David Robinson shared how Michael Jordan tried to impose himself before tip-off

Michael Jordan wanted to get inside David Robinson’s head.

© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

David Robinson was a unique physical specimen, the likes of which the NBA had almost never seen before. He was already 24 years of age, stood 7-foot-1, and weighed 235 pounds when he entered the NBA in 1989 after serving in the military for a couple of years. By then, the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan had already established himself as the league’s brightest star and did not hesitate to let Robinson know about it the moment he stepped onto the court with him.

“He wants to own me,” Robinson shared in episode 41 of The Ring of the Rowel San Antonio Spurs Docuseries.

Eye-opener

No matter how great you are in the NCAA—and the man known as “The Admiral” was indeed spectacular, averaging 21 points and 10.3 rebounds in 127 games for Navy—you never could quite prepare yourself for what’s to come in the big league. Robinson got a baptism of fire when he finally played in the pros during the 1989-1990 season.

“My biggest eye-opener coming to the NBA was Karl Malone wants to pound me into the ground, you know, Michael Jordan wants to talk trash with me before the game,” Robinson said. “I mean, why would he do that? Like, there’s no advantage to him talking to me before the game.”

It was then that Robinson realized that apart from the skills and the physicality, he also needed to steel his mind to wage mental warfare that many players were skilled at.

“Then you begin to see that mental aspect of the game,” added Robinson.

Made the adjustments

To say that David Robinson eventually adjusted to the NBA’s style of play would be an understatement. The 1989-90 season saw him win the Rookie of the Year award while also averaging 24.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. He would also become a two-time champion, a one-time MVP and later on, a member of the Hall of Fame.