Mitchell Robinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mitchell Robinson

Robinson with the New York Knicks in 2018
No. 23 – [[New York Knicks|New York Knicks]]
Center
Personal information
Born	(1998-04-01) April 1, 1998 (age 27) Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
High school	Pine Forest (Pensacola, Florida) Chalmette (Chalmette, Louisiana)
Listed height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight	240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2018 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36th overall
Selected by the New York Knicks
Pro career	2018–present
League	NBA
Career history
2018–present	New York Knicks
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2019) McDonald's All-American (2017)

Mitchell Robinson III, born on April 1, 1998, is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a center for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Knicks chose him as the 36th player in the 2018 NBA draft.

Before joining the NBA, Mitchell made a big decision. He chose to train on his own for a whole year. This was instead of playing college basketball. He was the first player to do this.

High School Basketball Journey

Mitchell Robinson at the 2017 McDonald's All-American Game

Mitchell Robinson went to Pine Forest High School in Florida. He spent his first two years there. He also briefly moved to a school in New Orleans. Mitchell only started playing basketball in eighth grade. He had a big growth spurt then. He grew from 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) to 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)!

Before his junior year, he joined Chalmette High School. As a junior, he helped his team, the Owls, win their first state playoff game in 19 years. He averaged 20.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. He also blocked 8.1 shots per game. Mitchell earned many honors for his great play.

That summer, he joined a team called Nike Pro Skills. They played in the AAU league. Mitchell played against the best players in the country. He averaged 15.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game. His skills impressed everyone. He became a top-ranked player.

In his senior year at Chalmette, Mitchell continued to shine. He averaged 25.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots. He helped Chalmette win their first district championship in 21 years. They also reached the state semifinals for the first time in 32 years. Mitchell became the first player from Chalmette to be named a McDonald's All-American. This is a huge honor for high school players. He also played in other important games.

In the 2017 McDonald's All-American Boys Game, he scored 14 points. He also had three rebounds and two blocked shots. In the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic, he scored 15 points in just 17 minutes.

Mitchell first planned to play college basketball at Texas A&M. But then he decided to follow coach Rick Stansbury. He chose to go to Western Kentucky University instead.

Choosing His Own Path

In July 2017, Mitchell started at Western Kentucky University. He practiced with the team for about two weeks. Then, he decided to leave the campus. He was suspended for breaking team rules. After talking with his coach, he was allowed to transfer.

However, Mitchell made a big decision. On September 18, he announced he would skip college. He decided to train by himself for the 2018 NBA draft. This was a very unusual choice. He became the first player to prepare for the NBA draft this way. He did not play for any college or professional team that year. Even so, the NBA still listed him as coming from Western Kentucky.

Because of his short time in summer classes, he could not play in the NBA G League. This rule also affected other young players. Mitchell's decision even inspired another top player, Darius Bazley.

Mitchell was invited to the NBA Draft Combine. This is where players show their skills to NBA teams. But on the day of the event, Mitchell decided not to participate.

Professional Career with the Knicks

Joining the New York Knicks (2018–present)

On June 21, 2018, the New York Knicks picked Mitchell Robinson. He was the 36th player chosen in the 2018 NBA draft. After playing well for the Knicks in the Summer League, he signed a contract. He set new Summer League records for blocked shots. He also set records for offensive rebounds.

Mitchell made his NBA debut on October 17, 2018. He scored two points in a win against the Atlanta Hawks. On October 26, he started his first game. He had seven points and six rebounds. On November 2, Mitchell recorded his first "double-double." This means he had double-digit points and rebounds. He scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

On November 11, Mitchell set a new Knicks rookie record. He blocked nine shots in one game! On March 28, 2019, he had his best game of the season. He scored 19 points and grabbed 21 rebounds. He was the first Knicks rookie since 1965 to do this. Mitchell finished his first season second in the NBA in blocked shots per game. He was also named to the All-Rookie Second Team.

On December 17, 2019, Mitchell scored a career-high 22 points. He also had 13 rebounds in a win against the Hawks. On January 1, 2020, he scored 22 points again. He made all 11 of his shots! When the 2019–20 season ended, Mitchell broke a league record. He had the highest field goal percentage in a single season. He even beat a record set by the legendary Wilt Chamberlain.

On February 12, 2021, Mitchell broke his right hand during a game. He had to miss some time to recover.

On July 12, 2022, Mitchell signed a new contract with the Knicks. It was a four-year, $60 million deal. On November 30, he scored 15 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.

In September 2024, it was announced that Mitchell would miss the start of the new season. This was due to ankle surgery he had during the offseason.

Player Skills

Many experts call Mitchell Robinson "the best shot blocker in his class." He is very fast for a big player. His long arms help him block many shots. He is also great at running down the court quickly. This helps him score exciting alley-oop dunks.

Mitchell also improved his free throw shooting in high school. He even learned to shoot from behind the three-point line. Some NBA experts compare his playing style to DeAndre Jordan and Tyson Chandler.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2018–19	New York	66	19	20.6	.694	—	.600	6.4	.6	.8	2.4	7.3
2019–20	New York	61	7	23.2	.742	—	.568	7.0	.6	.9	2.0	9.7
2020–21	New York	31	29	27.5	.653	—	.491	8.1	.5	1.1	1.5	8.3
2021–22	New York	72	62	25.7	.761	—	.486	8.6	.5	.8	1.8	8.5
2022–23	New York	59	58	26.9	.671	—	.484	9.4	.9	.9	1.8	7.4
2023–24	New York	31	21	24.8	.575	—	.409	8.5	.6	1.2	1.1	5.6
Career		320	196	24.5	.701	—	.518	7.9	.6	.9	1.9	8.0

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Mitchell Robinson para niños