Jason Burgos
One notable NBA insider believes that New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has such a special set of skills that they could play a huge role in delivering the city its first NBA championship in over 50 years.
The Knicks are just hours away from doing something the franchise hasn’t done since 1999: Playing in the NBA Finals. However, unlike that trip 27 years ago, this group has been on a historic run of dominance over the last month. Crushing teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers in what seems like a path toward destiny.
However, despite how good New York has looked in these playoffs, they are underdogs to a San Antonio Spurs team that had the second-best record in the NBA this season, knocked off the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and has MVP finalist Victor Wembanyama.
However, the Spurs aren’t big favorites, and many in the game believe the Knicks have a very good chance of winning the series, including NBA coaches and scouts. You can also add NBA insider Zach Lowe to that list.
Can Mitchell Robinson swing NBA Finals in NY Knicks’ favor?
In a new edition of The Zach Lowe Show, the veteran NBA analyst explained that Mitchell Robinson’s elite offensive rebounding and lob catching could make Wembanyama — the Defensive Player of the Year — second-guess on that side of the ball. Can he be aggressive on blocks with Robinson lurking on the boards?
“There will be five shots a game where he doesn’t go for it because he’s scared of that guy of five shots he goes for, maybe doesn’t get, and that guy punishes him,” Lowe said. “Mitchell Robinson is the single best offensive rebounder in the entire NBA.”
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it might swing my pick,” The NBA insider said about the threat the center poses for rebounds, alley oops, and other offense that can come off of those actions. “It might swing the entire Finals, whether Mitchell Robinson can play and play effectively with this injury.”
Robinson suffered a broken right pinky finger days before the start of the NBA Finals. He has already had surgery and hopes to play in Game 1 of the series. Above, you can see him practicing with his hand wrapped up, and he seems to be handling the ball with comfort.
It seems like playing in Game 1 on Wednesday is very likely.
