New York Knicks: 5 players for Mitchell Robinson to study during suspended play

DeAndre Jordan

When the New York Knicks acquired DeAndre Jordan from the Dallas Mavericks, the excitement was uncharacteristically agreed upon. Jordan carved out a more than serviceable career, receiving three All-NBA nods and two All-Defense selections.

Jordan ultimately signed with the Brooklyn Nets in free agency, but that doesn’t mean he’s any less valid as a player whom Mitchell Robinson should study.

Jordan and Robinson are eerily similar players, dating back to the fact that Jordan was a second-round draft pick himself. On the court, the former Texas A&M Aggies standout utilizes his long arms and explosive leaping ability to contest any shot that comes his way—much like Robinson.

There was even a time when he was a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, as well as one of the most intimidating interior presences in the Association—much as Robinson aspires to be.

Seriously: Study Jordan.

Jordan never developed into the most fundamentally sound offensive player, but his defense provides a strong baseline for Robinson’s own. He transitioned from an aggressive shot-blocker into a more methodical shot-preventer, and has long helped teams contend because of it.

The hope is that Robinson can become a superior offensive player, but the NBA was supposed to have passed players like Jordan by.

Figuring out how it is that he made it to Year 12 wouldn’t be a bad idea.