Robert Covington, affectionately known as "RoCo," is an American professional basketball player who plays as a back-up power forward for the Philadelphia 76ers. Recognized for his exceptional defensive skills, Covington has made it to NBA All-Defense First Team in 2018.
Despite going undrafted in 2013, Covington's determination and talent propelled him back into the NBA after a successful stint in the NBA D League. Returning to the league with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014, Covington quickly established himself as a lethal 3-and-D wing player, revolutionizing the role in the modern NBA with his some outstanding two-way performances.
Covington's defensive prowess is elite, as he consistently guards best offensive players from opposing teams with great success. His ability to defend all five positions on the court makes him a valuable asset for any team. In fact, some teams have even experimented with playing Covington at the center position, a testament to his versatility and defensive acumen.
Notably, during the 2019-20 NBA season with the Houston Rockets, 6 feet 7 inch Covington was listed as the starting center. This strategic move allowed the Rockets to adopt an ultimate small-ball approach, facilitating ball movement and floor stretching with all five players capable of knocking down three-pointers. While this experiment did not result in a championship, it served as a blueprint for future innovations in the game.
Overall, Robert Covington's career has left an indelible mark on the NBA landscape. He has been hailed by many for pioneering role as a 3-and-D player in the modern NBA. His success and impact as an elite 3-and-D wing who can defend all five positions have solidified his status as a key figure in the evolution of the game.
Robert Covington College
Robert Covington had an outstanding four year college career at Tennessee State University.
During his freshman year at Tennessee State, Robert Covington made an immediate impact, earning recognition on the Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer team and receiving Mid-Major Freshman All-America honors from Collegeinsider.com. Out of 32 games that he played as a freshman, he started 28 games and showcased his versatility by averaging 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Continuing to excel in his sophomore season, Covington notched eight double-doubles and emerged as one of the best players in the Ohio Valley Conference. On December 27, 2010, his impressive performance led to him being named OVC Player of the Week. Covington's contributions were pivotal for the Tigers as he averaged 13.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game over 30 games.
In his junior season, Covington reached even new heights, earning the first-team All-OVC honors and recognition as the 2011–12 CollegeInsider.com OVC co-MVP. He continued to accumulate accolades, including selection to the OVC All-Tournament team and the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament team. Throughout 33 games in junior year, Covington averaged 17.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.
Despite facing injury setbacks during his senior season, Covington remained a force on the court, earning his second second-team All-OVC and second-team NABC Division I All-District 19 honors. Despite missing ten games, he displayed consistency, averaging 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. He ended his collegiate career ranked seventh in scoring and rebounding in Tennessee State's history, amassing 1,749 points and 876 rebounds.
Overall, Robert Covington left an indelible legacy on Tennessee State University basketball. His relentless defensive intensity, work ethic, off-the-court academic brilliance and exemplary character displays the essence of Tigers basketball.
Robert Covington College Stats
Season | School | Conf | Class | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
2009-10 | Tennessee State | OVC | FR | 32 | 28 | 27.3 | 0.428 | 0.385 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 11.5 |
2010-11 | Tennessee State | OVC | SO | 30 | 30 | 30.8 | 0.498 | 0.46 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 13.3 |
2011-12 | Tennessee State | OVC | JR | 33 | 32 | 31.2 | 0.526 | 0.448 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 17.8 |
2012-13 | Tennessee State | OVC | SR | 23 | 21 | 31 | 0.435 | 0.388 | 8 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 17 |
Robert Covington Draft
Robert Covington went undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft.
Robert Covington Position
Robert Covington plays as a small forward in basketball. At times, he has also been used as a power forward. In the 2019/20 NBA season, Covington was also listed as a center.
Robert Covington NBA Teams
Robert Covington has played for a total of five NBA teams throughout his 6-year NBA career. Following are the NBA teams Robert Covington has played for —
Robert Covington has played for the following NBA teams:
Houston Rockets (2013–2014)
Philadelphia 76ers (2014–2018)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2018–2020)
Houston Rockets (2020)
Portland Trail Blazers (2020–2022)
Los Angeles Clippers (2022–2023)
Philadelphia 76ers (2023–present)
FAQ's on Robert Covington college
A. Robert Covington played college basketball at Tennessee State University from 2009 to 2013.
A. Robert Covington’s salary for the 2023/24 season is $11,692,308.
A. Robert Covington has a two-year $24,000,000 contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Robert Covington will be an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming 2024 NBA offseason.
A. Robert Covington is a power forward but he can also play the center.
A. In the 2023/24 season, Robert Covington is averaging 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game, as of March 2024.