Not every team worth mentioning, though, has what the New York Knicks have, and that’s a Mitchell Robinson. The 27-year-old gives New York something that only one other team possesses — and that’s the Houston Rockets with Steven Adams — which is a center who can transform an offense without scoring a point.
Robinson is New York’s exclusive weapon. He’s no secret, though. Teams know how dominant he is on the offensive glass. His offensive rebounding is probably third on opposing teams’ scouting report, just under slowing down Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The veteran has won games with his ability to launch over opposing big men and be the one to grab the ball. The Knicks have won playoff series because of Robinson.
The latest example of how rare and ridiculous Robinson is came on Christmas Day, in a 126-124 comeback victory for New York over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Robinson entered the game with 7:43 left and the Knicks down by 13. By the 4:09 mark, New York was down by one. In between that time, Robinson had five offensive rebounds that led to a Knicks basket every time. One less board and the Knicks lose. One less second-chance opportunity and New York’s Christmas is spoiled.
Robinson didn’t score once in that span. Yet, he speared a Knicks comeback … on offense.
“Seeing it up close and personal like this,” New York coach Mike Brown said. “With a lot of guys, you see them from afar and think certain things about them like, ‘He’s this type of player or that type of player. He has this type of attitude, personality.’ But then you get around them and actually see how effective they are in certain areas, even when you don’t think they should be — at least not that effective — you’re just like, ‘Wow!’
“You just can’t teach that. You can talk about technique and playing hard and all the stuff you want, but there’s just some stuff that players have that you can’t teach. I wish I could say I was his rebounding coach, but I’m not.”
There’s a real possibility this is Robinson’s final year in New York, the place that drafted him eight years ago. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Another team may want to offer him more money or years than the cash-strapped Knicks can. It might not happen, but it is a possibility as things stand now.
New York, though, shouldn’t even consider moving on from Robinson this season. Not for a second. Even if the business of basketball suggests otherwise and the franchise is afraid to lose him for nothing. Even if executives and coaches hold their breathes every time the oft-injured big man jumps up for one of his spectacular offensive rebounds. Don’t do it. Roll the dice.
The Knicks’ goal is to win a championship, as soon as this season. Robinson gives them something that, again, really only one other team has. Robinson alone is an advantage every night. Robinson’s impact is so great that it’s worth seeing where this goes, even if New York has to pay for it seven months from now.
Offensively, the Knicks are the second best team in basketball. They’re efficient. They score a ton. They barely miss. When they do, Robinson is there to create another scoring opportunity. It’s a big reason why New York’s offense is as deadly as it has been this season.
Robinson doesn’t look to score for himself, though. His offensive rebounding is arguably the greatest generator of open 3s for New York. When he gets an offensive rebound over multiple defenders trying to box him out, and the rest scrambling, he finds an open teammate nearby almost every time he comes down with the ball.
“When Mitch does get it, he’s surrounded by two or three bodies and there should be someone open on the perimeter,” Jalen Brunson said. “Mitch has a great knack for, if he’s not close to the rim, getting his eyes up and kicking it out. It says a lot about him. He wants to win and will do whatever it takes. That’s just who he is as a person first and foremost. He’s very selfless, and it translates to the court.”
Robinson has been in New York through the terrible years. He’s barely been on the court at all in a few of those seasons because of injuries. He’s had a front-row seat for the transformation of Knicks basketball from laughingstock to legit NBA title contenders.
More importantly, though, he’s a huge reason why New York is in the position that it’s in. He brings something to the game that so very few can replicate. And, because of that, it gives the Knicks a unique quality that separates them from a lot of teams.
“I’ve been through this rollercoaster here for, what, eight years now?,” Robinson said. “As long as we win, that’s all that matters. I’m going to go out there, play hard and give it my all.”
Robinson should end the season a Knick.