It’s weeks like these – the start of the postseason – when Jackie Robinson knows just whom to chat with. When an all-important game is on the horizon, Robinson calls on an NBA coach he knows pretty well.
The first-year girls basketball coach at River Ridge High School isn’t the only basketball coach in his family. Robinson’s father-in-law is George Karl, the former Seattle SuperSonics coach and current coach of the Denver Nuggets. Robinson is married to Karl’s eldest daughter, Kelci. The couple met in 2005 and now has two young children.
“He’s a cool father-in-law,” Robinson said of Karl. “He’s a smart guy, a philosopher. He’s the best you want to have.”
This week is a big one for Robinson. His Hawks earned a share of the 2A Evergreen Conference crown, along with W.F. West, and will host Hockinson, the No. 3 seed from the 2A Greater St. Helens League, tonight at 7 in the first round of the District IV tournament. River Ridge is vying for its third district title in a row and ninth consecutive trip to the state tournament.
As you can imagine, basketball is a common topic discussed by Karl and Robinson. Karl coached the Sonics from 1991-98, leading the franchise to the NBA Finals in 1996, where they lost to Chicago in six games. He won his 1,000th career game on Dec. 10, 2010 with the Nuggets.
Just last Saturday, Karl invited the entire River Ridge team to Portland, where his Nuggets took on the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. Portland beat Denver, 117-97, but Karl met with the River Ridge players afterward. He has kept tabs on how the River Ridge girls have done this season, and he gave the Hawks sound motivation for the playoffs.
This wasn’t the first time the Hawks have met the 23-year NBA coach. Back in the late fall, Karl made a visit to Lacey and went to an early-morning weightlifting session at River Ridge. He chatted with the players about his career, beliefs, teamwork and leadership.
“They enjoyed that a lot,” Robinson said. “He understands the game so well. He always is asking how the team is doing.”
Robinson was a member of The Evergreen State College’s 2001-02 men’s basketball team that made its first appearance in the NAIA tournament and advanced to the round of 16. He played professional basketball briefly overseas in Germany before returning to the area as a coach. Prior to this season, he served as an assistant coach at Timberline.
Robinson said he feels his team is jelling at the right time – the postseason. River Ridge has won five of its past six games, and Robinson hopes his team’s quickness and defensive pressure will be a difference maker tonight against Hockinson.
“I like it when we play fast,” Robinson said. “When we play fast, we get a lot of transition baskets and we’re able to pressure the ball at the other end. It’s a big (part of) what we do.”
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com
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