If you ever had the opportunity to see Leonard “Truck” Robinson play basketball at Tennessee State University or in the NBA, then you know exactly how he earned his nickname. Even as a pro, he stood out as a strong power forward and a rebounding specialist. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Robinson had an outstanding career at TSU from 1970 to 1974. During those four years, he averaged 20.3 points and 13.5 rebounds. In his junior year alone, he averaged 25.7 points and 17.6 rebounds and earned AP and UPI Little All-American honors. As a senior, Robinson repeated as UPI Little All-American. He helped TSU to a record of 94-21 in his career, including four berths in the NCAA Division II playoffs. After college, Robinson had a distinguished career in the NBA. He was drafted by the Washington Bullets in 1974 and played for the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, and Phoenix Suns and finished off his career with the New York Knicks. During his years in the NBA, Robinson averaged 16.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in 705 games. A two-time NBA all-star selection, he was named to the NBA all-star First Team in 1978 as a member of the New Orleans Jazz. That same year, he led the NBA in rebounding. Leonard “Truck” Robinson, one of the greatest basketball players in the history of TSU, brought pride and distinction to his alma mater.
