Although most felt the New York Knicks were taking a chance by drafting Mitchell Robinson, the second-round pick is paying early dividends.
On Tuesday, the New York Knicks announced that Mitchell Robinson had been named to the All-Rookie second team. Robinson went from an unknown on draft night to one of the most surprising rookies of the 2018 draft class.
Robinson’s box score numbers don’t exactly leap off the page. He only averaged 7.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. However, his 2.4 blocks per game led all rookies. Robinson, originally from Chalmette, Louisiana, recorded multiple blocks in 29 of New York’s final 30 games. He has Defensive Player of the Year potential if he continues to improve under head coach David Fizdale.
Robinson has the athleticism to become a consistent offensive player as well. Despite looking somewhat awkward on the offensive end, Robinson is a crafty finisher who just needs the ball near the rim. He can catch almost anything his teammates throw up near the hoop. If he can improve his footwork and his outside shot, the sky is the limit.
Robinson is joined on the second team by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Landry Shamet, Kevin Huerter, and Collin Sexton. Ironically enough, Robinson may have stolen a spot from his teammate, Kevin Knox.
Although Knox fell victim to inconsistency in his rookie campaign, he still looks like he will develop into a starter level NBA player, at the very least.
Should Knox and Robinson live up to their potential, the Knicks will have a strong young foundation for years to come. However, with free agency approaching and a possible Anthony Davis trade hanging over the offseason, it’s unclear what the future holds for Robinson and Knox.
