Robertson recalls rookie season

By Gary Bedore     Jun 7, 2000

Ryan Robertson played in just one game during his rookie season in the NBA — the Sacramento Kings’ regular-season finale at Utah.

“I’d say it was definitely the highlight of my season. I was a little nervous, but more excited than nervous,” said former Kansas University guard Robertson, Sacramento’s second-round pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.

Robertson — he practiced every day and traveled with the Kings on road trips — was a member of the squad’s injured reserve list from Day One of the regular season until the day of the finale — a 95-86 loss to the Jazz.

The Kings rewarded Robertson for all his sweat at practice by taking him off the IR for one game.

“I’ve played in so many basketball games, when you think about it, it was just one more.

“I wish I had another game to build on that one,” said Robertson, who scored five points on 2-of-6 shooting while logging 25 minutes. After the game, Kings’ veterans Chris Webber and Vlade Divac gave the ex-Jayhawk the game ball.

“I thought it was awesome, great,” Robertson said. “I’m not sure that’s supposed to happen. I don’t think league rules allow you to take the game ball, yet they went on the court, got it and gave it to me. Chris and Vlade said, ‘It’s your first game, congratulations.’ That’ll go in my collection for sure.”

Robertson played sparingly in the preseason, then was placed on IR with what the team called tendinitis in the knee. In actuality, he was not hurt, the NBA’s IR resembling the NFL’s taxi/practice squad.

For sure, Robertson learned a lot while practicing and watching games. “I equate it to being a red-shirt (in college),” Robertson said. “Not getting to play was frustrating at times, but I made good connections. I know coach (Rick) Adelman and (GM) Geoff Petrie would like to have me back.

“They said as much. That’s a good thing. They said they were impressed with my work ethic. They liked the fact I didn’t get down not playing. They were honest with me from the start. They said they’d keep me on IR until somebody got hurt. Nobody got hurt.”

The 6-5, 190-pound Robertson is not assured a spot on the Kings’ roster next season. As the 45th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, Robertson signed a one-year contract with the team having an option for another year for reportedly about $300,000.

If Robertson isn’t invited back and not signed by another team, he has a spot reserved for him on Kansas City’s new ABA team, which will pay players a minimum of $100,000 per year.

Also, the IBL team in St. Louis, reportedly would love to sign the former St. Charles, Mo., high school hero.

“The NBA is the league you want to be in. That would be my first choice of course,” Robertson said. “You want to stay in that league.

“It’d be great to play in Kansas City, but I would hope everybody understands I need to do everything I can to stay in the NBA. Right now it’s a matter of them having room for me and the salary cap. I’d love to be back in Sacramento.”

Robertson says it was easy to adapt to the NBA lifestyle one year out of college, partly because his former KU teammate, Scot Pollard, also plays for the Kings.

“A couple times at restaurants people thought Scot was my dad,” Robertson joked of the 25-year-old Pollard, who looks a bit older than the baby-faced Robertson.

“Sometimes you get somebody not paying a lot of attention … I can look a little young there. It was funny. Scot and I hung out and did some things.”

The 6-11, 265-pound Pollard, who averaged 5.4 points and 5.3 boards while averaging 17.6 minutes a game last season, has completed the first year of his current contract. He has an option for next season (at $1.1 million).

Pollard’s agent says the ex-Jayhawk forward will offer his services to the highest bidder. “He’s worth more than he’s being paid,” agent Jeff Austin told the Sacramento Bee.

As far as Robertson … he will spend the rest of the summer working out. He’s planing on playing for the Kings’ summer league team in Utah later in the summer. Also, he’ll get married in August in Missouri. Ex-Jayhawks C.B. McGrath and T.J. Pugh will be in the wedding.

You can bet Pollard will be in attendance.

“Ryan had the best attitude of anybody on the team,” Pollard said recently in handing out his postseason “Pollard awards” on the Kings’ website.

“Ryan spent the entire year on injured reserve, played in one game and was really, really happy about it. He’s got it all in perspective.

“He says, ‘I got paid to watch NBA games from one of the best seats in the house.’ He said he can’t complain and he really means that.

“Obviously he’d want to be on the active roster and playing, but he dealt with it really well and I think’s part of what’s going to keep him around, if not in Sacramento, in the NBA. Hopefully in Sacramento. I’d like to have him around again next year.”

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