 Roberts also played on the USA Junior World Championship Team in 1979, playing alongside greats such as James Worthy and leading the US to an undefeated 8-0 record.He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 1982 NBA Draft, but opted to play basketball for a year in Bologna, Italy.While overseas, Roberts was traded to the New Jersey Nets on November 12, 1982 for Phil Ford and a second-round draft choice, and from there was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on June 7, 1983 with other players in exchange for coach Stan Albeck.