Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson is committed to expanding his offense

More spectacular: Aaron Judge besting Babe Ruth or Mitchell Robinson toppling Wilt Chamberlain?

“I’m gonna say my record,” Robinson responded.

The query and solution, in fact, have been mentioned in jest. Not all field-goal percentages are created equivalent.

When Robinson supplanted Chamberlain with the NBA’s very best single-season field-goal proportion, the Knicks heart handiest tried pictures throughout the paint. It was once like profitable the Masters whilst beginning each and every hollow at the inexperienced. His 74.2% conversion charge within the 2019-20 season (which pummeled Chamberlain’s mark from 1972-73) was once most commonly completed via an collection of dunks, showing easy and failsafe for a 7-footer with leap.

Now rewarded for those bodily items with a $60 million contract, Robinson is once more teasing a selection of his offensive repertoire. This time it’s extra life like. He needs to incorporate a post-up sport.

“I’m pretty sure everybody’s scouting report is just, catch a lob, this and that,” Robinson mentioned. “So you got to add. You got to.”

Robinson turns out to have after all deserted his public need to hoist 3-pointers. As a former Knicks assistant trainer as soon as advised me, “Why doesn’t he figure out how to hit free throws first?”

Asked Thursday whether or not he nonetheless harbors the ones 3-point goals, Robinson admitted, “I really just want to do crossovers, I ain’t gonna lie. I don’t want to shoot too much.

“But definitely I got to do something. It’s year 5. I go to do something.”

The ‘something’ is running with the ball and his again to the basket. Robinson had some alternatives within the first quarter of Tuesday’s preseason opener, together with a pump-fake pivot lay-up that was once referred to as again on account of his 3-second violation.

The play evolved after a defensive transfer left a smaller Bojan Bogdonavic to guard Robinson.

“My moves are solid,” Robinson mentioned. “I got a nice look.”

Still, the explanations Robinson signed his giant contract in the summertime stay with his base. He’s enforcing on the rim on each side of the courtroom.

Coach Tom Thibodeau referred to as Robinson ‘the best offensive rebounder in the NBA,’ which tracks with the statistics. The 24-year-old was once handiest in the back of Memphis’ Steven Adams in general offensive rebounds ultimate season.

Robinson credited that energy coaching — which now has him in his candy spot between 270 and 275 kilos — for his offensive rebounding prowess.

“People boxed me out and I couldn’t really do too much on the offensive glass. But now, I got a little weight, so it helps a lot,” Robinson mentioned.

We’ll see if that interprets definitely to different levels of his sport. Specifically within the publish.

“The athleticism is special, but I also think the strength component, when he added that piece to it – he can take a hit and get through that. He’s shown that,” Thibodeau mentioned. But I believe numerous different spaces of his sport have advanced additionally — the rim coverage, that section is glaring. I believe he’s beginning to develop now offensively.”