Knicks' Mitchell Robinson named to NBA's All-Rookie second team

Big man set franchise rookie records for total blocks in 2018-19

5/21/2019, 6:18 PM

Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson has been named to the NBA's second All-Rookie team.

Robinson's 2.4 blocks per game were the most for a rookie who played at least 35 games since Tim Duncan blocked 2.5 shots per game in 1997-98. He reached that per-game block number while playing 20.6 minutes per night.

"It feels great," he said, per the Knicks. "I was the 36th pick [in the 2018 NBA Draft]. My hard work paid off. The Knicks believe in me and have helped me become a better player."

The 21-year-old set franchise rookie records for total blocks (161) and blocks per game. He blocked at least two shots in 29 straight games -- longest streak for a Knicks rookie and second longest in NBA history for a rookie behind Manute Bol's 45 straight games. Robinson is the 21st Knick to be named to an All-Rookie team.

 

Robinson said his favorite moment from the season was his first double-double, which came against the Mavericks and DeAndre Jordan, who became his teammate later in the year following the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

"I remind him of that every day," Robinson said.

Robinson also led the NBA with 24 blocked 3-pointers, far exceeding expectations for the second round selection. He also averaged 6.4 rebounds per game. 

He shot 69.4 percent from the floor, mostly on shots close to the rim. Robinson has said he'll work on expanding his range this summer.

"I'm getting stronger and working on my threes," he said.

Fellow Knicks rookies Kevin Knox (22 second-place votes) and Allonzo Trier (10 second-place votes) also received votes in the tally.

Brooklyn's Rodions Kurucs received 10 second-place votes.

Teams were selected by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

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