London Lions starting point guard Justin Robinson is heading home to Brixton this Friday evening to face the Glasgow Rocks in a game being dubbed the ‘Brixton Homecoming’ at the Brixton Recreation Centre.
The fixture stands as a very special game for starlet Robinson, with the number 10 born and raised in Brixton.
Emotional
The 30-year-old spoke passionately on heading back to south-London for a home game.
“It’s going to be special, I’m from Brixton, I grew up in Brixton, and I still live in Brixton,” said the former Rider University man.
Robinson still has close ties with the area, and playing at the Brixton Recreation Centre will certainly feel like a homecoming.
“The Brixton Rec’ is for me, where it all started, as an eight-year-old boy – that basically shaped my life,”
Coming through the ranks at the Brixton Topcats, where he developed his game, it will be emotional for the player returning to greet all the people that aided him along his path in basketball.
“All the people that are going to be there, old teammates coaches, family, friends; they’ve all seen me come up, it’s going to be special,” said Robinson.
Worldwide Experience
The London guard has had the pleasure of competing in a number of different countries in his career, playing in America and Europe, and then returning home to play for his home-city team.
Despite his journey, Robinson has clearly not forgotten where it all began, with the people who helped him along the way making it a very sentimental game for the hometown man.
“For me, it’s going to be an iconic moment, playing a professional game at the place I started, and in front of my two coaches Jabbar Kasim and Jimmy Rodgers,” said the former Apollon Limassol guard.
Eyes on the prize
Although this is a very emotional game for Robinson he made it clear that he still means business and will not be satisfied with anything other than a win for his team and home supporters.
“I’m just worried about getting a win, I am not trying to go there and come out with a loss, I want to go there get a win, enjoy myself and interact with my people,” asserted the player.
Having developed his game in London, Robinson has also a vast amount of experience playing in the United States, but to play for his nation’s capital means a lot for the Briton.
“Every game I’m seeing familiar faces coming to the game, the whole support we’re getting is just something special,” he said. “To have the chance to play in front of my loved ones every game or every home game is special to me, for me that’s a dream come true.”
The Lions are riding high off their recent dominant victory over the Bristol Flyers and with tickets to the Brixton homecoming already selling fast, it is looking to be a game to remember for the 30-year-old guard, a game that will hopefully be topped off with an all-important win.
