Maybe it was a bit unexpected. But, at the same time, perhaps we should have seen it coming? Duncan Robinson signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat, the same team who signed Derrick Walton to a two-way deal last season, and will be an official member of an NBA roster for the start of the NBA season. Duncan won't rest on his laurels. When asked what his plans are now, he responded in a typical fashion, "I have my eyes set on doing whatever it takes to make it.” Exactly what we'd come to expect from him.
His Play:
To say Duncan has been a standout this summer would be an understatement. He opened the season shooting 58.8% from three-point range in his three games in Sacramento with an average just above 11 points per game, including a ferocious dunk against the Lakers in that mix. He continued his hot shooting in Las Vegas with a 54.4% average from deep and an improvement to a 12.75 points per game average. Those who watched his games this summer surely were impressed, but, even if you had not, these raw stats tell a similar story. One that Michigan fans probably could have told you anyways. Duncan is an outstanding long-range shooter, and with the current state of the NBA, if you can shoot, there's a spot for you.
Michigan fans were well-aware of Duncan's shooting prowess throughout his time with the Wolverines, but his shots are falling in the Summer League at an even higher rate than in his Michigan career. Duncan's first year 3P% at Michigan was easily his highest, shooting the ball at a 45% clip from downtown with the most minutes, field goal attempts, and, likely as a result, his highest points per game average in his career. His junior season, with the rise of D.J. Wilson playing a key role, he saw a decrease in minutes per game of almost nine, a substantial drop-off, but still shot the ball incredibly well at 42.4%. This past season was an improvement in minutes and points, but his three-point percentage hit a career low at "just" 38.4%. This is obviously still strong and considering he, to his own admission on Mark Titus' One Shining Podcast, was due for a drop-off in role with Isaiah Livers coming to Ann Arbor. But, according to Duncan, Livers just could not get the offense down-pat for the season's start and Robinson remained a key player in Michigan's run with his much talked about streak of the Wolverines going 29-0 when Duncan scored six or more points.
Of course, there is a jump that has to be made, even in Summer League play, from college to the professional game that not everyone can make. So what's made Duncan such a strong summer player?
Duncan's Game:
One of the things I love to harp on is something I've already covered in this post: the NBA will find you if you can shoot the ball. Duncan Robinson has shot the ball at an incredible rate this summer. Duncan is, altogether, 21-for-38 from deep and has done so in a variety of ways. Watching his highlights in what was his first breakout performance against the Lakers here gives you an idea of why he's looking so great. Duncan starts out by doing what he does best, catch-and-shoot threes in rhythm. Of his five threes, all three were catch-and-shoot, two in transition, two more in the half-court wide-open, and one very impressive quick release shot. Realistically, that's what Duncan could stick to doing if he'd like. Catch-and-shoot players are always valuable and if he can come off the bench in his time in the league as a two-way player and do something resembling that, the Heat will take even further notice of him.
Of course, as you'll notice in that video, he also created his own shot to the hole twice as well. That's an area that Duncan has done sneakily well but was really overlooked by his shooting at the collegiate level. It is surely not his bread-and-butter like his shooting is, but it is something in his arsenal and something he would like to develop along with his defending as he gets stronger and his body prepares for the upcoming professional season. Strong moves to the rim and hot shooting is how Nik Stauskas became an NBA Lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. If Duncan can continue to develop his overall game, he may have missed out on the lottery pick status the Canadian got coming out of Michigan, but he will make himself a nice chunk of change in the pros.
Final Thoughts:
Without doubt, everyone will be rooting Duncan Robinson on from Ann Arbor. It is a true success story and one that John Beilein will be able to point time-and-time again on the recruiting trail. For Beilein, it is the tale of how he found a kid from a D3 school and, with the tools in Ann Arbor like coach Jon Sanderson's strength and conditioning program, molded him into an NBA player. For Robinson, it is a tale of how Beilein found him and Duncan set his mind and body into motion, played within his abilities and developed those to an outstanding degree, and, in doing all that, thus developed himself into a player worthy of this NBA discussion. The Michigan graduate has started off his summer on the right foot and everyone around Michigan basketball will be eagerly watching his next steps on his journey in the pros.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
His Play:
To say Duncan has been a standout this summer would be an understatement. He opened the season shooting 58.8% from three-point range in his three games in Sacramento with an average just above 11 points per game, including a ferocious dunk against the Lakers in that mix. He continued his hot shooting in Las Vegas with a 54.4% average from deep and an improvement to a 12.75 points per game average. Those who watched his games this summer surely were impressed, but, even if you had not, these raw stats tell a similar story. One that Michigan fans probably could have told you anyways. Duncan is an outstanding long-range shooter, and with the current state of the NBA, if you can shoot, there's a spot for you.
Michigan fans were well-aware of Duncan's shooting prowess throughout his time with the Wolverines, but his shots are falling in the Summer League at an even higher rate than in his Michigan career. Duncan's first year 3P% at Michigan was easily his highest, shooting the ball at a 45% clip from downtown with the most minutes, field goal attempts, and, likely as a result, his highest points per game average in his career. His junior season, with the rise of D.J. Wilson playing a key role, he saw a decrease in minutes per game of almost nine, a substantial drop-off, but still shot the ball incredibly well at 42.4%. This past season was an improvement in minutes and points, but his three-point percentage hit a career low at "just" 38.4%. This is obviously still strong and considering he, to his own admission on Mark Titus' One Shining Podcast, was due for a drop-off in role with Isaiah Livers coming to Ann Arbor. But, according to Duncan, Livers just could not get the offense down-pat for the season's start and Robinson remained a key player in Michigan's run with his much talked about streak of the Wolverines going 29-0 when Duncan scored six or more points.
Of course, there is a jump that has to be made, even in Summer League play, from college to the professional game that not everyone can make. So what's made Duncan such a strong summer player?
Duncan's Game:
One of the things I love to harp on is something I've already covered in this post: the NBA will find you if you can shoot the ball. Duncan Robinson has shot the ball at an incredible rate this summer. Duncan is, altogether, 21-for-38 from deep and has done so in a variety of ways. Watching his highlights in what was his first breakout performance against the Lakers here gives you an idea of why he's looking so great. Duncan starts out by doing what he does best, catch-and-shoot threes in rhythm. Of his five threes, all three were catch-and-shoot, two in transition, two more in the half-court wide-open, and one very impressive quick release shot. Realistically, that's what Duncan could stick to doing if he'd like. Catch-and-shoot players are always valuable and if he can come off the bench in his time in the league as a two-way player and do something resembling that, the Heat will take even further notice of him.
Of course, as you'll notice in that video, he also created his own shot to the hole twice as well. That's an area that Duncan has done sneakily well but was really overlooked by his shooting at the collegiate level. It is surely not his bread-and-butter like his shooting is, but it is something in his arsenal and something he would like to develop along with his defending as he gets stronger and his body prepares for the upcoming professional season. Strong moves to the rim and hot shooting is how Nik Stauskas became an NBA Lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. If Duncan can continue to develop his overall game, he may have missed out on the lottery pick status the Canadian got coming out of Michigan, but he will make himself a nice chunk of change in the pros.
Final Thoughts:
Without doubt, everyone will be rooting Duncan Robinson on from Ann Arbor. It is a true success story and one that John Beilein will be able to point time-and-time again on the recruiting trail. For Beilein, it is the tale of how he found a kid from a D3 school and, with the tools in Ann Arbor like coach Jon Sanderson's strength and conditioning program, molded him into an NBA player. For Robinson, it is a tale of how Beilein found him and Duncan set his mind and body into motion, played within his abilities and developed those to an outstanding degree, and, in doing all that, thus developed himself into a player worthy of this NBA discussion. The Michigan graduate has started off his summer on the right foot and everyone around Michigan basketball will be eagerly watching his next steps on his journey in the pros.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
Source of Duncan Robinson direct quote: https://www.nba.com/heat/newsrecap/journey-begins-duncan-robinson
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