On July 1st, Mitchell Robinson joined Select Company.
On receiving the news, he celebrated by jumping into the sea. He didn’t let his exhilarating moment last when he signed a four-year, $60 million deal. The satisfaction quickly disappeared. There was much more to do.
“For me, it’s like the way I was raised…it’s big, but there’s more to it,” said the Knicks shot-blocking, rebounding threat. So basketball isn’t forever so I’m going to keep working.I want to play hard and have fun.I’m 7 feet.There aren’t many 7 footers that last that long.Something disappears: knees. , back, whatever.
Tom Thibodeau has noticed. If anything, he has seen more of a hard worker and a determined player who wants to improve. The 36th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Robinson averaged 11.0 points, 8.2 rebounds (five offensively) and 2.2 blocks during the preseason, earning a plus-66 rating.
Julius Randle believes Robinson arrived at training camp in the best shape of his young career, with Robinson starting running alongside Derrick Rose after practice, and after Thibodeau’s notoriously tough practice, I did extra work.
“You can see it on the court,” said Robinson, amiably joking. “I played almost a quarter without running out of gas, so I will continue to stay in elite shape.”
Thibodeau began seeing Robinson evolve last offseason. A knee injury prevented him from doing much, but the young center used his time wisely, watching extra movies and lifting weights. But last season it was no longer pressed against the paint.
Thanks to that, Robinson appeared in a career-high 72 games and finished second in the NBA in offensive rebounds (4.1 per game). Knicks wasn’t worried that Robinson would be happy with the new deal.
“From our post-season conversations, you could tell he had a lot of determination,” Thibodeau said. “His experience [league the] Years later, as he did, Mitch is a bright guy. Those experiences have taught him a lot. ”
Robinson talked about adding new elements to his game, such as post-ups and expanding his offensive repertoire. collided with a defender just inside the three-point line. For now, he plans to maintain his strengths in rebounding, blocking his shot, running on the floor and finishing above the rim.
“I think he’s as comfortable and confident in himself as I’ve seen him,” Randall said.
The big man has an arrow pointing up. He’s got that big new deal and he wants more than that.
Robinson said, “I’m going to keep working and stay in this league as long as I can.” ”
