Detroit Pistons: 3 reasons Glenn Robinson III is a good addition
By Amaar Burton
3. Robinson will be a fan favorite
In addition to more victories on the court, something the Pistons need badly is an injection of excitement and fan support.
Conventional sports wisdom says that the opening of a new arena or stadium is enough to stimulate a bump in fan interest. But in the Pistons’ first season at the brand-new Little Caesars Arena in 2017-18, the team ranked near the bottom of the league in home attendance.
Perhaps that was part of management’s decision to pull off a midseason blockbuster trade for Blake Griffin, an All-Star performer who is also popular with mainstream media and casual sports fans.
Robinson, like Griffin, is a former NBA Slam Dunk contest champion. Robinson won the contest in 2017. He is an athletic 24-year-old who will create highlights above the rim.
Plus, Robinson is familiar to the local fanbase. While he grew up in Indiana — he is the son of former NBA player Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson — Glenn III went to college in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and helped the Wolverines to the 2013 national championship game.
The Pistons couldn’t afford to bring in a superstar free agent, but in Robinson they’ve added someone who can potentially help the franchise win back some of its disgruntled fan base.