Red Robbins

Austin "Red" Robbins (September 30, 1944 – November 18, 2009) was an American basketball player.

Robbins, a 6'8" forward/center from Leesburg, Florida, starred at the University of Tennessee in the 1960s and then played professionally for the American Basketball Association's New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–1970), Utah Stars (1970–1972), San Diego Conquistadors (1972–1973; 1973–1974), Kentucky Colonels (1973; 1974–1975), and Virginia Squires (1975–1976). Robbins was nicknamed for his red hair, as well as his fiery personality, and he gained a reputation as one of the toughest players in the league, grabbing over 6,000 rebounds in his career. Robbins was also a solid offensive contributor with above-average shooting range, and in Game 7 of the 1971 ABA Western Division playoffs, he made 11 out of 12 field goals to lead the Utah Stars to a 108-101 victory en route to the league title.

Death

Robbins died in Metairie, Louisiana on November 18, 2009, aged 65, after a long battle with cancer.