By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The NLEX Road Warriors are going all in this coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season after tapping the services of former NBA enforcer Thomas Robinson for the import-laced conference.
NLEX’s chief tactician Frankie Lim announced their recent off-season moves as they prepare for the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup set to kick off this November.
Aside from Lim’s approval, the Road Warriors also warmly welcomed the former NBA forward in a graphic post updated on their social media pages.
Robinson was the fifth overall pick during the 2012 NBA Rookie Draft and was selected by the Sacramento Kings franchise.
However, the former Kansas star only played a season wearing the white and violet before getting traded to the Houston Rockets.
When the NBA started to evolve as a shooting-oriented league, Robinson’s effectiveness started to decline and never really blossomed into the player he was expected to become.
Robinson then transferred from one franchise to another and had stints with the Portland Trailblazers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Lakers.
After failing to renew his contract in the NBA during the free agency, Robinson tested the waters of overseas hoops and earned a deal with a Russian pro club.
He then spent his remaining years traveling the world as an import and rendered his services to Turkey, Europe, Puerto Rico, and Korea.
Robinson became the import of the San Miguel Beermen last year but was forced to return to the US after suffering a severe back injury.
Now that he’s back, the high-leaping big man is set to lead the Road Warriors and is optimistic about his return to the Philippines.
