Denver Nuggets: 5 options for pick No. 14 in 2018 NBA Draft
By Ty Delbridge
5. Mitchell Robinson
- Height: 6’11″
- Weight: 215 lbs
- Age: 20
- Position: C
Mitchell Robinson was a five-star recruit coming out of high school but decided to skip college and focus on training for the NBA. He is one of the most physically impressive players in the draft this season. He has good size, length and athleticism.
According to MaxPreps, in 66 games played in high school, Robinson averaged 22.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 6.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game.
The Nuggets do not physically have a guy quite like Robinson on their team. They have good frontcourt players in Jokic, Millsap and Plumlee. The Nuggets could draft Robinson and let him develop his skill and learn the NBA game. Once he is ready to contribute, the Nuggets could move on from Plumlee and Millsap. Jokic would thrive playing next to a guy like Robinson.
He is the type of big teams look for nowadays in the NBA, as a guy who blocks shots, runs the floor and catches lobs. He has a long way to go in his basketball skill, but his physical tools and potential will be enough for a team to take a chance on him. The Ringer labeled Robinson as “A wild-card big-man prospect who will wow with his athleticism, but questions loom about his true skill.”
The Ringer compared Robinson to Hassan Whiteside and Willie Cauley-Stein. Both those guys came into the draft with excellent physical tools, but had to work on their overall basketball talent, similar to Robinson’s path now. If he can be a 2017 Whiteside type player, Nuggets fan should be excited.