Senior National Basketball Team. Dennis Rodman arranged the event to commemorate Kim Jong-birthday. un’s
In total, the trip acted as “basketball diplomacy” between the two countries. Kenny Anderson, Vin Baker, Craig Hodges, Doug Christie, Sleepy Floyd, Charles D. Smith, and four “streetballers” comprised the squad in total.
Robinson averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 assists, 1.05 steals, and 1.03 blocks per game during his career. He appeared in 1,380 games and logged 42,561 minutes in the NBA.
As a result, this record was second only to Kevin Willis, 14th among former players, and first in the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame.
Through his lengthy career, he became one of only two players selected in 1980 who remained involved in the 2007 season.
He was also the tallest player (6 feet and 10 inches) to hit over 1,000 three-pointers, according to reports.
Not to mention, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2015 Class. Robinson finished their ABA/NBA career with 1,300 steals and 1,300 blocked shots.
Several of his accomplishments and awards are listed below.
- All-Star in the NBA (1994)
- 2 NBA Second Team All-Defensive (2000 & 2002)
- Sixth Man of the Year in the NBA (1993)
- All-Big East second team (1989)
- All-Big East third team (1988)
Controversy | Clifford Robinson
Clifford Robinson was suspended for five games by the NBA on May 12, 2006, while playing for the Golden State Warriors. Prior to that, he was suspended in 2005 for violating the league’s drug policy.
According to Robinson, cannabis is responsible for his NBA career’s longevity. As a result, it assists him in relieving pain and anxiety, as well as the side effects of prescription medications.
Private Life of Clifford Robinson
On September 21, 2003, Clifford Robinson married Heather Lufkins. According to reports, the couple exchanged vows in a private ceremony on the island of Barbados. Additionally, the couple has a twin son.
Apart from them, Clifford Robinson was previously married to Alfred Devuono and Heather Therewith; he is the father of a son and a daughter from his previous marriage.
His son Isiah Robinson appears to be a basketball player for Portland’s Jefferson High School Democrats and Houston Baptist Huskies.
A Brief Overview of Heather Lufkins
Heather Lufkins is a businesswoman and reality television celebrity from the United States. Apart from being the wife of an NBA player, Heather was also a contestant on the reality television show Survivor.
Additionally, she was married to Michele M. Malik prior to marrying Clifford Robinson, which resulted in a brief period of news flooding. As a result, layer was not awarded any of his properties during the divorce settlement.
In general, she testified about her involvement in Mr. Malik’s estate, which amounted to a massive argument reciting her previous false testimony.
To elaborate, the property in question was owned by JR Property Holdings. This whole case is commonly referred to as the Malik Scam.
Clifford Robinson | Death & Medical Issues
Indeed, Clifford Robinson was never completely well. He suffered from Lymphoma. In March 2017, Robinson suffered a stroke, paralyzing his left side of the body. However, it was all for the best because he was able to regain movement in his arms and legs.
Additionally, he was dealing with a slew of medical problems, including a brain hemorrhage in 2018. Additionally, he had his jaw tumor removed the same year.
Robinson underwent further cancer therapy the next year, in 2019. In total, he died on August 29, 2020, at the age of 53, due to lymphoma, after years of unexplained battles.
If you’re unfamiliar, lymphoma is a group of tumors that originates in the lymph nodes and lymphoid cells. Despite this, Uncle Cliffy was always cheerful and brimming with vitality.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Clifford Ralph Robinson |
| Date of Birth | December 16, 1966 |
| Birth Place | Buffalo, New York |
| Nick Name | Uncle Cliffy |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Death Date | August 29, 2020 |
| Height | 6’10” (2.08 m) |
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Name Unknown |
| Mother’s Name | Helena Horne |
| Siblings | None |
| Education | Riverside High School University of Connecticut |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Heather Lufkins (m. 2003) |
| Kids | A son, Isaiah Robinson |
| Profession | Basketball player |
| Position | Forward / Center |
| Affiliations | Portland Trail Blazers (1989-1997) Phoenix Suns (1997-2001) Detroit Pistons (2001-2003) Golden State Warriors (2003-2005) New Jersey Nets (2005-2007) |
| Playing Career | 1989–2007 |
| Net Worth | $20 million |
| Social Media | |
| Last Update | 2021 |
