Chicago Bulls: Is Nate Robinson Worth a Multi-Year Contract?

“God blessed me with a lot of heart and no height and I’ll take that any day.”

Nate Robinson, out of breath with stitches clearly visible in his swollen lip, delivered one of many memorable quotes from the Chicago Bulls’ 2012-13 season. But this one also embodied the spirit of the team, explained why the Bulls have continued to shock people and demonstrated the exact reason Chicago needs to re-sign this remarkably undersized warrior to a multi-year deal.

After leaving Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals following a dive for a loose ball that ended with LeBron James on top of him, Nate Robinson returned with 10 stitches in his lip and led the Chicago Bulls to a stunning 93-86 road victory over the Miami Heat. Robinson dropped 11 points and six assists in the fourth quarter, making him the only player in the last 15 NBA seasons to do so in a playoff game. He finished with 27 points and nine assists in a heroic performance that immediately enlightened people with one clear fact: The Bulls don’t back down from anybody. No matter how tall the odds are, Nate Robinson and company aren’t intimidated by those heights.

It’s astounding how far Nate Robinson has come this season, especially when you consider the Bulls signed him to a one-year deal worth a measly $854,389 last July. He’s had some brilliant games before, sure. Like his Game 6 performance in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals where he helped the Boston Celtics clinch the series with 13 points in the second quarter. And who could forget the undeniably enjoyable moment he and Glen Davis provided in the Finals that same year? Or the evident chemistry he brought to the team with his humor and heart?

That’s basically what Nate Robinson has brought to the Chicago Bulls, only magnified by 50. Derrick Rose‘s extreme patience in returning to the court and Kirk Hinrich‘s recent injury have given Robinson more minutes and increased responsibility. And in that time, he’s transformed from a hot-or-cold role player into a vital offensive weapon that represents everything the 2013 Bulls are: heart, grit, determination and an underdog mindset. Yes, he’s still streaky at times on the offensive end and his defense leaves a lot to be desired, but Chicago absolutely needs to consider re-signing this guy after everything he’s given in the last month. Unlike his short-lived stints with the Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, Robinson not only fits in with the team mentality, but he also finally has the chance to breakthrough as something more than just another entertaining, short-lived role player.

Something has to be said about the environment and team chemistry in Chicago that starts with coach Tom Thibodeau’s approach. Robinson said it himself: The unity, chemistry and resolve of this Bulls team is unlike any team he’s ever played on. No matter who’s in or who’s on the sidelines, Thibs has always stood by the idea that his team has enough to win games. And though anyone could see the look of disdain on Thibodeau’s face during the regular season when Robinson would take a bad shot or make a silly turnover off the bench, slowly but surely two contradicting styles have come to mesh into something special that fits within the team’s genetic makeup. Thibs’ straight-forward, grind-it-out approach and Robinson’s eccentric, sometimes reckless playing style have merged into a first-round playoff victory over a more talented Brooklyn Nets team and a Game 1 stunner over the team everyone’s picking to win it all.

Robinson’s head has been stepped on. He had LeBron James sit on him. He got absolutely nailed by a pick from Gerald Wallace in Game 4. But each time, Chicago’s little warrior has gotten back up and risen to the occasion. When Wallace stepped on his head, Robinson kept going in a pivotal Game 7. When LeBron accidentally sent him to the locker room for stitches, Robinson returned and helped the Bulls finish the game on a 10-0 run. And when he was absolutely leveled by Wallace’s screen, Robinson took it personally and dropped 34 points in a triple-overtime win that included a personal 12-0 run and the second-highest point total in the fourth quarter of a playoff game (23) for the Chicago Bulls since Michael Jordan (24). Pretty inspirational stuff from a guy who’s listed as 5’9″.

Robinson’s role next season will probably be much more limited–with a healthy D-Rose and Hinrich–if Chicago re-signs him. The Bulls obviously need Rose’s offensive skill set and they need Hinrich in games as a defensive stopper. So there’s a chance they don’t re-sign him and Robinson continues his NBA career as a flashy, amusing entertainer with no real substance. There’s also no guarantee Chicago’s Game 1 victory over the Heat was nothing more than a punch in the gut that will wake up a sleeping beast. But even if the Heat rattle off four wins, you can be guaranteed the Bulls are going to make them scrap and fight for every inch of it and Chicago’s third-string point guard will be a huge part of that. If you’ve seen the Chicago Bulls play in the postseason, it would feel like nothing short of injustice for Chicago to not make just a little bit of room for him. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching Nate Robinson in the 2013 playoffs, it’s this: Heart always has a chance to trump height, no matter how tall the odds are.