Standing tall, on and off the court Win or lose, David Robinson always gives God the glory. by Annette Wierstra   Look up. Look way up.   That’s what fans need to do to in order to look 7'1" David Robinson in the eye.   Since 1989, Robinson, 35, has been a force to reckon with on the basketball court. Known for his chiseled features and muscular build, Robinson has been chosen as one the 50 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time.   Enter Tim Duncan — in 1998 — the young star many fans are calling the next Michael Jordan. His arrival meant a new role for Robinson after nine years as the San Antonio Spurs leading scorer and top dog. Putting the team ahead of himself, Robinson — a Navy graduate nicknamed The Admiral — has allowed Duncan to take the lead role on the Spurs.   “It was frustrating at first, after a lifetime of getting all the shots I wanted,” Robinson admitted to Sports Illustrated. “But with Tim’s talents, you would be stupid not to let him go. The boy can really play.”   The pair helped lead the Spurs to an NBA championship in 1999, with Duncan being named the final series MVP. Last year, until a knee injury forced Duncan to miss the playoffs, the team was expected to repeat as champs.   The Spurs, who finished first in the Western Conference, are considered a favourite by many to take the title again this year. For Robinson, winning a title means a lot to him, but it’s not the first priority in his life. His faith in Christ is.   “I would die for what I believe. I know about Jesus Christ. I know about the motivation for my life,” he states boldly in The Plain Truth. “If I’m not willing to give up my life for the Lord, then there’s nothing else in my life worth standing for. And I have that kind of conviction in the way I live.”   But that conviction wasn’t always there.   Robinson played at the U.S. Naval Academy, while working on a BA in math. In 1987, although he was selected as the NBA’s first overall draft pick, he chose to complete his two-year commitment to the Navy before entering the NBA.   Upon arrival he enjoyed immediate success, being named an All-Star and NBA Rookie of the Year.   Robinson had found fame and wealth beyond his expectations, but something was missing. Although he had grown up in a Christian family, it wasn’t until 1986 that Robinson chose to accept Christ as his personal Saviour. It took, however, a challenge from a team chaplain for Robinson to make Christ the Lord of his life and begin enjoying the fruits of that decision.   “I learned that to really love Jesus, I had to get to know Him, read His Word, talk to Him, worship Him and commit to Him,” he shared in Christian Info News.   Robinson calls June 8, 1991 his second birthday. “That day, Christ became a real person to me,” he says. “I felt like a spoiled brat. Everything was about me, me, me. How much money can I make? It was all about David’s praise and David’s glory. I had never stopped to honour God for all He had done for me. That really hit me.”   It was a huge turning point for Robinson. Since then he’s become recognized as a pillar of faith among professional athletes — few are as bold about Christ as Robinson.   Part of being a model for Christ is a generous spirit. Robinson and his wife Valerie founded the David Robinson Foundation in 1992. The couple is drawn to causes that touch their hearts like education and feeding hungry families.   The Foundation’s programs cover a variety of needs such as scholarships and mentoring for students and food and diapers for needy families. In 1997 they donated $5 million to establish the Carver Academy for at-risk students.   The giving comes easily from someone who’s been given much.   “These aren’t sacrifices for me. If I’m clutching on to my money with both hands how can I be free to hug my wife and kids?” he asked in Sports Illustrated.   Robinson says in Sports Spectrum magazine that his NBA stature provides an opportunity to show the reality of Christ to others: “It’s a great opportunity to model Christ in front of a lot of people by the way I play and the way I conduct myself.”   Duncan is among those who have noticed something special about Robinson, both on and off the court, as he shared in The National Post: “He’s helped me tremendously, not only as a player on the floor but just as a person. He’s been a great person to be there for me.”   Robinson and the 7’ tall Duncan — dubbed the Twin Towers — are shooting for another NBA title together. For Robinson, the challenge is about more than winning.   “That trophy is going to sit on a shelf and gather dust,” says Robinson, reflecting on their first title in Sports Spectrum. “But the important thing is that we learned to trust God day in and day out.”   If the Spurs do go all the way this year, Robinson will give credit where credit is due.   “I can run. I can jump. I can block shots. I can dunk. But I can’t take pride in that,” Robinson says in Christian Reader.   “I’m successful because God gave me the ability.”