Who Glenn Robinson III plays for makes a difference in how he plays.
“Jesus made a huge sacrifice for us. It’s our duty to use our basketball skills and talents in a way in honor of Him. That is the one thing I always say every day,” said Robinson, a shooting guard and small forward for the Indiana Pacers. “My grandma tells me to honor the Lord with [my] play.”
Using what he said are God-given abilities, Robinson wants to use “everything” that he has been given to play as hard as he can and make the best out of an NBA career.
“He saved us and sacrificed a lot and forgives us for our sins. We should play in His honor. I learned at a young age that without Jesus Christ we can’t do a lot in this world. I grew up in a household with a strong faith. I’ve been to church all my life. All of my family members are Christians. I’ve been a Christian most of my life.”
When he was a child, Robinson was baptized at New Friendship Baptist Church, Gary, Indiana, the city where he was born in 1994. He weighed three pounds and four ounces at birth.
That same year, his father, Glenn Robinson Jr., was the first overall draft pick in the NBA after being national player of the year, Big Ten Athlete of the Year at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and NCAA Division 1 scoring leader (30.3 points). He had been Indiana’s Mr. Basketball and would become an NBA All-Star.
NBA draft
After two seasons at Michigan, Glenn Robinson III declared for the NBA Draft and was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014 in the second round. He helped lead the Wolverines to the most wins (59) over two years in school history when he played during the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons.
Waived by the Timberwolves in 2015, he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. After playing for the Atlanta Hawks during the summer league, he signed a three-year contract with the Pacers.
Averaging 4.3 points per game, 1.5 rebounds this season, Robinson has brought strengths of athleticism and court awareness.
“I have the ability to pick up and learn things really quick. That is something I think that stands out,” Robinson said.
Indiana forward Solomon Hill said Robinson has a high basketball IQ and an eagerness to contribute.
“He is willing to learn and to be ready to learn. He is definitely eager to get in there. He brings a certain energy that you can’t duplicate,” Hill said, adding that when Robinson gets minutes he is able to score.
Indiana guard/forward C.J. Miles said, “He has got a good shooting tech and an all-around game. He’s young and hasn’t played a lot. It’s good to see his feel for the game. He has a positive attitude. He comes to work every day. He is a great teammate.”
Robinson is a teammate who likes to joke around.
“He is a wise-guy. He’s got a little joke inside of him,” Miles said.
Even amid the humor, teammates see the serious side of his faith.
Hill said, “He is a church-going man. His faith is strong, he stays with it and never defers from his faith.”
Robinson said, “I go to church a lot. I pray continually to talk to the Lord.”
Among Robinson’s favorite Bible verses is 1 Peter 5:10: “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Miles said, “He is strong (in faith) obviously. You can tell that by his actions and the way he carries himself, the way he speaks to people, the way he treats people. You can’t get here (NBA) without having some type of faith either.”
As he plays in the NBA, Robinson, who said one of his personal strengths is the ability to give to others, has learned that faith differs.
“Everyone doesn’t have the same faith and religion … we have to find time out of our life to honor Him. I wouldn’t say that [life] has changed but there is the reminder that constantly praying definitely helps,” he said.
“What does Jesus mean? That is a tough question. I think it is more of like, what doesn’t He mean. He means everything.”
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