Robert Archibald

Robert Archibald
Archibald in 2009
Personal information
Born(1980-03-29)29 March 1980
Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died23 January 2020(2020-01-23) (aged 39)
Barrington, Illinois, U.S.[1]
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeIllinois (1998–2002)
NBA draft2002: 2nd round, 32nd overall pick
Drafted byMemphis Grizzlies
Playing career2002–2012
PositionPower forward / center
Number21, 34
Career history
2002–2003Memphis Grizzlies
2003Phoenix Suns
2003–2004Orlando Magic
2004Toronto Raptors
2004Valencia
2004–2005Scavolini Pesaro
2005–2007Joventut Badalona
2007–2008Azovmash Mariupol
2008–2011Unicaja Málaga
2011–2012CAI Zaragoza
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference

Robert Michael Archibald (29 March 1980 – 23 January 2020) was a Scottish professional basketball player. A power forward or center nicknamed "The Flying Scotsman" and billed at 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), he was drafted 32nd overall by the Memphis Grizzlies from the University of Illinois in 2002.[2]

Early life and high school

Archibald was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire and raised in Kirkliston, then Dunfermline. His father Robert Sr., or Bobby, played for Murray BC in Scotland and was capped over 90 times for the Scotland and Great Britain national teams.[3] Robert himself did not pick up a ball in earnest until he was 14. Afterwards, he began his career at local side Dunfermline Reign, playing at under-16, under-18 and under-21 levels concurrently. By his mid-teens, he was also representing Scotland at junior level before moving to the U.S. in September 1997 and graduating from Lafayette High School in 1998 alongside MLB player Ryan Howard.

College career

In summer 1998, Archibald committed to the University of Illinois. He played 32 games, starting 8, and averaged almost 15 minutes per game as a freshman, while his sophomore year ended with 30 appearances, among them 20 starts.

In his junior year, Archibald started only two games, yet averaged more minutes, points, rebounds and blocks than the previous season. Then, as a senior, he started in almost every game and again increased his output across the board, averaging double digits in scoring and added 5+ rebounds per game in only 22 minutes to help the Fighting Illini to a Sweet 16 appearance. He also collected more fouls than any other player in the Big Ten that year. Under Bill Self, Illinois won the Big Ten Conference in both Archibald's junior and senior years.

Professional career

NBA

In 2002, Robert was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies, selected in the second round of the NBA Draft, the third pick of the round, 32nd overall, becoming the first, and to this day the only, Scotsman to play in the NBA.

After drafting him in the second round, the Grizzlies signed Archibald to a 2-year contract. After one season with the team, in which he played only 12 games, Archibald was traded with Brevin Knight and Cezary Trybański to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis.[4] On 26 December 2003 Archibald was traded again, this time to the Orlando Magic.[5] A week later he was traded, for the third time that season, to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Mengke Bateer and Remon van de Hare.[6] He played 30 games with the Raptors. Archibald's final NBA game was on April 9, 2004, in a 66–74 loss to the Detroit Pistons where he recorded four rebounds but no points. He holds NBA career averages of 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. [1]

Europe

Archibald played four seasons in the Euroleague with Scavolini Pesaro, Joventut Badalona and two seasons with Unicaja Málaga.[7] In July 2011 he signed a one-year contract with CAI Zaragoza.[8] Archibald retired after the 2012 Summer Olympics in which he represented Great Britain.[9]

International

Archibald represented the Scottish national basketball team at junior level. He joined the Great Britain national team as it formed in 2007. He represented Great Britain 46 times[10] including EuroBasket 2009, EuroBasket 2011, and at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[11]

Death

Archibald died of suicide by gunshot at age 39 at his home in Barrington, Illinois.[12][13][14] According to his father, he suffered from depression and was going through a protracted divorce.[12]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Regular season

Source[15]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2002–03 Memphis 1206.0.300–.3891.40.30.00.31.6
2003–04 Phoenix 106.0.000–.5001.01.00.00.01.0
2003–04 Orlando 104.0.500–.0001.00.01.00.02.0
2003–04 Toronto 3038.2.267–.4811.70.40.40.11.0
Career 4437.5.283–.4291.60.40.30.11.2

References

  1. 1 2 P. A. Media (25 January 2020). "Robert Archibald, former NBA and Team GB basketball player, dies aged 39". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  2. ↑ "Robert Archibald: Former GB and Scotland basketball player dies at 39". BBC News Online. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. ↑ Scot's pair Make GB Euro Basket Cut
  4. ↑ "Suns acquire Knight, Archibald, Trybanski in Memphis trade". ESPN.com.
  5. ↑ "Suns Trade Archibald to Orlando - RealGM Wiretap".
  6. ↑ "Raptors trade Bateer to Orlando for Archibald - RealGM Wiretap".
  7. ↑ "Unicaja adds size with Robert Archibald". Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. 31 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "CAI, firmato Robert Archibald". Sportando. 9 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Robert Archibald will retire after London 2012". MVP. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Hay, Katharine (25 January 2020). "'Our hearts are broken': Tributes pour in for Scottish NBA Robert Archibald who died aged 39". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  11. ↑ Riordan, Conor (25 January 2020). "Tributes as Paisley man and NBA star Robert Archibald dies aged 39". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  12. 1 2 Mark Woods (17 May 2020). "It was a tragedy, the toughest call you can ever take". Scottish Mail.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ↑ Woods, Mark (24 January 2020). "ROBERT ARCHIBALD DIES, AGED 39". mvp247.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "Obituary: Robert Archibald, basketball star who was the only Scot to play in the NBA". HeraldScotland. 16 February 2020.
  15. ↑ "Robert Archibald". Basketball Reference. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
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