NY Knicks: 3 X-factors that will help team reach full potential

NY Knicks X-Factor No. 2) Mitchell Robinson

Since entering the league back in 2018, Mitchell Robinson has captivated both fans and the franchise alike with his unbelievable defensive chops, thunderous dunks off of lobs, and untapped athleticism.

Now, heading into 2021-22, he has to prove that he can stay on the court for a full campaign, both for the team’s sake as well as his own.

Rather than extending him this offseason, the NY Knicks opted to pick up the fourth year of Robinson’s rookie contract and, instead, go with the “wait and see” approach before shelling out a sizeable pay-day to the 23-year-old.

A smart move from an overall risk perspective, as the big man has seemingly dealt with injury after injury throughout his three-year stint in the NBA, but declining the option to extend him this offseason could be perceived as risky itself, for it sets him up for unrestricted free agency next offseason and, should he ball out, his market value could skyrocket.

For those of you who are familiar with his game, this is a realistic fear for, when healthy, he has only proven to impact the team in a highly positive manner.

For his career, per 100 possessions the tantalizing center finds himself putting up averages of 17.9 points, 14.9 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks per game on a whopping 70.5 percent shooting from the floor while also holding an offensive rating of 140 and a defensive rating of 106.

He may not be that highly-coveted stretch-five that teams long for in the modern-day game, but it’s undeniable that, when healthy, Mitchell Robinson is one of the more menacing forces to deal with down low.

If he can remain on the court, the big man will undoubtedly prove to have one of the most positive impacts on this team.