He's the longest-tenured Knick now that Kevin Knox is taking part in in Atlanta.
Middle Mitchell Robinson, native of New Orleans, is in his fourth season. There’s at all times speak about increasing his offensive repertoire past his trademark put-back dunks, alley-oop slams and layups.
After which it occurred on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, although overshadowed by the Knicks’ hideous 97-87 loss to Charlotte.
Within the first half, Robinson had the ball on the left wing, and as a substitute of handing it off as is his customized, he carried out a crossover transfer on Hornets middle Mason Plumlee and dribbled all the best way to the rim for a dunk.
Granted, Plumlee is slower than a tortoise, however that was the primary time Robinson executed such a drive to the bucket — and an elaborate one at that.
“Yeah, he’s rising,’’ coach Tom Thibodeau stated earlier than the Knicks performed host to the Pelicans on Thursday. “I feel he’s develop into very efficient with dribble-handoffs. I really like the best way he’s ending. After which placing the stress on the rim, that’s at all times been a present. And also you throw it close to the rim, he’s received nice arms. He’s gonna get it and end. You simply proceed to develop. I feel he’s received much more snug with the ball.’’
Because the Knicks have been routed by the Hornets, Robinson was the lone participant who didn’t play poorly (10 factors, six rebounds, 4 of 6 from the sphere).
After battling conditioning points in his comeback season from hand and foot surgical procedures, Robinson has emerged the previous month or so.
He had a setback in opposition to the Timberwolves on Tuesday, fouling out for the primary time this season. Worse, his fifth foul was one thing out of his rookie season — committing the infraction 30 toes from the ring.
Nonetheless, his current progress has to present Knicks brass extra motivation to look right into a contract extension alongside the strains of the one afforded Celtics middle Robert Williams within the offseason. There might be an extra incentive contemplating Nerlens Noel’s injury-ravaged season.
Williams commanded a four-year, $54 million extension, although solely $48 million is assured.
In the course of the offseason, The Put up reported Knicks president Leon Rose was open to a Robinson contract extension however for “nothing loopy.’’
Robinson, a second-round decide of GM Scott Perry’s in 2018, is destined to develop into an unrestricted free agent. He’s averaging 8.2 factors and eight.1 rebounds. His taking pictures share is career-high 78 p.c and can be No. 1 within the league if he had sufficient makes an attempt.
Sources have indicated previously the Mavericks and his hometown Pelicans are on his radar if he doesn’t keep right here. (Knox, it must be famous, was Robinson’s greatest good friend on the membership.)
The motion for Robinson to take extra midrange jumpers — or 3-pointers — appears to have been placed on the again burner. Final January, Robinson put out an Instagram a photograph of his shot follow-through with the caption: “F**ok it… it’s time to deliver this out.”
Robinson hasn’t tried a 3-point shot in his profession, although he launched them at Chalmette Excessive within the New Orleans suburbs. His free-throw share is a sickly 55 p.c.
Robinson hasn’t been seen launching 3s earlier than video games with the assistant coaches — presumably as a result of he doesn’t actually have a inexperienced gentle to take one like fellow huge man Taj Gibson.
Final month, when requested about his 3-point future, Robinson stated he first wanted to get again to being the outdated Robinson as a grasp dunker/shotblocker.
And he's trying simply high-quality.
“[He’s] extra assured,’’ Julius Randle stated. “Getting in higher form. Clearly being out for such a very long time it takes some time. And simply being aggressive. As he’s getting in higher form, he’s in a position to make reads out on the court docket. He’s in a position to suppose the sport higher.’’
Thibodeau is comfortable to see Robinson taking part in “actually exhausting” on protection and changing into a bodily offensive rebounder in site visitors. Whether or not that earns him a contract extension or a commerce on the Feb. 10 deadline stays to be seen.
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