Blazers’ Thomas Robinson cited for driving 107 in 55 MPH zone, tweets apology for speeding

Thomas Robinson drives. Safely. (Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images)

Portland Trail Blazers power forward Thomas Robinson received a $1,150 fine for hitting triple-digits in his Porsche on Friday, driving 107 miles per hour — 52 miles over the posted speed limit — on I-5 in Oregon, according to Wendy Owen and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh of The Oregonian:

An officer “observed a white 2013 Porsche Panamera traveling at a high rate of speed on the freeway,” said Sgt. Pete Simpson, Portland Police Bureau, in an email. “The officer’s LIDAR would clock the vehicle at 107 MPH in a 55 MPH zone.” [...]

Robinson was cited for violation of the Basic Rule (100 MPH +), which carries a fine of $1,150, Simpson said.

Robinson was polite and cooperative during the encounter, Simpson said.

Robinson struck a similarly reconciliatory tone in a Sunday morning tweet:

I mean ... yeah. Yeah, you do have to be more careful, Thomas Robinson. Fifty-two miles per hour over the speed limit is a lot of miles per hour over the speed limit. It is literally twice as many miles per hour over the speed limit as Michael Beasley managed in Phoenix back in February, although at least you weren't driving with a suspended license, no license plates and a gun in the car. Thank heaven for small mercies, we suppose.

This is the second time in the past 10 months that Robinson and his Panamera have made the news. While a member of the Sacramento Kings back in January, the forward was involved in a car accident after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers:

The accident occurred at the intersection of Del Paso Blvd. and Broadgate Dr. when Robinson apparently drove his white Porsche Panamera over a concrete divide at speeds that are unknown at this time. The vehicle, which faced the wrong way in the turn lane following the accident, sustained major damage according to various eyewitness reports.

The Kings rookie big man was not injured in the collision.

The Kings chose Robinson out of Kansas with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. He averaged 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game over 51 appearances in Sacramento before a surprise trade to the Houston Rockets before the February 2013 trade deadline. He put up roughly the same numbers (4.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 13 minutes per game) in limited action for the playoff-bound Rockets, who flipped him to the Blazers this offseason in exchange for two second-round picks and the rights to draft-and-stash players Kostas Papanikolau and Marko Todorovic so that Houston could make a max-contract offer to free-agent center Dwight Howard.

Robinson showed flashes during Portland's preseason slate, averaging 6.7 points and 7.2 rebounds and shooting 47.2 percent from the field. He figures to get an opportunity to carve out a niche as Portland's primary backup power forward behind star LaMarcus Aldridge ... provided, of course, the 22-year-old big man pumps the brakes a little bit when he's on the way from his house to the gym (or elsewhere).

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