When I saw Nate Robinson listed as one of the Chicago Bulls appearing at Bulls Fest 2026, i had forgotten he played for the team. That didn't stop me from meeting him though.
Robinson starred at the University of Washington, before being selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA for seven teams, including the Bulls. Robinson spent the entire 2012-2013 season with the Bulls, playing all 82 games and averaging 13.1 points per game, his second highest average. He played in two games with the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2015-2016 season to finish his career.
More notably, we won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest three times. He is listed as 5'9" on basketball-reference.com. I think that is slightly generous, which makes his three wins even more impressive.
While these photo ops don't allow much time for chats, I got a bit extra time, because he received a phone call right as I met him. He ended the call quickly and apologized to me, which was very nice of him.
It was cool to meet Robinson. He's the type of player who wouldn't usually make appearances around the area. Fortunately, Bulls Fest brings back some interesting players.
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Nate Robinson and me in Chicago, IL-August 2026.
