Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Robin Lopez carved out a lengthy NBA career as a traditional seven-foot center, valued for rim protection, physical interior defense, offensive rebounding, and rugged screen setting across multiple playoff-caliber teams.

His low-post scoring, durable role-player production, and willingness to embrace defensive assignments made him an ideal fit as a dependable starting or backup big throughout the modern NBA era.

Here is the detailed information about Robin Lopez, a professional NBA player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Robin Byron Lopez
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on April 1, 1988
  • Hometown: North Hollywood, California, USA
  • Height: 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm)
  • Weight: 281 pounds (127 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 5 inches (226 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 20 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 15, 42, 50, 8, 33
  • Position: Center
  • High School: San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, California
  • College: Stanford University (2006–2008)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 1st round (15th overall pick) in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns
  • Teams Played For:
    • Phoenix Suns (2008–2012)
    • New Orleans Hornets (2012–2013)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (2013–2015)
    • New York Knicks (2015–2016)
    • Chicago Bulls (2016–2019)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (2019–2020)
    • Washington Wizards (2020–2021)
    • Orlando Magic (2021–2022)
    • Cleveland Cavaliers (2022–2023)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (2023–present)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Has a twin brother, Brook Lopez, who is also an NBA player

Player Archetype / Play Style

Robin Lopez’s player archetype was that of a traditional defensive-minded center, a true seven-footer whose value came from size, screening, rebounding, rim presence, and low-maintenance interior offense rather than floor spacing or shot creation. Defensively, his role was to anchor the paint, absorb contact, contest at the rim, and handle bigger frontcourt matchups, using his length and strength to protect the lane and clean up possessions on the glass. Offensively, he fit best as a screen-and-finish big who scored on rolls, dump-offs, putbacks, and his reliable hook shot, while doing the connective work that helped guards and wings operate. At 7-foot-1 and 281 pounds, Lopez brought a massive frame, long reach, and enough mobility to hold down the middle, and his overall play style was rugged, physical, and team-oriented, built more on dirty-work value and interior efficiency than on flashy box-score creation. (www-ng.nba.com)

Scouting Report

Robin Lopez has always been one of those centers whose value becomes clearer when you stop watching the ball and start watching everyone around it. His screening is unusually physical and deliberate, creating real separation instead of simply making contact, and that gives ball handlers an extra step to turn the corner or forces the defense into awkward recoveries. Around the basket he isn’t chasing highlight finishes; he’s sealing defenders early, carving out deep position, and relying on soft touch with either hand, particularly with his sweeping hook. The interesting thing is that he often creates offense without taking the shot himself because his screens and post positioning shift the defense before the pass is even made. Defensively, he’s most comfortable anchoring the paint from drop coverage, staying patient rather than lunging at guards and using his size to discourage finishes instead of hunting blocks. That’s where his timing matters. He’ll absorb drives, keep verticality, and force opponents into difficult floaters, but if he’s repeatedly pulled into space by pick-and-pop bigs or quick guards changing direction, his foot speed becomes a real limitation. He isn’t the type of center you want switching onto perimeter creators for entire possessions, and offenses that spread the floor can test how far he’s willing to leave the lane. Even so, it’s easy to overlook how consistently he finishes defensive possessions by boxing out first, allowing teammates to clean up rebounds rather than chasing every board himself. To me, his ideal environment is alongside dynamic guards who rely heavily on pick-and-rolls and wings who can punish the defensive attention his screens generate, while the defense behind him is built to funnel drives toward the middle instead of asking him to cover excessive ground. There are elements of Tyson Chandler in the screen-setting and interior defensive discipline, while his back-to-the-basket scoring and patient paint play occasionally resemble a less explosive Brook Lopez before Brook expanded his range, though Robin has always leaned far more into the traditional craft of playing center than perimeter skill.

Notes:

  • Similar players to Robin Lopez include Brook Lopez and Drew Eubanks.

Sources:

NBA.com — Robin Lopez | Center | NBA.com
NBA Draft — Robin Lopez</a
Tankathon — Robin Lopez 2008 Draft Profile
Portland Trail Blazers — Player Profile – Robin Lopez