Oscar Robertson received the ESPN Arthur Ashe Award for Courage due to efforts to establish free agency for NBA players.
The Milwaukee Bucks created substantial offseason buzz when they signed free-agent center Myles Turner to a four-year deal worth $107 million.
But Turner's big raise may not have been possible without the work of NBA Hall of Famer and former Milwaukee Bucks player Oscar Robertson many decades ago.
Robertson, 86, received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the annual ESPN ESPY Awards July 16 in Los Angeles for his efforts in helping establish free agency in the NBA when he was president of the NBA Players Association from 1965-74.
A 12-time all-star who was the first player in the history of the league to average a triple-double, Robertson filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA aimed at blocking its efforts to merge with the American Basketball Association.
"It was a desperate need for players to have more security," Robertson said.
"He felt that was the right way to proceed," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a video presentation prior to Robertson accepting the award. "He thought the current system was inequitable."
"I'm sure he was not popular to the league owners and to the NBA office itself," Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal added, "but that takes a lot of courage."
Six years later, the league settled with the Players Association before the merger, paving the way for free agency.
Robertson was introduced by current NBA guard Russell Westbrook, who also averaged a triple-double for an entire season. Westbrook is currently a free agent and has earned over $345 million in salary during his NBA career.
In his acceptance speech, Robertson said his true legacy, despite his outstanding playing career, was his work leading the players union.
"It's important to be persistent, or as I've been called, stubborn," Robertson said. "... It's important to do the right thing even if it comes at personal sacrifice. I am asked on occasion if I would have followed the same path if I had the chance to do it again. My answer is always yes. I saw our six-year legal battle as a question of fundamental economic rights in order to be seen as partners with the NBA owners."
"I accept the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, humbled by the many past recipients and their choices to demand fairness and persevere through adversity," Robertson added. "Thank you for this honor."
Some previous winners of the Arthur Ashe award include Muhammed Ali, Jim Valvano, Billie Jean King, Pat Tillman, Bill Russell, Kevin Love, Maya Moore and the U.S. women's soccer team.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oscar Robertson receives Arthur Ashe ESPY Award
Category: Basketball
