Duncan Robinson has earned himself the right to be called the NBA’s most improbable player.
An absolute sniper of a shooter from deep, Robinson started his career off at a small Division III college before being invited to join John Beilein’s Michigan team. He then went undrafted, where Pat Riley and the Miami Heat quickly scooped him up.
Duncan Robinson- College Career
Robinson’s college career was full of wild ups and downs. He spent his freshman year playing basketball at Williams College, a Division III team. As the lone freshman starter on the team, Robinson led Williams all the way to the 2014 NCAA Men’s Division III championship game. During the summer, many colleges were interested in Robinson, but he ended up transferring to Michigan. His three years with the Wolverines were somewhat up and down. He started his sophomore year, only to spend most of his junior year on the bench. Robinson started again at the beginning of his senior year, only to get benched later in the season. Over those three years, Robinson averaged 9.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.5% from the field, and 41.9% from three-point territory.
Duncan Robinson’s Unlikely Path to the NBA
Despite how good of a 3-point shooter Robinson was, he went undrafted during the 2018 NBA draft. He did, however, sign a Summer League contract with the Heat. Following a strong performance, the Heat then signed Robinson to a two-way contract. During the 2018-2019 season, Robinson played 33 games with the G-League Sioux Falls Skyforce. During that G-League stint, Robinson averaged 21.4 points , while shooting a blistering 48% from long distance. Robinson even averaged 4.2 rebounds per game, which is a number he can’t reach in the NBA. Robinson also suited up 15 times for the Heat that year, though he logged just 3.3 points in 10.7 minutes per game. Few people predicted what a huge leap he would take the following year.
Duncan Robinson moved into a starting role for the Heat in the 2019-2020 season, thanks in large part to injuries to Jimmy Butler and other key players. Robinson quickly proved himself NBA-ready, averaging 13.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. His breakout moment came in a December game against the Atlanta Hawks, when Robinson sank 10 3-pointers. He ended the night with a career-high, 34 points. Whether Robinson wins a 3 Point Contest or an NBA Finals, nothing will void out the fact that he had an unlikely path to the NBA.