“No dejes que nunca nadie te robe la felicidad y confía siempre en ti mismo.”
That counsel from his father anchors Justin Robinson as he builds his career with FC Barcelona, bringing a winding professional path through the NBA, Australia, France, and Italy to the Catalan club, FC Barcelona reported.
Early Years in Virginia and Maryland Basketball
Robinson started playing basketball at four years old in Manassas, Virginia, before moving to Rockville, Maryland, at age 13 to focus on his education and athletic development. Growing up in a sports-focused family, he modeled his game after Allen Iverson, adopting the guard’s fearless attitude despite standing shorter than many opponents. Backyard games against his older brother and neighborhood friends forced him to adapt to constant adversity long before entering organized youth leagues.
Before turning professional, Robinson faced a life-threatening medical emergency when complications from an appendectomy required nearly two months of hospitalization, including a stint in intensive care. He credits that ordeal with shaping his natural leadership style and his persistent insistence on finding joy regardless of external circumstances. That perspective carried him through his collegiate years and into the professional ranks.
Transition from the NBA to Global Leagues
Fulfilling a childhood goal, Robinson signed a three-year contract with the Washington Wizards, offering him a chance to play close to home in front of his family. When that stint did not yield long-term continuity across subsequent team stops, he reframed his professional identity, recognizing that his career extended far beyond North America. He leaned into the philosophy that individual production outweighs external expectations.
His subsequent travels took him across the globe, including an Australian stint where an injury during his very first game sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Far from friends and family on the other side of the world, he learned to impact the game from a different vantage point while watching how the club handled his rehabilitation. A brief nine-game run with Breogán in the Liga ACB followed, where he helped secure the Galician side’s league survival while rediscovering his love for the sport.
Impact in the EuroLeague with FC Barcelona
After stops with Trapani Shark in Italy and Paris Basketball in France for his initial EuroLeague experience, Robinson visited Barcelona with his family for a short vacation. The local culture, food, and atmosphere immediately resonated with him, laying the groundwork for his eventual signing with the Blaugrana. Within two months of joining the squad, he emerged as a locker-room leader and delivered clutch plays, including late-game heroics to force overtime against Olympiacos alongside decisive baskets against Anadolu Efes and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
As Robinson and his partner anticipate the arrival of their first child in early 2027—roughly seven years after the passing of his father—he aims to emulate his father’s parenting style while raising his child in Barcelona. The point guard continues to rely on the foundational lessons instilled in him during his youth: maintaining personal joy, trusting his own capabilities, and embracing every challenge with resilience.
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