ABU DHABI: Few basketball players have shaped the game the way Oscar Robertson has. The Hall of Famer, known as The Big O, was the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season — a feat not repeated until Russell Westbrook managed it more than 50 years later. He was also the league’s inaugural Rookie of the Year in 1961 and later captured an NBA championship with Milwaukee.
Now Robertson is making his Abu Dhabi debut, attending The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 where the New York Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers at Etihad Arena on Oct. 2 and 4.
Robertson told Arab News in an exclusive interview that his first taste of basketball outside the US came not through the NBA but on a goodwill tour in 1964 — one of the earliest efforts to take the game to an international audience.
“In 1964, we took a trip overseas to Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania, and Egypt. We thought we’d play a couple of games, but we ended up playing 16,” he recalled. “It was a lot of basketball, but I enjoyed it. For the first time in my life, I went to the pyramids, saw the camps in Poland, and visited Romania — nice place, Count Dracula, Bucharest.”
NBA Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson will be at the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025. (Supplied)
Although not officially part of the NBA calendar, the trip gave Robertson a glimpse of basketball’s global potential and left a lasting impression on his career.
Looking at how far the sport has come, Robertson praised the impact of modern visibility.
“Once it’s on social media, people can see the players no matter the time difference. That means a lot. And then you see how well international players are doing in the NBA. It’s wonderful, truly wonderful.”
While his triple-double record defines his legacy today, Robertson said that the stat was not even recognized in his era.
“When I was playing, I didn’t even know about triple-doubles. No one ever mentioned them. I only heard about it in the mid-70s, when Magic Johnson came into the league and started competing with Larry Bird. That’s when people began talking about triple-doubles, and they went back into the archives and discovered mine.
“They didn’t get them all, though,” he added with a grin.
It was a reminder, he said, that “even the record books don’t fully capture” the scale of his dominance.
Robertson is a keen follower of the global game and said that last summer’s Olympics proved once again that experience matters.
In July last year, Team USA staged its pre-Olympic training camp in Abu Dhabi, playing practice games against Australia and Serbia before heading to Paris. The camp was billed as a redemption tour after the Americans’ fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
This time, LeBron James rallied the biggest names in basketball, assembling what was dubbed the sport’s “Avengers” squad — with James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis among those committing to restore US dominance.
Reflecting on their gold-medal win against France, Robertson highlighted the difference that the veterans made.
“Had it not been for Curry … even though we had some great players on the court, so did the French, whom the US faced in the final. You don’t realize how strong they are until you see them play. But when you’ve got LeBron, Curry and those guys with all their experience, it makes the difference.”
With the Knicks and Sixers bringing their historic rivalry to Abu Dhabi this week, Robertson shared his thoughts on the teams headlining this year’s double-header, as well as his former franchise Milwaukee.
On the Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in 25 years, he praised their promise but warned that balance is crucial in today’s NBA.
“They’ll have a really good team and will be one of the favorites, no doubt about that. But the three-point shot only works if you’re making them — if not, it hurts you. You need another plan, to go inside and mix things up. Without an inside game, you’re not going to win.”
Turning to the 76ers, Robertson said all eyes will be on Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, as he looks to bounce back from an injury-hit campaign last season.
“Every team has injuries, you have to overcome them. Embiid is a big part of Philadelphia’s basketball team. Is he going to be OK this year? I don’t know. We’ll find out if he plays here tomorrow night.”
But he cautioned that even a dominant player like Embiid cannot do it all alone.
“If he’s healthy, Embiid will be tough to guard. He’s a big man with the size and strength to make Philadelphia much better. But the other guys have to play well, too. You can’t leave it all up to one guy.”
He pointed to Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 1961-1962 season as proof: “Wilt averaged 50 points a game, but the Philadelphia Warriors still fell short of a championship.”
Finally, on Milwaukee, where he won the championship in 1971, Robertson noted a period of transition despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s continued presence.
“They have some new players. Giannis has been there maybe 12 years or so, but around him it’s almost a brand new team. They let go of Damian Lillard, brought in a new forward and Myles Turner from the Pacers. They’ve got to prove themselves.”
As Abu Dhabi prepares for two nights of NBA action, Robertson’s reflections bridge generations. From pioneering overseas tours in the 1960s to redefining the triple-double and analysing today’s stars, The Big O remains a voice of authority on what truly wins in basketball: teamwork, experience, and an inside game that never goes out of style.
