Duncan Robinson is even better than you think

Until this season, Duncan Robinson was known — if he was known at all — for borrowing two names from the greatest San Antonio Spurs in that franchise’s history.

He wasn’t a given to make the Miami Heat roster this season, not shooting especially well in summer league, where he was the Heat’s third most effective player behind rookies Tyler Herro and undrafted Kendrick Nunn.

Then, after he made the team, many of us — raising hand — weren’t sure he should be a rotation player.

Now, though?

He’s a starting fixture.

He’s making a habit of sinking four three pointers… by halftime.

Duncan Robinson wasn’t aware of Chalmers’ 3pt record but admitted to wanting to hit 10 of them @5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/qQM26gyDwX

— alex toledo (@tropicalblanket) November 21, 2019

Duncan Robinson talks about having wanted to reach double digit threes @5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/CuYyVS6ETP

— alex toledo (@tropicalblanket) December 11, 2019

He’s the Heat’s toughest cover, without whom their offense stalls and sputters.

He’s a Most Improved Player candidate, in competition with his teammate Bam Adebayo, who has come further, but not from as far away.

Spo goes over Duncan Robinson’s Most Improved case: “If you polled players about Duncan Robinson coming into training camp, I would say probably 70% of the league didn’t know who he was.”@5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/81XEcUpl79

— alex toledo (@tropicalblanket) March 5, 2020

He’s the hottest shooter in the world.

That includes the recently returned Steph Curry. With Klay Thompson missing the season due to injury, Robinson has become the NBA’s closest facsimile, a sniper with size who is dangerous out to 30 feet.

Even with an odd bruise on his neck.

Here’s @D_Bo20 denying any rumors about a hickey on his neck. It’s on Wes Matthews @5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/cdsrGcMe6D

— alex toledo (@tropicalblanket) March 5, 2020

Simon Smith of Hoop Habit recently appeared on our Five on the Floor podcast from his native Australia, and provided some Robinson statistical nuggets.

But he’s been spitting out more of late.

And they’re… ridiculous…

Duncan Robinson has nailed 105 3-pointers in 32 games this season.

The only other player to achieve this while converting at a 46%+ clip, per @bball_ref:

▫️Ray Allen (111)#HEATTwitter

— Simon Smith (@SimonSperling) December 29, 2019

Games of 3+ 3-pointers through the first 69 games of a career, per @bball_ref:

▫️30 – Damian Lillard
▫️31 – Donovan Mitchell
▫️32 – Luka Doncic
▫️33 –
▫️34 –
▫️35 –
▫️36 –
▫️37 –
▫️38 –
▫️39 –
🔥40 – DUNCAN ROBINSON #HEATTwitter pic.twitter.com/La0aQLPG19

— Simon Smith (@SimonSperling) February 19, 2020

Most games of 6+ 3-pointers through the first 66 games of career, per @bball_ref:

▫️3 – 8x players
▫️4 – Danilo Gallinari
▫️5 –
▫️6 –
▫️7 –
🔥8 – DUNCAN ROBINSON #HEATTwitter pic.twitter.com/zVUBB5u7ub

— Simon Smith (@SimonSperling) February 8, 2020

It’s gotten to the point where the Heat struggle without him…

Since Jan. 5, 54 players have played 15+ games & 32+ minutes per game.

Leaders in net rating, per @nbastats:

▫️Rudy Gobert – 12.3
▫️LeBron James – 10.8
▫️Jayson Tatum – 9.8
🔥DUNCAN ROBINSON – 9.7
▫️Kyle Lowry – 8.7#HEATTwitter pic.twitter.com/G6cyNDhoEU

— Simon Smith (@SimonSperling) February 17, 2020

Duncan Robinson became the 1st player in NBA history to nail 7+ 3-pointers in 3 consecutive games while hitting at a 57%+ clip from 3 in each game, per @bball_ref.

pic.twitter.com/EG3m71puJ3

— Simon Smith (@SimonSperling) March 9, 2020

And even the defense is better than you think, in spite of this…

Latest bullshit Duncan Robinson foul call.#HeatTwitter pic.twitter.com/8U2Ov9hIVp

— Simon Smith (@SimonSperling) March 7, 2020

Since Feb. 28, 94 players have played 30+ minutes per game.

Leaders in defensive rating, per @nbastats:

▫️89.3: Giannis Antetokounmpo
▫️96.8: LeBron James
🔥97.7: DUNCAN ROBINSON #HEATTwitter

pic.twitter.com/VXQlUHg4sP

— Simon Smith (@SimonSperling) March 10, 2020