Glenn Robinson III averaged 13.1 points and 4.4 rebounds and started every game this season for the Michigan Wolverines. Listed at 6’6, Robinson was named an All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. The small forward is projected to be drafted anywhere between 15th and 35th in tomorrow’s NBA draft.
Folks may recognize his name too!
After all, Glenn Robinson III is the son of Glenn Robinson, Jr., one of the purest small forwards to play in the NBA. An eleven year NBA veteran, Glenn Robinson, Jr. was drafted first by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1994 NBA Draft. He was the first Purdue Boilermaker selected as a first pick in the NBA Draft since Joe Barry Carroll in 1980.
DADDY HAD SKILLS TOO!
Twenty years later, it’s now junior’s time to shine. Well, in this case—it’s ‘The Third’s time to shine’ and he’s happy to be drafted: “I’m excited,” Robinson III told The Source by phone.
“I’m excited and I’m anxious. It’s going to be a great day and I’ve been waiting for this my whole life really. It’s a dream of mine so to see it come true with my friends and family it’s going to be great.”
An admitted avid reader of The Source during his high school days, Glenn Robinson III caught up with Source Sports in between working out for teams.
The Source:You won’t be in New York at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Where will you be spending Thursday?
Glenn Robinson III:Well, my mom is an event planner, so she has everything planned out already. We’re going to be at a small banquet hall by my house—not very big at all. We’re just going to be with friends and family and no more than 50 people maybe and just celebrating the day in Northwest Indiana.
The Source:How have your workouts with NBA teams been?
Glenn Robinson III:They’ve been going very well. I’ve had about 17 or 18 workouts and I felt like in each workout I really stood out. In my opinion, I felt like I was the best one in every single one of my workouts, which is good and it’s tough to do.
The Source: What teams seemed to be the most impressed with you?
Glenn Robinson III:Atlanta, Memphis—I’ve had callbacks from both of them. Definitely Phoenix and I would say the Charlotte Hornets.
The Source: You’ve probably been asked this question a million and two times. Do you feel you have big shoes to fill because you’re the son of a former NBA player?
Glenn Robinson III: I’ve really gotten used to it. When I was younger, I really didn’t understand why people were compared me and everything I did, people were comparing me to him. But growing up, I realized that’s my name and I can’t change it and I love it. And really having someone there who can give me that type of advice—he’s been through that whole process and where I’m trying to go he’s been through. He’s really helped me and defiantly motivated me. So, I don’t look at it as a negative thing, I look at it as a positive thing and I’m fulfilling my own footsteps, I’m making my own footsteps—I’m not really following in his. I think I’m really starting to know that for myself and creating my own name. A lot of people call me G-R Three and kind of breaking off from the whole Glenn Robinson. Of course people are going to associate me and my dad, but I think I’m really doing a good job of doing things on my own and myself too.
The Source:What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve gotten through the whole NBA draft process?
Glenn Robinson III:It would be from my dad. He told me to just enjoy the moment. Some of the workouts could be tough. But he told me just enjoy it. You’ll never get another draft process again and you won’t have to go through this again, but you’ll never get another draft day. He talks about this all the time, so it’s definitely got to be something to remember. So I just enjoy it, I’m enjoying the moment and really taking in everything.
The Source:When your name is called in the 2014 NBA Draft, who is the first person you call, what’s the first thing you eat and what’s the first thing that you do to celebrate?
Glenn Robinson III:I think I won’t have to call anybody. The first people that I will talk to is my family and besides my mom, my dad and my grandmother, I will talk to my high school coach because I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. When I got to high school, he woke me up every day at 5:30 in the morning and we were determined just to get me a college scholarship. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him and I really appreciate him. What will I be eating? I don’t know. My mom has a menu planned already, I don’t know what I’ll be eating but it will be something big. The first thing I’ll do to celebrate, I have a friend that I’ve been with since pre-school and a couple of other close friends. I don’t know what we’ll do, maybe we’ll go out to downtown Chicago—that’s close enough to Indiana.
The Source:Last question, what’s the first song that you’ll listen to after you’re drafted.
Glenn Robinson III:I think it’s only right to listen to Drake’s Draft Day song, or 0 to 100. My favorite rapper is Meek Mill, so I have to listen to his version.
Make sure to follow Glenn Robinson III on Twitter @GRIII. Also check out his draft workout
http://youtu.be/gYzhGZCt2io
