Detroit Pistons: 3 goals for Glenn Robinson III in 2018-19
By Amaar Burton
2. Prove he’s a complete basketball player, not just an athlete
Heading into his fifth season, Robinson is best known for winning the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend 2017.
One of the go-to excuses that NBA stars have used to decline the dunk contest is that they don’t want to be labeled as “just a dunker.” It may be a cop-out, but there is a bit of truth to it. Robinson’s dunk contest victory did put him on the mainstream map for something other than being the son of former NBA standout Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson, but it also puts him in position to only be remembered for dunking and jumping if he doesn’t carve out a notable NBA career.
At 24 years old and still scratching the surface of his skill-set, Robinson has a lot of potential and room to grow. At the same time, he’s in the danger zone of becoming another Jeremy Evans, Kenny “Sky” Walker or Harold Miner — former dunk contest winners who came and went without making a mark beyond their above-the-rim exploits.
Robinson’s standout skill unrelated to dunking is his 3-point shooting. He made 39.2 percent of his 3-point attempts in 2016-17, and 41.2 percent of his tries in limited action last season.
Glenn Robinson III has shot 47 percent (44/92) on corner threes in the last two years - he keeps that up he'll contribute just fine next to the Pistons' primary creators
— Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) July 2, 2018
With first-year Pistons head coach Dwane Casey placing an emphasis on outside shooting, Robinson can find a role in Detroit as a “3-and-D” player who just happens to be able to dunk on your head.
Beyond shooting and defense, the next step for Robinson is to show that he can be a playmaker and shot creator. The Pistons don’t have a lot of known playmakers on the current roster, so it would be a welcome trait if Robinson brings that to the table.