When the mainstream claims a player has a breakout season, it’s usually due to an increase in a player’s minutes per game which inflates his per game stats (see Eddy Curry’s 2007 season). Nate Robinson did see an increase in his minutes and had career highs in just about every per game stat. However his per minute stats verify that 2009 was a career year. The Knicks’ guard had career bests in per minute points, assists, rebounds, steals, fouls, and free throw attempts.
Year | G | FGA | FG% | 3PA | 3P% | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | TOV | PF | PTS |
2006 | 72 | 13.2 | .407 | 3.4 | .397 | 4.7 | .752 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 15.6 |
2007 | 64 | 13.9 | .434 | 5.7 | .390 | 3.7 | .777 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 17.1 |
2008 | 72 | 15.0 | .423 | 5.6 | .332 | 3.7 | .786 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 17.5 |
2009 | 74 | 16.8 | .437 | 6.3 | .326 | 4.8 | .841 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 20.7 |
Robinson has regressed from behind the arc posting his lowest seasonal percentage (32.6% 3p%), mostly due a stretch when he seemingly couldn’t buy a bucket. In December and January, Robinson was 37-175 (27.4%) from downtown. However his overall efficiency overcame this deficit with his ability to get to and convert from the line. In D’Antoni’s offense Robinson seemingly has carte blanche to go to the hoop, and he does with vigor. According to 82games, Robinson shot 59.6% eFG from “close”. Watching him, it’s amazing that the diminutive guard is able to score from inside so frequently and efficiently even with contact.
On the court Robinson has matured a little bit. His propensity to commit meaningless fouls has decreased, and D’Antoni keeps him from arguing with officials. Nate still has his eccentric theatrics, for example this season’s on the court Will Ferrell man-crush. It’s commonly thought that Robinson’s other big deficiency is his height. However teams didn’t exploit Robinson in this manner, as I rarely saw other guards post him up. Instead his true Achilles’ heel was revealed as he saw increased minutes this year: defending the pick and roll. Robinson goes under screens at a Jamal Crawford-esque rate, and frequently switches at ill opportune moments. At one point in the season Mike D’Antoni was visibly furious with Nate mid-game for his lack of effort on the defensive end. That Nate is unable to defend the pick and roll in a more physical manner is mind boggling, considering his football background.
Still all-in-all Nate was one of the more productive Knicks in 2009, and is worthy of a contract extension. His potent scoring is an asset alone, but Robinson contributes with passing, steals, and rebounds as well. He’ll probably always be a sixth man, partially due to his ability to create offense on his own with second team players. But it’s more likely that Nate will continue to come off the bench during his NBA career because of his lack of defense.
Report Card (5 point scale):
Offense: 5
Defense: 2
Teamwork: 2
Rootability: 4
Performance/Expectations: 5
Grade: B+
Similarity Scores:
z-Sum | FLName | Year | Tm | PER | TS% | eFG% | PTS | ORB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV |
.000 | Nate Robinson | 2009 | NYK | 18.9 | .549 | .498 | 20.7 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 2.3 |
.052 | Eddie Johnson | 1980 | ATL | 18.0 | .538 | .489 | 20.1 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 2.6 |
.060 | Purvis Short | 1982 | GSW | 18.8 | .530 | .491 | 22.1 | 2.5 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
.062 | Michael Finley | 1998 | DAL | 19.3 | .522 | .477 | 18.7 | 1.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
.077 | Jason Terry | 2002 | ATL | 19.2 | .549 | .500 | 18.2 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 2.2 |
.090 | Brandon Roy | 2009 | POR | 24.0 | .573 | .512 | 21.9 | 1.3 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.9 |
.096 | Butch Carter | 1983 | IND | 14.9 | .549 | .513 | 17.8 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
.100 | Steve Smith | 1994 | MIA | 17.2 | .552 | .499 | 17.5 | 2.0 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 2.6 |
.102 | Jason Richardson | 2005 | GSW | 19.0 | .518 | .492 | 20.6 | 1.7 | 5.6 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
.104 | Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf | 1994 | DEN | 16.7 | .521 | .476 | 19.8 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 2.1 |
.109 | Andre Iguodala | 2008 | PHI | 19.0 | .543 | .495 | 18.1 | 0.9 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 2.4 |
.111 | Mike Glenn | 1980 | NYK | 16.6 | .557 | .519 | 19.8 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.7 |
Looking over Nate’s comparable players is a decent list of players. Some offensively focused and defensively challenged shooting guards like Finley, Terry, Smith, and Richardson. Interestingly, there is a lack of undersized guards, not a single player on this list is shorter than 6’1, and the average height is just over 6’4. Nate certainly plays like a taller player, especially with respect to his rebounding and scoring efficiency. Overall his list is impressive for a player that will spend his career coming off the bench.