Mitchell Robinson has been a great find for the New York Knicks this season, but what does his development really mean for the team moving forward?
The New York Knicks have found a diamond in the rough in center Mitchell Robinson. The second-round draft pick has solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with at the rim, as he already holds the 5th highest block percentage season in NBA history – only behind Manute Bol.
In a blowout victory over the San Antonio Spurs recently, Robinson dropped 15 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, all while shooting 71 percent from the field. He followed up this performance with a 17 point, 14 rebound and six block outing against Orlando.
Offensively, Robinson is adept at catching lobs from teammates and finishing put-back layups at the rim. Defensively, he continues to excel as an elite paint protector. Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid praised the rookie, saying:
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"[via New York Post]“He has a lot of potential. He needs to work on his body, but he’s got a chance to be a good big man in this league. … A couple times I thought I had a shot, but he just came up with his long-ass arms and blocked it.”"
Teammate DeAndre Jordan and former Knick Marcus Camby have also marveled at Mitchell Robinson’s recent progress and his potential as a player. He now has 23 straight games with at least one block and continues to lead all rookies in blocks with 2.4 blocks per game.
In light of Kevin Knox‘s recent shooting struggles – a stint which has seen him average 11.7 points per game on 32 percent shooting from the field – Mitchell Robinson has provided optimism for the future of the Knicks franchise.
With his impressive athleticism and defensive instincts, it will be interesting to see how Robinson’s development impacts the future of the Knicks moving forward and how far he can propel them as a vital piece to this young core in the orange and blue over the next several years.