Mitchell Robinson tests himself against Magic's Mo Bamba and has block party
Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks during a game against the Mavericks on Nov. 2, 2018 in Dallas. Credit: Getty Images/Ronald Martinez
OK, it wasn’t all bad news for the Knicks in their 115-89 loss to Orlando on Sunday night.
Mitchell Robinson stepped up to the challenge of playing against Mo Bamba, one of the top young centers in the league. He blocked nine shots, setting a Knicks rookie record.
The previous record for a rookie was seven blocks, which was achieved by Kristaps Porzingis twice and Lonnie Shelton once. The last rookie in the NBA to post at least nine blocks was Nerlens Noel on Feb. 20, 2015.
“I’m always looking for those little victories,” coach David Fizdale said. “I was really happy with the way he pursued tonight and competed.’’
Robinson said Fizdale pushed him to go after the ball at the rim.
“I thank Coach. He put me in position to get those blocks,” he said. “He was telling me to drop back and not to worry about my guy. Just go get him and meet him at the rim.”
Bamba’s mother lives in Harlem, where he was born, and was at the Garden Sunday night to watch him play. Bamba finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Robinson had four points and four rebounds.
Bamba and Robinson are both 20, played on the same McDonald’s All-American team and are 7-foot centers in the NBA. The big difference: Robinson was drafted with the 36th overall pick, 30 slots below Bamba.
“Going against the No. 6 pick in the draft is definitely going to be kind of good,” Robinson said before the game. “I can go out there and handle my things and hopefully open a window for myself.”
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.
