There’s something different about the New York Knicks this off-season — they have the swagger and confidence of a team that didn’t win 17 games last year. The veteran free-agent signings seem to have not only changed the atmosphere around the organization but provided the youth players with mentors and people to look up to. One player that will use that factor to catapult him into stardom is second-year big man, Mitchell Robinson.
During Tuesday’s practice, Robinson worked on his defensive game and discipline on the floor. His rookie year saw plenty of ups and downs, but one negative was his frequent foul trouble.
The Knicks need him to take a significant developmental jump to help fuel the team to a contending season. Whether they contend during the 2019-20 campaign or not, they must show improvement.
Robinson will be a catalyst behind the success of the organization moving forward, but a new skill that he offers will make him more than just a regular center. Robinson has been working on his three-point shot, something he utilized in high school but failed to build upon afterward.
What are Mitchell Robinson’s strengths?
Robinson‘s defensive qualities were on full display in his rookie year, swatting 2.4 shots in just 20.6 minutes per game. On offense, he scored 73 points on 69.4% shooting and led the Knicks with a 22.0 player efficiency rating.
The 7-foot-1 big man is looking to diversify his game and develop into a modern-day center. Having the ability to shoot from beyond the arc but also play efficient basketball in the paint gives him an advantage over most players. In 2018, he lived primarily at the rim, shooting 73.4% on 263 attempts.
New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale commented on promising and how he has looked this off-season:
“He’s more disciplined,” Fizdale told reporters. “Multiple times, guys tried to get him up in the air, and he did a great job of staying down on shot fakes and keeping his hands out. … He’s really coming into his own and understanding how he can be effective in the league, because this is now his second lap, and I think he’s more comfortable with what he’s facing.
If he can solve some of the problems that plagued him during his rookie campaign and build upon his already established qualities, Robinson can break out in the upcoming season.