Indianapolis, Indiana – Oscar Robertson, a basketball legend both on and off the court, will be recognized with one of the most prestigious honors in sports this year. The 86-year-old Indianapolis native will receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2025 ESPYS, scheduled to take place next Wednesday, July 16, at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The award recognizes individuals whose actions transcend sports, honoring those who have shown bravery in the face of adversity and created lasting change. Robertson joins a celebrated list of past recipients that includes names like Bill Russell and Maya Moore—figures who, like Robertson, stood for more than just athletic greatness.
Though known to many as “The Big O” for his unmatched skills on the court, Robertson’s impact stretches far beyond the hardwood. During his playing career, Robertson sparked one of the most critical labor movements in professional sports history. As president of the National Basketball Players Association from 1965 to 1974, he spearheaded the legal fight that ultimately introduced free agency to the NBA—an achievement that reshaped the economics of professional basketball.
In 1970, Robertson filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA to halt its planned merger with the American Basketball Association and to challenge restrictive contract clauses that limited player mobility. He faced intense pressure and risked his own career, but stayed the course. The result of the case, settled in 1976, became known as the “Oscar Robertson Rule.” It marked a pivotal shift, giving players more control over their careers and laying the groundwork for future negotiations in multiple leagues.
“This award doesn’t just honor my career in basketball,” Robertson has said in the past when reflecting on his fight for fairness. “It recognizes the struggle for equality and fairness that players—just like workers in any industry—have always deserved.”
Robertson’s roots are deep in Indianapolis, where his talent first came to national attention. He led Crispus Attucks High School to back-to-back state championships in 1955 and 1956, becoming the first all-Black starting lineup to win an Indiana state title. That same year, he earned the title of Indiana Mr. Basketball.
His excellence continued at the University of Cincinnati, where he averaged 33.8 points per game and broke numerous NCAA records. He later joined the U.S. Men’s Olympic team in 1960 and brought home a gold medal alongside co-captain Jerry West. Later that year, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals and went on to have one of the most dominant professional careers in league history.
In the 1961-62 season, Robertson became the first NBA player to average a triple-double for an entire season—posting 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. He remained the league’s all-time triple-double leader for decades and was a 12-time NBA All-Star, a three-time All-Star Game MVP, and a six-time assists champion.
Robertson finished his NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he won an NBA championship in 1971 alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His jersey has since been retired by both the Sacramento Kings (formerly the Cincinnati Royals) and the Bucks. He has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice—once as a player in 1980, and again in 2010 for his work with the 1960 U.S. Olympic team and as a players’ rights advocate.
Even today, Robertson remains a proud and active presence in Indianapolis. He was recently seen courtside alongside Reggie Miller during Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a reminder of the lasting connection he maintains with his hometown.
The 2025 ESPYS will air at 8 p.m. EDT and continue its mission of raising awareness and support for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, which has raised over $265 million since its inception in 1993. Robertson’s recognition serves not only as a celebration of his past achievements but as a tribute to a man who stood up for generations of athletes who followed.
