The Jimmy Rex Show #642 - Oscar Robertson - Hall Of Fame NBA Player Is One Of The Games All Time Top 15 Players Ever
Sep 4, 2025
21:02
On this episode of The Jimmy Rex Show, Jimmy sits down with one of the greatest to ever play the game, NBA legend Oscar Robertson. Known as “The Big O,” Oscar is a 12x NBA All-Star, league MVP, and the man who forever changed free agency in professional basketball. He shares his journey from growing up on a farm to leading the first all-Black state championship team in Indiana, dominating college basketball, and ultimately leaving an unmatched legacy on and off the court.
Oscar and Jimmy dive deep into how the NBA has evolved—from grueling 47-minute nights in his era to today’s massive supermax contracts and load management culture. They talk about how player salaries skyrocketed because of trailblazers like him, what it takes for a team to become a champion, and whether the modern game has become too soft. He also shares his perspective on GOAT debates, his favorite players to watch in today’s league, and what it meant to win gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics alongside fellow legends.
This powerful conversation is a rare chance to hear directly from one of basketball’s all-time greats. Tune in as Oscar Robertson opens up about life, lessons, and the lasting impact of his career.
00:00 Introduction
01:43 The legacy that Oscar left on the game
03:44 How Oscar got into the game
05:34 Getting into coaching a little
06:55 Oscar's impact on how free agents are treated today
08:55 How Oscar's game would translate to the modern NBA
10:30 Post NBA life
12:33 Looking back on his career
16:40 What Oscar is focusing on now in life
17:48 Most cherished moment in his career
18:47 Oscar's thoughts on the GOAT debate
20:12 Outro
Oscar and Jimmy dive deep into how the NBA has evolved—from grueling 47-minute nights in his era to today’s massive supermax contracts and load management culture. They talk about how player salaries skyrocketed because of trailblazers like him, what it takes for a team to become a champion, and whether the modern game has become too soft. He also shares his perspective on GOAT debates, his favorite players to watch in today’s league, and what it meant to win gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics alongside fellow legends.
This powerful conversation is a rare chance to hear directly from one of basketball’s all-time greats. Tune in as Oscar Robertson opens up about life, lessons, and the lasting impact of his career.
00:00 Introduction
01:43 The legacy that Oscar left on the game
03:44 How Oscar got into the game
05:34 Getting into coaching a little
06:55 Oscar's impact on how free agents are treated today
08:55 How Oscar's game would translate to the modern NBA
10:30 Post NBA life
12:33 Looking back on his career
16:40 What Oscar is focusing on now in life
17:48 Most cherished moment in his career
18:47 Oscar's thoughts on the GOAT debate
20:12 Outro