Talking Watches With David Robinson

A fixture of both the San Antonio Spurs and 90’s professional basketball, David Robinson, aka “The Admiral,” is one of the most dominant centers to have ever played the game. Standing 7-foot-1, Robinson’s 14-year NBA career was spent entirely with the Spurs and during that time he won the MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year, was a scoring champion, rebounding leader, block Leader, and a ten-time NBA All-Star - along with being instrumental in the Spurs winning two NBA Championships.
From his start in the Navy to an incredible career with the Spurs and his continued charitable endeavours, David Robinson has always had a fascination with watches. Starting with a watch that was gifted to him for winning the Hawaiian Classic, Robinson has amassed an impressive collection of pieces that connect directly to his life as a professional basketball player. It’s an eclectic mix that reflects Robinson’s considerable stature, how he spends his free time with his family, and his overarching love of watches and watchmaking. Let’s dig in.

[@chrish7983]

If you ever wondered about the type of guy David Robinson is, notice that he (1) got uncomfortable talking about his individual accomplishments and quickly brought up the teams he played for, and (2) said his latest watch got the most wear because he wanted to show his wife how much he appreciated her gift. First class dude.

[@ocan1033]

Class act.

[@nfltrrrqwsa7512]

0:30 also humble with accomplishments, and sensitive to the potential negative affect his rivals may experience as a consequence of his actions..

[@Lord_of_The_World]

Noticed this as well

[@johnholtz1205]

I’m impressed. This is a guy that the kids need as role model. Class

[@cgoins1993]

Tong Zou oh yeah. I’d probably go 1. Kareem 2. Hakeem 3. Shaq 4. Wilt 5. Robinson

[@TeddyBaldassarre]

Loved Robinson growing up, always a class act on and off the court. Now that I know he is a watch lover, my respect for this guy continues to rise. Great collection!

[@motlay]

Same here, David Robinson and Pau Gasol are the two renaissance men of the NBA. Love their game, their character and various passions.

[@jnrjnr77]

Teddy Baldassarre I agree wholeheartedly with your comment 👍

[@tonywong8134]

Agreed. Pure class. My favorite athletes of all time...LBJ might be more talented but the admiral was so classy how he carried himself on and off the court.

[@WatchAddictionReviews]

nah MJ was that dude, come on now - Drobison and Bird were also great players though

[@cbarnes767]

100%. Also appreciate the fact that his collection is well worn, and not all the ICE that some players wear today.

[@SpaghettiKillah]

Watches aside, this was a VERY satisfying episode imo...such a positive attitude&energy from Mr. Robinson. A role model.

[@fatboyRAY24]

sure surprised me. Dude is living his Best life, even in retirement where a lot of guys lose themselves.

[@SpaghettiKillah]

dhsilv2 yeah, I was just a teen back when he was playing, so I wasn't mature enough to appreciate him, both on and off court. Now I understand why they nicknamed him the Admiral !

[@jayremi4384]

Someone who acquired a Journe Chronometre à Résonance 15 years ago sure does know about watches.

[@joshpenney628]

That peaked my interest as well. Journe has only become increasingly popular in the last decade or so.

[@jdstarek]

They just don’t make men like this anymore. What a great guy. And an absolutely outstanding, thoughtful, quirky and eclectic collection. Love it.

[@elhadjiamadoujohnson4166]

jason starek indeed!!!

[@atl3630]

So many athletes (and people in general) allow their egos to fuel their ambitions. Men like David remind us that you can be just as successful without all the self aggrandizing.

[@marcushogan6613]

Wow, a sports star with a genuinely tasteful collection. Know nothing about basketball but seems like a top dude!!!!!

[@Boswd]

Oh he is and always has been, nothing but class act dating back to his time with Navy.

[@RomanPearce11]

Other than his AP and FP his collection sucks

[@vrsce0178]

Roman Pearce You don’t know about watches 😂

[@RomanPearce11]

Ah broke boy, tell me, Which other one do you think is worth anything significant?

[@RomanPearce11]

uh yeah 80% I would say

[@chairman79]

The Admiral is a class act!

[@eatabagel]

I love the fact that he actually takes his Royal Oak Offshore diving. That's really cool that he's not babying his watches.

[@thumperjdm]

@MrBusytimmy---I'm guessing he could probably afford to buy a new one if anything happened to it. ;-))

[@mannycalavera2335]

He said he wanted something to reflect the lifestyle of living near the water. He did not say he used it for diving. It seems implied because he was talking about his kids diving just a moment before, but I think he deliberately referred to it as a "great outdoors-man watch".

[@SAINTSLUMBER]

@@mannycalavera2335 I know I'm two years late here, but at 8:18 he specifically says he takes the Offshore diving :)

[@UmarHKhan]

That one watch, the FP Journe, says a lot about his taste.

[@SimonFanProductions]

There are two separate movements in the chronometre resonance. Although it's not a dual time zone (because of separate movements), the time can be set individually. Thus, he may not be able to use the "proper" term for it. Give him a break.

[@UmarHKhan]

@@SimonFanProductions I guess he got intimidated and deleted his comment

[@MrClitoralShaft]

That was a typical clueless Hater

[@phmwu7368]

De gustibus non est disputandum

[@szeyuhey]

It is not a dual time, and they are out of sync. :-(

[@iloper]

Awesome that he uses them

[@fpoynton1604]

An incredible jaw dropping atheletic icon who served his country and was always a tremendous positive force with his teammates and a great role model for all sportsman. His collection is cool too!!

[@jamesbaum9775]

Got to love David Robinson. The guy exudes class and the fact that he is a watch collector makes him that much cooler.

[@theintangiblewun]

The joy David Robinson exhibits is the joy of the classic American Dream. What a great dude.

[@damianrossrealestate]

What a classy and humble icon. Amazing collection, lots of taste, and that FP

[@1989osu]

Love it. Seems like a nice guy and doesn't care whatsoever about the typical Hodinkee-esque Rolex/Patek circlejerk. Buys what he likes, doesn't care about trends and resale, like myself.

[@cgoins1993]

1989osu he buys what he likes and what he considers unique. I loved that Piaget and UN minute repeater, and that FP is awesome

[@mahadragon]

He doesn't just buy what he likes. A lot of people collect watches. David Robinson actually wears his watch collection.

[@Drive-n-Vibe]

3:12 He said deployant instead of deployment. I already like this guy.

[@anthonyferraro6310]

It's crazy how many "watch guys" get that wrong.

[@Cinemallennials]

Always a class act on and off the court. Has always been a hero of mine!

[@BigDutchKingTut]

Same here!

[@ripperx444]

Robinson is the man!

[@pukenanginang]

A basketball legend that knows his timepieces!

[@mariosandoval9290]

I can honestly say that this episode was very uplifting. You can tell Robinson is a genuine nice person all around and it radiates off him.

[@benficaM8888]

for someone who's achieved soo much in life.. he's so humble. pure class.

[@sh0ck815]

David Robinson seems like the nicest athlete you could ever meet, what a complete class act

[@vukotabrajovic5988]

David Robinson was one of the greatest centers that basketball ever had, very strong and powerful, yet intelligent and with amazing passing ability. And now, not only that I realize that one of my idols is an avid watch collector with an impeccable taste, but also that he is simply a wonderful human being, a true class act! Awesome interview, thumbs up from me!!

[@DomaDful]

Beautifully classy collection, great talk but one more thing drew my attention more..it's how your attitude/character speaks for itself and this is one truly nice guy.

[@Jpjc474]

Great collection not too Rolex heavy and the man certainly knows his stuff and his tastes.

[@BigDutchKingTut]

THE ADMIRAL!!!💘🙏👍 All-time great! One of my all-time favorite NBA legends! Great seeing him, and finding out he's a watch guy too! Awesome video!

[@PreeyenMistry]

This is by far my favourite episode, the collection, the story and Robinson's humbleness, great! On par with Bivir's insider stories on his episode!

[@huubkameelbeemster1026]

Best Talking Watches since a while.

[@christfollower1768]

My favorite episode to date !!!! Great eclectic collection mix and wow humility goes a long way !!!!! David seems like a genuinely nice guy !!!! Thanks for this episode 👊👊🇺🇸🇺🇸👊👊

[@Mywalkingblog]

David, the world needs more people like you. You’re genuine, you’re humble even with immense talent and accomplishments, and you’re giving. Plus, you have one hell of a great taste in watches and it’s nice to see them being used and loved. Great episode!

[@benjameshodges]

James is so chilled and polite. Comes across so relaxed and wanting to listen but interject to maintain the flow of conversation. Good episode.

[@ModernRegimen]

I was also receptive to that. It made me feel like I was at the table with how organic the conversation was. Great guys!

[@Nikiaf]

I actually hadn't heard of David beforehand but this interview was a joy to watch. He seems like a top notch guy, and definitely knows his watches!

[@jaysekhon8014]

He's a top legend in the basketball world.

[@user-ky7le9bf2m]

I watched rookie David give a 10 year old boy an interview for his class project, in a restaurant with no cameras or writers to document just how giving David is. He just did it because the boy asked.

[@abrracadabrrap789]

Its such pleasure to see David Robinson in such a good shape...and with such passion..thanks for this episode and Best Regards from Poland to Hodinkee and and to Admiral...

[@rbeneveds]

As a 20 year Navy Brat I always liked and respected Robinson. Now that I’ve seen some of his truly worn and loved pieces, I respect him even more!

[@rafftime9831]

A great player and a stand up guy ... very nice collection

[@davidofglenbrook4487]

One of the coolest people in the world talking about one of the coolest hobbies in the world. Nice. I salute you, Admiral!

[@rommelsedano7739]

Even as a Laker fan I always respected the Admiral. Now I have a deeper respect for this man who shares his love of watches with his teammates. An awesome collection that I would never expect from him too.

[@verdellgray6687]

one of my favorite episodes and it is obvious he has developed meaningful connections with each piece. I also love the mixture of his collection. The Admiral is first class!

[@ChrisPunsalanTV]

Very good interview! This was fun to watch

[@skriabinfly]

Nice pun brother

[@dragon7590]

Excellent episode! I always love seeing when someones watch collection is a distinct reflection or their style or taste instead of what's just popular or most expensive. Being born and raised in San Antonio I have nothing but admiration for the Admiral.

[@Will-hc4xv]

Awesome video. Great collection from a great guy.

[@gabzsy4924]

Love this man's energy. Really an example of a person.

[@Superdada]

Great episode. Found Mr Robinson so entertaining, fun, and humble. I didn’t want it to end!

[@richardc.5289]

Happy to see The Admiral talking about his timepieces 😊 Go Spurs Go!

[@domflane]

This is the best episode in a long time with a truly interesting, varied collection from an amazing yet humble guy who clearly has a passion for every piece. Bravo for discussing every watch on the table and even the one he was wearing. Great job Hodinkee, more like this!

[@grhn5446]

What a precious human David is. Thank you for sharing David.

[@christyodamarjatis4475]

Great episode!! Well hosted and love how genuine David Robinson is

[@joecheng891]

What a gentleman. The most admirable basketball player of all time. No pun intended.

[@divyanshmishra3551]

Joseph Cheng where was the pun even supposed to be lmao?

[@jaysekhon8014]

David Robinson's nickname is the Admiral.

[@matthewh1325]

Doesn’t get any better that this guy. Class act on and off the court. And what a collection 💯

[@mannisasani]

This guy is a class act. A gent that has a genuine love for watches. One of the best episodes so far.

[@hombrealagua]

What a cool, simple, humble, caring, successful person... I'm not into basketballl but I remember Barcelona and The Dream Team! Great Interview... The F.P. Journe is beautiful.

[@Deusmecumest]

Mr. Robinson is still an inspiration after all this years. From MTVs Mr Robinson's neighborhood to the championships to his work in TX to this day.

[@chrisauge6802]

The big 5-0 Admiral is by far my favorite athlete. A true class act & mentor to thousands. Thanks for the video

[@simpleinseattle]

What a great interview. His passion for watches as hobby comes through in this interview. A true gentleman and icon in the sport.

[@danehardinge8801]

this is one of the best I have seen - one with maybe the least watches on display but David has a huge heart matched by his enthusiasm for his hobby.

[@bombpop2461]

David Robinson and Tim Duncan aka "The Twin Towers" 1997-2003. The greatest big man combo in NBA history they were an absolute force in the paint.

[@yinzburgher]

Great guest and interviewer! Nice to see a more varied collection too.

[@michaeltihon3485]

This man has such a positive attitude you gotta have to love what he's saying :) Awesome guy and video !

[@zeitgeist9299]

Great collection with a lot of taste and love for watches! 👍

[@danielpozo8623]

A fantastic episode, great communication, amazing collection (truly unexpected) overall great vibe from this Talking Watches that I personally have not felt in a long time. Good job.

[@prao4166]

Love David Robinson! What a class act! Great choice!

[@thering8311]

loved this interview. What a legend and the interviewer matched his energy and was super into it. 10/10

[@machakarimm]

This episode is fun to watch. Robinson so humble to talk to.

[@shawnenz7897]

What a great interview! David is a great man and I've always admired him growing up. My first chalk-line jacket was the admiral himself. Great watch collection too!

[@StellarAudyssey]

Will never forget when he scored 71 points in the final game of the season, to pip Shaq for the 1994 scoring title.. He wasn't overly fond of Shaq lol.

[@FINEST-uz9ek]

Love David Robinson an excellent role model for his community and providing such a great opportunity with his charitable work and foundation ... the number one way to break out of the cycle of poverty and change ones life is through an education to see him giving back to those in need via scholarship opportunities and guidance is tremendous . I also thank him for his service to our country as he was also a Naval Academy graduate hence his nickname the Admiral!

[@henrymonster9926]

Great episode! Really enjoying a look at interesting people, without specifically elite watch collections, and hearing their story through their watches.

[@bigairboarder121]

Great episode. Awesome when we get to see such a special person who also has a profound interest and understanding of watches!

[@dereks66]

Great guy and nice diversity in watches. Great episode.

[@nonamegarage6721]

As usual,another great episode with a genuine person...Thanks

[@garyabrahams7609]

I love the detailed story behind each of his pieces. His taste is true. He is a seasoned enthusiast. I appreciation and enthusiasm for horology far outweighs his collection. Sincere philanthropist, great basket baller, Great Man.

[@brianb572]

Great episode! What an articulate man. Excellent taste in watches!

[@LH4116]

Having watched through a number of episodes, it's quite refreshing to see a collection that doesn't consist of vintage Subs and Daytonas.

[@morganbrock5130]

I love hearing him talk about watches, he seems to genuinely love all of them and for unique reasons!

[@sbwollman]

This is, hands down, my favorite video to date. I grew up a fan of the 90s NBA, and The Admiral remains one of my all-time favorite NBA big men. While I enjoyed the close-ups of the watches, I especially enjoyed the clips of Robinson from back in the day. As as aside, in addition to my small collection of timepieces, I am a collector of original, unworn vintage Nike sneakers from the 90s, one pair of which is the 1992 Nike Air Ballistic Force High, the exact model and colorway D-Rob wore during the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona as a member of The Dream Team. The Admiral, both on and off the court, Secretary of Interior Defense, and fine horology as well.

[@BruceWilliams]

What an enjoyable video. It's awesome seeing David's passion for the hobby as well as philathropic endeavors. Awesome collection too 👍👍

[@kierenmoore3236]

Nice one! The Admiral! Great player, on and off the court ... Go Spurs Go!! 😎👍🏼

[@thefreshestprince89]

Not only is this guy a true watch dude but he has led a really positive and productive post-ball life - good on him and great episode!

[@mannycalavera2335]

Probably the episode I have enjoyed most. No pretense. Just real enthusiasm. You can tell by listening to the man, looking at the watches he has, and how they are obviously enjoyed over the decades. Good host too.

[@godisgood117]

My favorite basketball player of all time!! What a man!!

[@asktonyc]

Thank you, Hodinkee. I enjoyed this interview so much!

[@Rosay__]

James: Great segment...very cool to hear about and see David’s collection. Nice interview! Hope to see more of these from you.

[@miparo75]

i'm a big time Spurs fan from Toronto and a huge Admiral fan. this elevates my appreciation for him into the stratosphere. Great guy and an amazing collection.

[@MrWIWARD]

Certainly not my style but as a very tall, sporty guy it fits him rather well. I think his collection is very late 90s, early 2000s in terms of what was popular then but he stayed true to his style and most importantly he has actually worn and enjoyed his watches.

[@justinregister795]

Cool video. Never knew he was a watch guy. Thanks for sharing!

[@Luv2H8Me21]

I met David at an airport on my way to SA and another time I got to sit a couple of seats away from him in a game. I grew up a laker fan and always cheered against the spurs. However, after meeting him I should have been a spurs fan just because of hin. He is a wonderful person and very polite. Just a wonderful human being. If you ever read this, thank you for the pic Mr. Robinson you are a wonderful person.

[@bhjr8]

Loved the video of one of my heroes growing up. Thanks Hodinkee for this. Host did a great job.

[@billrichardson6620]

What a stand up guy, thanks for showing us your collection

[@benphu]

how awesome it is that David Robinson is a watch collector. loved this video.

[@itsdavidlo]

Robinson is all class. Thanks for posting this!

[@sethfeingold]

Who in their right mind disliked this? Fantastic content

[@madprof666]

was literally thinking the same

[@impana260593]

Nico must have seen the Hublot

[@Patomelb]

Robinson is a legend what an episode

[@skinnydragon1]

One of the best ep of talking watches

[@thomasallen3818]

One of my favorite interviews.👍🏻

[@easyeden]

Really enjoyed that. Best one you've done so far.

[@Eltargrimm]

You are pure class, good sir. I have always been a big fan of yours, and you just gave me one more reason to be one!

[@highman30001]

Fantastic episode! Thank you so much

[@denniskai2331]

Wow - what an awesome interview and awesome guy. I sat next to him at a graduation / comissioning ceremony back in '93 -- being 14 inches shorter than someone can really make you feel short.

[@smr32061]

Nice video. And very nice watch collection. A little bit of everything.

[@RustyNotesTV]

What a lovely man. So humble and nice.