"Didn't think about being shot" - Oscar Robertson reveals facing KKK death threats while playing college basketball game
There was a time when NBA legend Oscar Robertson had an altercation with the hate group KKK back when he was still in college. During his time, black professional athletes weren't safe from racism and even death threats from problematic organizations. During his appearance at the "All the Smoke" podcast, he shared what he went through during that incident.
Back then, the Bucks legend was still making a name for himself as a promising NBA prospect. He was also the kind of individual that groups such as the KKK weren't entirely fond of given the color of his skin. However, Robertson wasn't the kind of person who was easily shaken down by a mere telegram death threat
"We were playing the Dixie Classics," Robertson said, "I get a telegram, says, 'If you go out and play we're going to shoot you.' So I gave it to the coach. Later on that day, I get a knock on the door. Here's a white kid from Alabama, some Alabama Fraternity, who had to come and get an autograph from me. ... I autographed it for him."
"I never thought that much about guys who'd threaten me," Robertson added. "It wasn't the only time I was threatened, by the way. It didn't bother me. I just didn't think anything about being shot."
Oscar Robertson couldn't afford to lose what he worked hard to build as a young individual and he wasn't, in any shape or form, going to stoop down to the kind of level ensued by the likes of the KKK.
Oscar Robertson shared racism experienced in Cincinnati
During the same podcast interview, Oscar Robertson experienced another racist encounter when he wanted to eat at a restaurant while in Cincinnati during the holidays.
"When I was in Cincinnati during the holidays ... we had to go up to this restaurant to eat," Robertson said. "I go with one of the guys on the team and when I went into the door, the guy said, 'Hey, what are you doing here?" I said, "What do you mean?' He said, 'I don't want you in my restaurant?'" (34:49)
Following that exchange, the NBA legend decided to head into a part of town where he could feel safe and welcomed.
"I left and I go to the Black section of town where they had Collard Greens," Robertson added. "Coach calls me up man and said, 'What the hell you doing? You haven't been up to the restaurant to eat?' I said, 'Coach what are you talking about man? The man don't want any Blacks in his place.'"
Oscar Robertson has seen and been through a lot back then, to the point that scare tactics became commonplace to him. Through it all, he ended up forming thick skin while still making sure that he remained the bigger person despite all the hate he's received in life.