Portland Trail Blazers’ forward Thomas Robinson put an entirely new meaning to speeding through the lane this weekend. The third-year player was cited going 107 miles per hour in a 55 MPH zone Friday on the three-lane Interstate 5 in Portland.
An officer “observed a white 2013 Porsche Panamera traveling at a high rate of speed on the freeway,” said Sgt. Pete Simpson, Portland Police Bureau, in an email to Wendy Owen of The Oregonian. “The officer’s LIDAR would clock the vehicle at 107 MPH in a 55 MPH zone.”
Shortly after the infraction was reported by media, Robinson sent out an apology on Twitter.
Apologies for that speeding ticket rip city gotta be more careful with watching the speed limit my first and last one tho for sure
— thomas robinson (@Trobinson0) October 27, 2013
Robinson is in violation of the Basic Rule (100 MPH +), which carries a fine of $1,150. Police say he was polite and cooperative during the encounter.
Robinson was traded from Houston in June for two second-round draft picks and the rights to Kostas Papanikolau and Marko Todorovic from the Blazers. The trade was designed to allow the Rockets flexibility to sign Dwight Howard in free agency.
In Grantland’s NBA preview, Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose both said Robinson has great potential in the league. Simmons noted he was drafted by a team (Sacramento Kings) that didn’t need a power forward at the time. Simmons then said the trade mid-season to Houston wasn’t beneficial for his development because he was put on the bench until being traded in the summer.
In two NBA seasons, Robinson has averaged 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in just 70 career games.
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Brett Poirier is a contributor to Sheridan Hoops. Follow @BrettNBA