The most enduring athletes in Minnesota history are well-known. Names like Puckett, Killebrew and Tarkenton bring about images of long-term success. But what about those with local ties who only had a chance meeting with the big-time? Here we remember their one victory, their one appearance -- their one moment.
Today: James "Hollywood" Robinson's fourth-quarter points explosion.
In two separate stints with the Timberwolves in the 1990s, James "Hollywood" Robinson played 86 total games. Most of them were nondescript.
Robinson, a 6-2 guard was a gunner -- a pure shooter, a scorer, a guy who could get a hot hand in the right situation. He proved that at the start of his first season with the Wolves, scoring in double figures four games in a row. Later, he would have a stretch of three consecutive games with at least 25 points.
More often than not, however, he was mired in single digits. For 14 consecutive games, in fact -- from Nov. 10 through December 26, 1996 -- Robinson didn't crack double figures in points. Some nights he didn't even get off the bench.
But on Dec. 30, a night hardcore Wolves fans still remember as if it were yesterday, Robinson scored at will. Some sudden heroes get 15 minutes of fame, but he needed only 10.
With his team trailing Cleveland 87-56 after three quarters, Wolves coach Flip Saunders inserted Robinson into the game early in the fourth. Robinson proceeded to hit his first seven shots and made six of seven three-pointers overall, finishing with 23 points in only 10 minutes. Projected over 48 minutes, that's a shade over 110 points -- better than Wilt Chamberlain's legendary game.
The Wolves threw a scare into the Cavaliers thanks to Robinson, rallying to get within six with a minute left and forcing Cleveland to put its starters back in the game. Alas, the Cavaliers held on to win -- but it hasn't diminished the memory of what Robinson did that night.
Those 23 points in a quarter were a team record at the time (later broken), and the six three-pointers in one quarter still stands as a team record.
"We've told the guys on the bench that it's about taking advantage of situations, and that's what he did," Saunders said postgame.
No kidding.
MICHAEL RAND
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