The New York Knicks appear to have found something in rookie center Mitchell Robinson. After just 45 professional games, it seems premature to anoint Robinson as one of the league's premier shot blockers, but the stats are not lying.
According to Kevin Pelton of ESPN, Robinson has already logged 17 blocked shots outside of the paint, which ranks him second in the league this season — behind only New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday who has 24.
Where things get interesting, however, is that Holiday is logging nearly three times the amount of minutes that Robinson is playing.
With Mitchell Robinson blocking multiple jumpers tonight, was compelled to use @SecondSpectrum tracking to see where he ranks. His 17 blocks outside the paint this season are tied for second in the NBA. Only Jrue Holiday (24) has more — in nearly three times as many minutes.
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) February 27, 2019
With the way things are trending, Mitchell Robinson may narrow that gap before the season is out. New York's rookie center has averaged just 18 minutes per contest this season, although he has recently come into the favor of head coach David Fizdale.
On the other side of the coin, Holiday is likely to have his minutes monitored down the stretch of the year/
The Knicks snagged Robinson in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, taking advantage of his tumbling draft stock. Having previously been set to enroll at Western Kentucky, Robinson ultimately decided not to go the collegiate route.
What Robinson has displayed in his time with the Knicks to this point is a defensive arsenal that is likely to only continue growing as he gains experience around his 7-foot-1 frame. He is serving a professional internship under the astute acumen of DeAndre Jordan, with the student potentially passing the teacher in the blocked shot department by the time the season is out.
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