Despite only being a second-round pick and having just turned 22 years old on April 1, Mitchell Robinson is the most advanced of the Knicks young players. The things he excels at, he performs at a high level. In the modern NBA, he is a good, young big man that can anchor the middle of the Knicks defense for many years.
There isn’t all that much to break down when it comes to Robinson’s offensive game. If the NBA season is indeed over, he would have set the NBA record for field goal percentage in a single season at .742, topping Wilt Chamberlain’s record (.727) from the 1972-1973 season.
There has also been discussion as to whether Robinson can ever start shooting outside of the paint. He only attempted two such shots last season, making one of them. He only took five shots all year outside of five feet from the rim, making three of them.
Robinson is a below average free throw shooter, making 60% of his free throws as a rookie and 57% in his second season. His form and touch, however, looks better than those percentages might indicate. The internet is littered with videos of Robinson shooting three point shots and looking smooth doing it.
While Robinson expanding his game wouldn’t be a bad thing, he should not make taking more shots farther away from the rim a goal of his. He is so adept around the basket, those attempts help the team more than an increase in 15-foot mid-range jump shots.
If Robinson can one day stretch the floor to create more driving room for players like RJ Barrett on plays he is not setting a screen for the ball-handler, it would help the offense. He should keep working on that aspect of his game to grow three-point range. Other teams are more likely to happily let him shoot mid-range shots than threes if he can hit three point shots at a league average rate.
Defensively, Robinson had an up-and-down second season. Early in the year, while David Fizdale was still head coach, it looked like he had failed to improve on his defensive discipline from the year before. He was still over-aggressive and committed too many fouls.
It improved once Mike Miller took over, and the team installed a more basic “drop” scheme, where the big man did not attack the pick-and-roll or switch it. Robinson was charged to hang back to protect the rim and guard the roller to the basket. He excelled at that simpler scheme with fewer responsibilities that kept him closer to the basket.
Robinson fell from 4.3 to 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes, but that was not necessarily indicative of a step-backwards in his rim protection ability. He blocked far fewer jump shots in his second year, partly due to Miller’s scheme. The reduction in blocked shots is actually a sign of a more disciplined defensive approach. Instead of chasing blocks he is playing his responsibilities, with defenders not eager to attack him in the paint.
In his rookie season, he would often get blocked shots by running hell-bent to shooters on close-outs to get blocked shots. He would occasionally get shots, but once opponents realized they could pump fake and either drive around him or draw a foul, it became less effective.
Robinson needs to continue to progress with his defensive discipline and sharpen up his decision making on that end of the floor. He showed progress in a more consistent scheme at the end of the season that was encouraging.
The other area on defense that Robinson can show more of is his ability to switch screen-and-rolls, especially at the end of shot clocks. He has the athleticism to sustain switches on opposing backcourt players, which could be a weapon one day if the Knicks ever make it into the playoffs, and opponents try to hunt mismatches.
There’s also an argument to be made that the team shouldn’t want Robinson switching screens, because it takes him away from the paint and his strength protecting the rim. It would be a valuable skill to have, however, against certain opponents in specific circumstances.
Robinson’s already very good at what he does well, especially defensively. He had the best Net Rating on the team at -2.9. The Knicks' points allowed per 100 possessions dropped by three points when he played versus when he didn’t. The team’s points scored per 100 possessions improved by three points when he played versus when he didn't.
When Robinson was not on the court this season, the Knicks were outscored by almost nine points per 100 possessions, the worst mark on the team after Marcus Morris. He helps the team win now and it will only get better as he improves.
The Knicks already have a good center with room to grow in Mitchell Robinson. With the right development, he could become an All-Defense player, and a potential All-Star at center. It is one position the team doesn’t need help at.