NY Knicks: Mitchell Robinson among the NBA’s best in this category

Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mitchell Robinson of the NY Knicks (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

NY Knicks: Mitchell Robinson among NBA’s top rebounders

Mitchell Robinson has been a beast. A wrecking ball in the paint.

Rebounds are not a glory stat. They come from ugly, physical battles away from the ball. Mitchell Robinson is currently 6th in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game. 

He is 5th in the NBA in contested offensive rebounds.

This is a NY Knicks team that features a lineup of shooters. With the exception of the Julius Randle/Obi Toppin frontcourt lineups, most Knicks lineups have a similar level of floor spacing with multiple ball handlers in the backcourt, a stretch-4, and a scrappy center in the middle.

Mitch has embraced his role as the big man who does the ugly things that help the team win. He is a massive human, from his weight to his wingspan to his leaping ability, he is very difficult to match from a physical standpoint.

When I say his impact doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, that means the rebounds too.

Yes, he’s among the league leaders in offensive rebounds per game, but he is currently leading the entire league in box-outs per game. He led the league in that same category last season prior to being injured.

Robinson’s role as a bruiser in the paint is something you don’t realize you miss until it’s gone. Long gone are the days where people think Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson can have the same impact as Robinson, or that what he does on the court is easily replaceable.

It’s not the only area of the game where he has excelled thus far.