Last Updated on August 12, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Andre Roberson became known as one of the NBA’s toughest perimeter defenders, using his length, athleticism, and instincts to disrupt opposing offenses. While his impact rarely showed up in scoring totals, his defensive presence and willingness to handle difficult assignments made him an important part of several successful teams.
Player Profile
- Full Name: Andre Lee Roberson
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: December 4, 1991
- Birthplace: Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
- Height: 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters)
- Weight: 210 pounds (95 kg)
- Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
- Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
- Position: Guard-Forward
- Jersey Number: 21
- High School: Wagner High School (San Antonio, Texas)
- College: University of Colorado (2010–2013)
- Roberson concluded his collegiate career as the 29th player in CU history to score 1,000 points, totaling 1,012 points.
- NBA Draft: 2013, 1st round, 26th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves; rights traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder
- Professional Teams:
- Oklahoma City Thunder (2013–2020)
- Brooklyn Nets (2021)
- ASVEL Basket (2022–present)
- Championship Rings: None
- Parents: John and Lisa Roberson
- Siblings: Andre is one of seven siblings, all of whom have participated in high-level athletics, particularly in basketball and volleyball.
- Children: Information not publicly available
Player Archetype / Play Style
Andre Roberson was essentially a defense-first wing stopper, the kind of low-usage complementary forward every contender wants around its stars: on defense, he handled the toughest perimeter assignments and had the versatility to check guards, wings, and even some fours, using his length, foot speed, and instincts to disrupt actions across multiple spots; on offense, his role was much narrower, built around cutting, running the floor, crashing the glass, and finishing plays created by others rather than self-creation or perimeter shooting. Physically, he brought strong wing size at about 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds, and combine measurements listed him with a near 6-foot-11 wingspan, which helped explain why he played bigger than his position. In simple terms, Roberson’s style was rugged, mobile, and defense-driven: he could swing a game with stops, rebounds, and hustle plays even when the ball was not in his hands. (NBA)
Scouting Report
Andre Roberson changed games in ways that barely registered in traditional stat lines because his greatest skill was erasing an opponent’s first option before the possession ever became dangerous. What stands out is how calmly he navigated screens, taking efficient angles instead of chasing blindly, then using his length to recover without conceding clean pull-up jumpers or direct driving lanes. He had an unusual feel for when to peel off his own assignment and rotate as the low man, arriving early enough to discourage finishes without leaving his team exposed on the next pass. That anticipation gave coaches enormous flexibility with matchups because he could survive on an island while allowing everyone else to stay closer to their preferred assignments. Offensively, the picture was much different. He was an effective cutter when defenders lost sight of him, sprinted the floor hard in transition, and occasionally slipped behind ball watching defenders for easy finishes, but teams were comfortable shrinking the floor when he spaced beyond the arc, making half-court creation more difficult for everyone around him. That’s where the trade-off became impossible to ignore. His limited perimeter shooting and reluctance to attack with the ball allowed defenses to overload primary creators, and he wasn’t the type to punish those choices consistently with quick decisions or confident jumpers. To me, his ideal role came next to elite offensive engines who demanded multiple defenders, allowing him to focus almost exclusively on guarding the toughest perimeter assignment while contributing through cuts, offensive rebounds, and simple connective passes rather than initiating offense. It’s easy to overlook how much communication was involved in his defense because many of his best possessions began before the ball was even inbounded, directing teammates through actions and recognizing screening angles before they fully developed. Stylistically, he shared many qualities with Tony Allen as a perimeter stopper who won possessions through anticipation and relentless discipline rather than gambling, while portions of his defensive impact also echoed Matisse Thybulle, although Roberson played a more controlled, fundamentally sound brand of defense instead of relying on steals and recoveries to generate disruption. — Mat Diekhake, HeatingUp
Sources: NBA.com — Stopping ball in its tracks a forte for these defensive mavens; Bleacher Report — NBA Player Rankings: Top 100 Players Before 2017-18 Season Tips Off; Basketball-Reference — Andre Roberson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More; NBADraft.net — 2013 NBA Draft Combine Measurements; Colorado Buffaloes — 2012-2013 Colorado Men’s Basketball Media Guide