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New York Knicks: Who stepped up in 2018 Summer League finale?

By Maxwell Ogden

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Mitchell Robinson #26 of the New York Knicks and Cliff Alexander #45 of the New Orleans Pelicans reach for the opening tip-off during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Mitchell Robinson #26 of the New York Knicks and Cliff Alexander #45 of the New Orleans Pelicans reach for the opening tip-off during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 28: McDonald’s High School All-American center Mitchell Robinson (22) gives interviews to the media during the McDonald’s All-American Games Media Day on March 28, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 28: McDonald’s High School All-American center Mitchell Robinson (22) gives interviews to the media during the McDonald’s All-American Games Media Day on March 28, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Mitchell Robinson

New York Knicks fans wrote rave reviews about Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina following the first few games at Summer League. The player who has been most consistently impressive, however, is 2018 second-round draft pick Mitchell Robinson.

Robinson will need to address his inconsistencies on both ends of the floor, but he has a stake to the claim of being the Knicks’ MVP at Summer League.

Robinson closed out Summer League with yet another double-double, tallying 14 points and 12 rebounds in just 19 minutes. That includes seven offensive rebounds, which is closer to the norm than an awe-inspiring anomaly.

Robinson also produced five blocks and one steal on the defensive end of the floor, and shot an efficient 7-of-13 from the field with a strong +/- of +9.

Robinson will need to prove that he can do this against NBA-caliber centers, but he’s made it clear that there’s elite potential to explore. He’s an explosive athlete with tremendous length, but he’s also a tremendous finisher around the rim and a defender who covers obscene ground.

Enes Kanter is still penciled in as the starting center, but Robinson has positioned himself to make a serious run at winning the job as soon as the 2018-19 season.

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