Alvin Robertson

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Alvin Cyrrale Robertson (born July 22 1962 in Barberton, Ohio) is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1984 to 1993, and for one final season in 1995-96.

Best known for his defense, the 6'3" Robertson played for several teams over his ten-year career after being selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the seventh pick in the 1984 NBA Draft out of Crowder Junior College and the University of Arkansas. He played five seasons for the Spurs, and also played a number with the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as with the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors.

In 1986, Robertson became the inaugural winner of the NBA Most Improved Player Award. This also marked the first of four National Basketball Association All-Star Game appearances for the guard (the others coming in 1987, 1988, and 1991). He also won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1986, and led the league in steals in 1986, 1987 and 1991. Robertson still holds the top career steals per game average in the NBA, with 2.71 per contest over 779 career games.

Robertson is one of only four NBA players to record a quadruple-double (double digits in four statistical categories in a single game) when he registered 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals whilst playing for the Spurs against the Phoenix Suns.

In 1994, the Detroit Pistons traded Robertson to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for underachievers Mark Macon and Marcus Liberty. However, he never actually saw any playing time for the Nuggets due to pre-existing back injuries.

Robertson scored the first points in Toronto Raptors' history. Ed Pinckney won the franchise's opening tip-off, and Robertson hit a three-pointer and the Raptors were alive and ahead 3-0.

In August of 1997, he pleaded no contest to four misdemeanor charges of abusing a former girlfriend and was sentenced to one year in prison. He also spent a month in jail during the 1990 NBA off-season for reportedly beating his then-wife.

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