New York Knicks 2021-22 Final Report Card: Centers
Mitchell Robinson is one of just four players in league history to block more than 450 shots and shoot above 55% over the first 230 games of his career.
Having already handed out grades for the New York Knicks' guards and forwards based on their performance this past season, I wrap up this series today with a look at the team's big men.
Mitchell Robinson:
Mitch Rob's four years in New York have been a roller coaster. As I wrote previously, he has excited, disappointed and ultimately confounded fans (and the front office) since being drafted by the Knickerbockers in the second round of the 2018 draft.
As a rookie, Robinson led all first-year pros in blocks and FG percentage (69.4%) in just 20.6 minutes per contest. His 2.4 BPG ranked second in the NBA, marking the highest finish by a rookie since Shaquille O'Neal in 1992-93. Based on advanced metrics, Robinson's performance was even more impressive. He led all rookies in PER and Win Shares, ahead of Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic and Trae Young, who finished second, third and fifth, respectively.
The following season, Robinson converted 74.2% of his field goal attempts, setting the all-time NBA record for the highest single-season FG percentage ever, passing Wilt Chamberlain. It looked like Mitch was budding into a legit star. However, he took a step back in 2020-21. Not only was he often unavailable (appearing in just 31 games due to a broken right hand and fractured right foot), he was disappointingly inconsistent when he did suit up, averaging career-lows in points and rebounds per-36 minutes.
The hope was that Robinson would bounce back in a big way this past season. But he got off to a slow start in 2021-22, primarily due to not being in game shape when he arrived at training camp. His lack of conditioning limited his effectiveness early on. Yet, Mitch hit his stride after the calendar flipped to the new year. Over a 15-game stretch from early January through early February, Robinson averaged 11.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 1.6 blocks while shooting 79.8% (!!) from the floor in 27.2 minutes per contest. In a loss at Phoenix in early April, he became the first player since the NBA began recording blocks/steals in 1973-74 to record 15+ points, 15+ rebounds, 3+ steals, 2+ blocks and make all of his FGA in a game. And although Mitch sprinkled in some clunkers late in the year, he finished the season having appeared in 72 games despite missing the final three contests due to a non-Covid illness.
On the flip side of the coin, Robinson's regression at the free-throw line is a major red flag. After shooting 60% from the charity stripe as a rookie (including converting over 68% of his FT attempts over the second half of his debut season), Robinson has inexcusably shot below 50% in each of the past two seasons, including a career-low 48.6% this year. That's unacceptable for any player, especially one who has often stated he wants to expand his range out to the three-point arc. It remains startling to see him stand flat-footed at the line and put no arc on the ball.
Looking at his first four years in New York as a whole, Robinson is one of just four players in league history to block more than 450 shots and shoot above 55% over the first 230 games of his career. The other three players in this club are Rudy Gobert, Shaq and Hassan Whiteside. That seems apropos, considering Mitch Rob can dominate the paint like Gobert one night and then do his best Whiteside impression by playing with no heart and minimal effort the next night.
Robinson will become an unrestricted free agent in July. Of all the critical decisions the Knicks have to make over the next few months, figuring out whether or not to bring back Mitch is one of the most pressing issues facing the front office. Personally, I think it will all come down to the price point. If another team is willing to make a substantial offer (north of $50 million over four seasons?), I think the Knicks will let him walk. If Robinson is willing to return for a more reasonable contract, I think Leon Rose and company would welcome him back.
Grade: C+
Jericho Sims:
Because the Knicks selected Sims with the 58th overall pick in the 2021 draft, very little was expected from the big man from Florida. Rarely does the second-to-last pick in a draft make an impact, especially as a rookie signed to a two-way contract. This was especially true considering the Knicks entered the season carrying plenty of depth at center, with Robinson, Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson competing for playing time.
However, following the All-Star break, the New York coaching staff made a concerted effort to incorporate Sims into the rotation. And the youngster responded by holding his own.
Over the Knicks' final 22 games of the season, Sims averaged 6.3 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 72% from the floor in 19 minutes a night. He was one of only five players to average more than six boards in less than 20 minutes of action over the second half of the season. Among all rookies, he ranked first in FG%, first in plus/minus rating, and fifth in boards (behind Josh Giddey, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes and Alperen Sengun).
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