New York Knicks: 3 reasons Mitchell Robinson was a good pick

The New York Knicks selected Mitchell Robinson with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Here are three reasons that selection was a good one.

The New York Knicks had a chance to add to their young stable of talent in the 2018 NBA Draft. The selection of Kevin Knox with the No. 9 overall pick got fans excited. The high-upside forward from Kentucky had people buzzing. Their second round pick could provide even more of a steal than Knox did.

With the No. 36 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Knicks selected center Mitchell Robinson. Robinson’s path to the NBA was an unconventional one, as he did not play college basketball last season. That impacted his draft stock, but New York was happy to take advantage of his slide down the rankings.

Robinson committed to Western Kentucky, but never actually played there. He decided to not enroll in college to focus on his NBA future. It was a decision that ultimately cost him, as he slid into the second round.

Robinson signed a four-year, $6.4 million deal with a team option after the second and third seasons. Shortly after that, he fired his agent, Raymond Brothers, and decided to go with John Spencer. Spencer is also the agent for Lance Thomas, another member of the Knicks.

A big reason for the switch was how the pre-draft process was handled. Robinson trained intensively for the combine, but his representatives pulled him from the combine a day before it got underway. Robinson believed this was the wrong decision to make, and he was proven right given his draft night slide.

One team that was connected to Robinson was the Los Angeles Lakers, who were ready to select him with the 39th overall pick, according to the New York Post.

Robinson didn’t make it that far, as the Knicks landed him at No. 36. It was a great decision by the team, and here are three reasons why.