Mitchell Robinson is the New York Knicks’ Best Kept Secret
The collegiate-less big man wasn’t a high lottery pick or even a first rounder, but his rookie season in New York as an elite rim protector went undeservedly under the radar. Take note.
Despite their history, the New York Knicks actually do have an exciting young core. Names like Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., Damyean Dotson, and Allonzo Trier highlight a squad that will also add at least the 3rd overall pick in the NBA Draft in June. And if that’s not enticing enough for you, the thought of the very potential of putting together a super team of Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving should be.
But maybe that’s just a pipe dream. Then again, maybe it isn’t. However it goes down, you can be sure that this a Knicks team that’s on the rise next season. The Knicks could elect to trade away some of their young assets to acquire the big names. Or maybe they won’t. Regardless of what route they elect to follow, one thing is for sure, Mitchell Robinson is sure to be sticking around for a while.
Wait, Who?
By now most NBA fans have heard Mitchell Robinson’s name, but not everyone knows where he came from. Taken in the 2nd round, 36th overall, Robinson had the look of a complete steal, but it’s not that simple.
Robinson was set to be a one-and-done at Western Kentucky before heading to the NBA Draft as a potential Top 10 pick. But after a series of mystifying reports that nobody can comprehend, Robinson decided he would forgo college and spend that entire year prepping for the NBA Draft. It was a move that had him slip from a lottery pick to a 2nd rounder.
Even with the “off the court” issues, Robinson’s raw ability stayed the same. At 7’1", 240 pounds, with a 7’4” wingspan and 9’3” standing reach, Robinson was a tantalizing prospect. But more than that, Robinson came with top tier athleticism and explosiveness, traits that are rare for a big man of his size.
Robinson came into the draft with a reputation of being a lock-down defender, with a serious knack to swat shots. He checked off all the boxes as a top tier prospect, but his baffling college situation kept teams from selecting him as such. The Knicks were willing to “risk” a 2nd round pick on the All-American. And especially after the second half of his rookie season, it appears to be paying big dividends.
A Defensive Stalwart
Robinson entered the NBA with a reputation to dominate on the defensive side. Through his first 66 games, he’s been a force to be reckoned with. The numbers are staggering. In just 20.6 minutes per game, Robinson averaged 2.4 blocks per game. Even more impressive? His Per-36 minutes numbers produced 4.3. That unprecedented production.
Using his size, length, and athleticism to great effect, Robinson swatted away a ton of shots and altered countless others. He led the NBA in a very specific defensive stat: Three-pointers blocked. Which, is even more impressive considering he only played 20.6 minutes per game on an awful Knicks team. He also showed the ability to go out and cover on the perimeter as well, a rare trait for a big man. Because of that, he was able to pitch in 1.4 steals per-36 minutes. The Knicks really felt the effects of Mitchell Robinson in Year 1. The team posted a defensive rating of 113.7, an unimpressive 26th in the NBA. But when Robinson was on the floor, the Knicks had a much-improved defensive rating of 108.9, which would have ranked 9th in the league.
Handling opponents in the post and altering every layup that comes his way, Robinson is a menace defensively. He brings a sort of physicality that most NBA teams lack nowadays. And with the center position slowly fading away in this “small ball era,” Robinson brings back some old school elements with the ability to adapt to today’s game.
The Modern Big Man
Clint Capela, Andre Drummond, Jarrett Allen. The NBA is in love with their rim runners. With the game today trending towards more of a ‘Pace & Space’ style, the post game is really fading away. We’re replacing that with pick-and-roll savants that are athletic and versatile. Often denoted as “lob catchers,” these big men have things simplified for them.
Mitchell Robinson stepped into the NBA fitting right into that specific mold. His long and solid frame allows him to set hard screens and his athleticism allows him to burst right to the rim. Thus far, he has excelled in the pick-and-roll game. Shooting 69.4% from the field, Robinson has proven he’s one the best rim runners in the league. But even those rim runners are more than one trick ponies. Drummond, Rudy Gobert, and Steven Adams, while some of the best pick-and-roll men in the league, are also elite defenders and equally adept offensive rebounders.
Through his first season, Robinson has exuded the same sort of rebounding prowess. Per-36 minutes, he averaged 11.2 rebounds per game, with 4.7 of those coming on the offensive glass. That would actually rank 3rd overall in the entire league. While being tenacious on the boards, his high motor and physical gifts allow him to swallow boards.
It’s no secret that a majority of today’s NBA “stretch” big men stay valuable by developing their three-point shot. But the ones that don’t are indispensable because of the defense, rebounding, and athleticism. Running the floor as a 7-footer is becoming a prerequisite to play basketball. Mitchell Robinson has checked off all those boxes, but there’s more to the equation.
David Fizdale Holds The Keys
Let’s face it, the Memphis Grizzlies never really gave David Fizdale a fair chance to succeed. After going 43–39 and making the playoffs his first season as a head coach, Fizdale got fired the very next season. But he wasn’t just fired, he was handed a pink slip just 19 games into the 2017–2018 season. It was a move that was puzzling to practically everyone. He was ultimately canned as the scapegoat for a Memphis organization that really had no idea what it was trying to accomplish.
Taking over in Memphis, Fizdale was placed in a terrible situation with bad injury luck and so-so talent. After his first year in New York City, Fizdale suffered through an NBA-worst 17–65 season (and earning the distinct “honor” of having the worst record in the entire Association). There are some New York fans that want to see David Fizdale fired after just one season, even though it appears clear that the team was at the very center of a tanking epidemic. I personally think that letting him go would be a big mistake.
In the single Grizzlies season, Fizdale indeed showed his value. As a player developer, Fizdale improved Marc Gasol’s range out to the three-point line. Gasol made 1.4 threes per game on 38.8% 3-point shooting that season. All while enjoying a career-high 19.5 points per game. He also got the best out of Mike Conley, who put up career highs across the board with 20.5 points, 46.0 FG%, and 40.8 3PT%.
Fizdale quickly developed a reputation for being a player-coach. The guys really loved being around him. They viewed him as more than their coach, they saw him as a friend. But at the same time, Fizdale held his players accountable, continues to hold them to a higher standard, and does it all without yelling and degrading them. Now in New York, Fizdale has brought a lot of those same elements and it shows. Ignoring the win-loss record for a moment, the development of the young talent on this team has been one of the underlying silver-lining stories of the season. It’s a common understanding that Fizdale loves his defense and toughness and views physicality as a skill.
The Knicks head coach has meshed perfectly with Robinson. Fizdale certainly has high praise for his center, who continued to look better as the season progressed. From a “raw” project to the defensive star we see today, Fizdale’s impact is already imprinted all over the young man. Now he will garnish the opportunity to take Robinson’s physical gifts and create something special in the Knicks frontcourt. I would expect that post moves, face up game and outside shooting will all be a part of the 2019 offseason development plan.
But the most important thing will be how Fizdale continues to coach Robinson. As many young big men do, Robinson has a knack for getting into foul trouble. He currently averages 3.3 personal fouls per game, that’s 11th highest in the league. It’s troubling considering he only played 20.6 minutes per contest. Keeping Robinson out of foul trouble will be the next step in allowing the young man to flourish.
Final Thoughts
Whether they get Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, or none of them, one thing remains clear: Mitchell Robinson is ready to play now and has earned his seat at the big man table alongside the league’s best. He’s shown the maturity to adapt to whatever situation he’s placed in. He can step in as a lower volume pick-and-roll guy and he can go out and get you those tough rebounds. Maybe he’ll surprise everyone with a brand new post game next season.
Mitchell Robinson has been the star New York has been waiting for. Even with big man depth becoming so easy to replicate, the impact of someone like Robinson can be Joel Embiid-esque. That sort of size, athleticism and length can’t be taught. This is a guy who could be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year next season. And that’s just the immediate future. Mitchell Robinson is only 21 years old. He could be great for a very long time.
All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.
