Francisco Marinho Robby Elson (born 28 February 1976) is a Dutch former professional basketball player. Elson was the seventh Dutch player to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] Elson served as the captain of the Netherlands national basketball team in international basketball, as he led the team in several EuroBasket qualifying rounds. He was the first Dutch player to become NBA champion, with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007.
Youth and college career
Elson started his career at AMVJ Rotterdam at the age of twelve. After a couple of years playing, he stopped after his older brother Patrick died of a heart attack while playing basketball at the age of 21.[2] His gym teacher at the Maria School asked him to return to the club at the age of sixteen. He played one game in the Eredivisie, the highest level Dutch league, in the 1994–95 season for Rotterdam.[3]
Elson was a member of the Dutch Under-20 National Team. He played two seasons at Kilgore Junior College in Texas before completing his college at the University of California, Berkeley. As a senior, he helped lead the Bears to the NIT Championship.[4]
1999–2001 with FC Barcelona averaging 3.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 32 games for his first season and 6.9 points and 4.5 rebounds in 34 games for the second.
2001–02 with Pamesa Valencia averaging 4.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 34 games.
2002–03 with Caja San Fernando averaging 9.7 point and 8.2 rebounds in 34 games.
Over his first two seasons with Denver, Elson was mostly a reserve. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. In 2005–06, his third season with the Nuggets, Elson played in 72 games and started in 54 of them. He averaged 21.9 minutes, 4.9 points (on 53.2% shooting) and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Elson gained notoriety during Denver's 2004 playoff series with Minnesota through his physical attempts to contain Kevin Garnett. Elson knocked Garnett into the seats behind the basket with a hard foul early in a game and later in the game was hit in the groin by Garnett. Elson caused controversy when he described Garnett as "gay" for the groin shot. Elson later apologized to the gay and lesbian community for his comments.[6]
On 21 February 2008 Elson was traded by the San Antonio Spurs along with Brent Barry to the Sonics in exchange for Kurt Thomas.[9] He spent most of this season coming off the bench for both the Spurs and the Sonics.
Elson later signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Bucks to serve as Andrew Bogut's primary backup.[10]2008-09, his first season with the Bucks, was the last of his NBA career where he started games with any regularity.
On 18 February 2010 Elson was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers along with sharpshooter Jodie Meeks in exchange for Primoz Brezec and Royal Ivey.[11] Elson missed most of the season after hernia surgery, and appeared in only one game with his new team.[12]
On 15 September 2010 Elson signed a guaranteed two-year contract with the Utah Jazz.[13] After his contract expired, he returned to the Netherlands for treatment on his knee.[14]
On 27 January 2012 Elson was signed by the Philadelphia 76ers to provide the team with front-court depth because of injuries at the position.[15] He signed two 10-day contracts, then was not re-signed for a third time after Spencer Hawes returned from injury.[16]
On 20 June 2013 Elson's retirement was announced on Dutch websites.[18] He later stated that his retirement was just from international basketball.[19] In March 2014, his retirement became official.[20]
Elson is fluent in Dutch, Spanish, English, Portuguese. He is of Surinamese descent.[22] His father is half Chinese and half Surinamese. His mother is half Indian and half Surinamese. Elson has a brown belt in karate.[23]
