Mitchell Robinson playing to his strengths in Knicks camp
Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks showing off his guns on media day at the NY Knicks training facility in Greenburgh, NY Mon. Sept. 26, 2022. Credit: Errol Anderson
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Tom Thibodeau, as coaches do, went through the fundamental parts of the game that Mitchell Robinson has refined — calling him the best offensive rebounder in the league and adding in a list of skills that focus on his play around the rim.
Robinson appreciated the kind words, but had his own ideas about what he could add to his game this season.
“I really just wanna do crossovers,” Robinson said. “I ain’t gonna lie. I don’t wanna shoot too much, but definitely I gotta do something. It’s year five. I gotta do something.”
Reminded that he had done it once in season last year, he added, “Yeah, I got a little somethin’, somethin’, but I need a real ‘uh, come here!’ I need one of them.”
Those words may not be pleasing to the coach, but he is happy that Robinson has come into camp in what, like most players claim, is the best shape of his life. He added muscle last season when a knee injury kept him from running at all. But he's stronger than his early seasons and now in much better condition, able to run the floor again with the unnatural speed and athleticism for his size. And that does endear him to the coach.
Robinson ranked second in offensive rebounding last season, trailing only Memphis’ Steven Adams, and has studied the veteran center to try to close that gap.
“I appreciate that a lot, actually coming from the coach,” Robinson said of Thibodeau’s compliment. “It shows that my work that I’ve been putting in for that is finally paying off. But for me to get offensive rebounds, yeah, it takes a lot of weight room activity. So, get second-chance points, basically. If I can’t finish, kick out to a dagger three, something like that.
“I’ve seen Steven Adams, how he does it. He kind of goes from the baseline, works his way in. He is strong, so that’s kind of one takeaway I got from him. Other guys use their quickness. Nine times out of 10, they get to the spot where the ball is going. But yeah, it really is getting in the right position, owning your space, pretty much. So, you own your space, you got a fair chance of getting the ball on an offensive rebound.”
Doing what he does well is what got Robinson back in New York this summer when he entered free agency and returned on a four-year, $60 million contract. He may have given up on the dream of becoming a three-point threat, but he remains very efficient around the rim. He set an NBA single-season record by converting 74.2% from the field in the 2019-20 season — eclipsing the prior record set by Wilt Chamberlain.
He was jokingly asked which record was more impressive — his snapping Chamberlain’s mark or Aaron Judge eclipsing Roger Maris — he defended his place in the record book.
“I’m gonna say mine,” he said, laughing. “It’s great, man. Something I just worked at. Obviously, the touch is there for me to have a high percentage around the basket.”
NOTES & QUOTES: Quentin Grimes (sore left foot) will remain sidelined Friday when the Knicks host the Indiana Pacers. Jericho Sims will also sit out with a sore groin. Cam Reddish is listed as questionable after spraining his left ankle in Tuesday’s preseason opener.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
