New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Coming into the 2023-24 season, he was ranked near the bottom of the starting center power rankings. That is something he has quickly dispelled, as Robinson has shown in the early going that he is closer to the top of that list than the bottom.
While Robinson’s stats don’t jump off the page, as he is averaging only 6.9 points per game, his impact and presence in the paint are evident. He is pulling down 12 rebounds per game, 6.1 on the offensive glass and 5.9 on the defensive. On top of that, Robinson is averaging 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks as he is very active on the defensive end.
The 55 total offensive rebounds that Robinson has through nine games are tops in the NBA. That total has also led to him making some history. According to Knicks Muse on X, formerly known as Twitter, Robinson is the first player in history to have 55+ offensive rebounds and less than 18 turnovers through the first nine games of a season.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks Updates
In nine games, Robinson has turned the ball over only three times. While he doesn’t have the ball in his hands often, that is a truly impressive number.
In addition to not turning the ball over, Robinson has drastically improved when it comes to committing fouls. He is averaging only 2.2 per game, which would be a career-low, despite playing a career-high 29.2 minutes per game.
This would be the first time in Robinson’s career, should those numbers hold, that he averaged fewer than three fouls per 36 minutes. Getting in the best shape of his career and being a student of the game, learning the nuances and using his strength and length to his advantage, are culminating in a special season for the Louisiana native.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks Updates
Robinson is an integral part of Tom Thibodeau’s game plan on both sides of the ball. Crashing the offensive glass leads to multiple chances to score on offense and he remains an intimidating presence on the defensive end. What he was able to accomplish against San Antonio Spurs rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama was very impressive.
Fans and the NBA media are beginning to take notice of the work Robinson is putting in. If he keeps up this pace, he is going to be receiving some hardware and recognition for his performance at the end of the season.
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