When you're the child of a 7-foot-1 Hall of Famer who helped define the San Antonio Spurs, people expect certain things. They expect the height. They expect the wingspan. They definitely expect the jersey. But for the three sons of David Robinson—David Jr., Corey, and Justin—the path hasn't been a carbon copy of "The Admiral."
It's been way more interesting.
The story of David Robinson son basketball isn't just about one guy trying to dunk like his dad. It’s actually a mix of Duke basketball highlights, a surprisingly elite football career at Notre Dame, and a heavy dose of San Antonio real estate development. If you came here looking for the next NBA MVP, you might be surprised to find that the Robinson legacy is currently being built in boardrooms and on coaching staffs just as much as on the hardwood.
The youngest son and the Duke legacy
Justin Robinson is probably the name you're looking for if you're tracking the basketball side of things. He didn't just play; he survived the gauntlet of the Duke Blue Devils program.
Honestly, Justin’s journey at Duke was the ultimate "started from the bottom" story. He arrived in Durham as a 6-foot-7 preferred walk-on in 2015. He didn't have the five-star hype of his teammates. For years, he was the guy at the end of the bench, the one who mostly made his impact during the grueling practices that fans never see.
Then came 2020.
In his final home game against North Carolina—the biggest rivalry in college sports—Justin Robinson didn't just play. He started. He dropped 13 points, grabbed six boards, and swatted four shots. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who isn't exactly known for handing out participation trophies, famously compared him to the legendary Rudy Ruettiger, but added that Justin was actually a better athlete.
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What happened after Duke?
After finishing his master's at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, Justin didn't immediately hang up the sneakers. He spent some time playing professionally overseas in places like Montenegro and Israel.
But as of late 2023 and heading into 2026, he’s back where it all started. Jon Scheyer brought him back to Duke as the Director of Player Development. He isn't the one scoring the points anymore, but he’s the one teaching the next generation of NBA lottery picks how to handle the pressure that comes with a famous last name.
Corey Robinson: The one who chose the gridiron
If you want to talk about the "what if" of the family, you have to talk about Corey. He had the frame for basketball—standing 6-foot-5—but he chose football.
And he was good. Really good.
At Notre Dame, Corey Robinson became a standout wide receiver. During the 2014 season, he was a primary target for the Irish, hauling in 40 catches and five touchdowns. He had hands like glue and a cerebral approach to the game that made him a nightmare for cornerbacks.
However, the "Admiral" genes come with a high level of academic and personal responsibility. Corey wasn't just an athlete; he was a First-Team Academic All-American. He was even elected student body president at Notre Dame.
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His sports career ended earlier than most expected due to repeated concussions. It was a tough choice, but one that felt very "Robinson-esque"—choosing long-term health and brain power over a few more years of hits. Since then, Corey has moved into the media world, working with NBC Sports and digital media ventures.
David Robinson Jr. and the "Other" San Antonio game
Then there's the oldest, David Robinson Jr.
He didn't pursue the professional athlete life. Instead, he took the values his father preached—community service and investment—and applied them to the city of San Antonio. If you walk around downtown San Antonio today, you’re seeing his work.
He’s been a major player at Weston Urban and Blueprint Local. Basically, he’s focused on urban planning and making sure the city his father helped put on the map continues to grow. It’s a different kind of "basketball" legacy, one that's about building the arena and the city around it rather than playing inside it.
Why the Robinson legacy looks different
Most people assume that if your dad is a legend, you're destined for the NBA. But the "Admiral" didn't raise his kids that way.
David and his wife, Valerie, famously told their sons that they wouldn't be receiving a massive inheritance. They paid for college, and after that, the boys were on their own. That kind of "sink or swim" mentality is why you see one son coaching at Duke and another revitalizing downtown San Antonio.
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- Justin Robinson: Now a key staff member at Duke after a pro career in Israel.
- Corey Robinson: Transitioned from a top-tier college football player to a media personality and student leader.
- David Robinson Jr.: Leading the charge in San Antonio's real estate and urban development scene.
Lessons from the Robinson path
If you're a young athlete or a parent looking at the David Robinson son basketball trajectory, there's a pretty clear takeaway. Success isn't about replicating your parents' stats.
It's about finding the crossover.
Justin used his basketball IQ to become a coach. Corey used his visibility to jump into media. David Jr. used the family name to open doors in business and then proved he belonged there with a Master’s in Urban Planning.
The pressure of being a legend's son is real, but these three have handled it by simply being themselves—just with a little bit of that 7-foot-tall confidence.
If you want to keep up with the family's impact, keep an eye on the Duke bench this season. You'll see Justin there, still wearing the Blue Devil gear, still making an impact, just from the sidelines this time. It’s a reminder that in sports, as in life, the second act is often more interesting than the first.