NBA Draft: Luka Doncic rises to first in 2018 NBA Redraft

The New York Knicks did end up drafting a top 10 player in the 2018 NBA Draft, but it was with the 36th pick and not the ninth. Mitchell Robinson turned flashes as a rookie into consistent high-level play from the center position of the past two seasons, giving the Knicks a reliable option at the 5 who provides elite-level shot-blocking.

Robinson is a pogo stick on defense, leaping from anywhere near the basket to swat away opponents’ shots, then let them know about it. As a rookie he ranked second in the league in blocks per game (4th in total blocks) and in 2019-20, his second season, he was 7th in blocks per game and 6th in total blocks.

While he hasn’t played enough games to qualify, his career block percentage of eight percent (he has blocked eight percent of all opponent 2-point shots since coming into the league as a second-rounder) would be the highest of all time, above the great shot-blockers of yore such as Shawn Bradley, Theo Ratliff, Mark Eaton, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo.

Robinson is not an offensive hub, but his athleticism means he is a great lob threat and dangerous as the roll man. He led the league in field goal percentage in 2019-20. He is much less dangerous from the stripe, hitting just 56.8 percent of his career free-throw attempts. He’s an excellent offensive rebounder and overall cleans the glass well on both ends.

No team is building a team around Robinson, but he is a great center to slot into any lineup given his rim protection and vertical spacing. In our redraft, the Phoenix Suns did not go for a center with the top pick, which means they circle back here and take Robinson to give Luka Doncic a lethal dive partner.