New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson should be invested in long-term
By Alan Mena
New York Knicks’ rookie Mitchell Robinson has gained attention as a fearless shot-blocker around the league. Will the Knicks finally commit to one of their draft picks long-term?
In the first 61 games (14 starts) that he has played this season, New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has arguably been the most promising piece of the Knicks’ future.
The 7’1″ center out of Western Kentucky is averaging 7.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.46 blocks (2nd best in the NBA), on 69.1 FG% in 19.7 minutes per game.
Since Coach Fizdale recently confirmed that Robinson will be the starting center for the remainder of the season, he commended veteran (and recent acquisition) DeAndre Jordan for his response when informed of his new role.
The 11-year vet is allowing Fizdale to bench him in order for a rookie (with great promise) to develop. It is also important to note that Jordan will be a free agent this summer, so this gesture may earn him another contract with the Knicks so he can continue to mentor Robinson.
This particular situation reminds me of the Enes Kanter dilemma in January and how Jordan handled his reduced role in a very professional way.
Fizdale made the correct decision in benching Kanter in order to further develop Robinson whom he clearly saw potential in, specifically on the defensive end of the floor.
Shot-blocking ability
As a 20-year-old rookie who became the leader in blocks-per-game (4) in summer league history, Mitchell Robinson already made his presence known to the NBA. The second record he managed to attain was averaging 6.2 offensive rebounds (also the most summer league history) in those five games. Besides averaging an eye-opening 4 blocks in five contests, he also averaged 13 points, 10.2 rebounds, 67 FG% in 24.8 minutes per game.
The first rookie record Robinson broke during the regular season was a career-high 9 blocks in a loss against the Orlando Magic back in November.
Robinson recently broke Patrick Ewing’s rookie record of 29 consecutive games of recording a block, which has to excite the Knicks organization and fans alike since there hasn’t been a player of Ewing’s caliber on the defensive end.
In Sunday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors, Robinson recorded a career-high 19-points and 21 rebounds along with (his usual) two-block performance.
In last night’s win against the Chicago Bulls, Mitchell Robinson swatted three shots, extending his streak to twenty-five games of recording multiple blocks. By reaching this particular milestone, he tied David Robinson’s record as a rookie during the 1989-90 season. He also holds a 33-game streak of recording at least one block, which will surely continue until the end of the regular season next week.
Robinson’s impeccable timing and confidence blocking shots is one of the few positives of this season that has been filled with drama and losing.
Conclusion
There is one sentiment that I must share; hopefully Mitchell Robinson remains a Knick for the entirety of his career, because too much talent has been traded away by this organization.
It would be unforgivable (a statement said by many Knicks fans) if the Knicks fail yet again to keep a young player who has and will continue to break records throughout the course of his career. Surely his lack of offensive prowess will steadily improve as he has already shown consistency on the defensive end of the floor.
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When it’s all said and done, Mitchell Robinson can become one of the greatest shot-blockers in NBA history.