Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Robinson ready to shake off rust
For two seasons it has been drilled into Duncan Robinson by the Miami Heat: Hesitation and doubt will not be tolerated.
So even during a coronavirus pandemic that kept him away from the court for months, the confidence remains amid the team’s return to the practice facility at AmericanAirlines Arena.
“Obviously, a little rust,” the Heat’s secondyear player said, “but I don’t think that’ll be too much of a problem as I start to work back into it.”
For Robinson, basketball again is a work in progress, with the Heat in their second week of individual sessions.
“It’s definitely under unprecedented circumstances,” the 26-year-old forward said during an interview with WMUR-TV, an ABC affiliate in his native New Hampshire.
“It’s only one coach and one player at one basket. They’re trying to maintain social distancing. Coaches are wearing masks and gloves, so it’s very different, but at least we’re able to get back out there and try to work back into shape.”
It has been more than two months since Robinson and the Heat took the court, idle since a March 11 loss to the visiting Charlotte Hornets. Robinson shot 3 of 13 in that game, with each of the attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. That effort was an outlier in a season in which he stands at 44.8% on 3-pointers, having shot 9 of 12, 8 of 14 and 7 of 11 on 3s in his previous three appearances.
So, yes, the forward who went undrafted out of Michigan in 2018 would like there to be more.
“Obviously, I’d love to finish the season — I think we all would,” he said, although Commissioner Adam Silver has said such a decision might not come until next month.
“I think the next step is trying to figure out a way where it’s safe and practical. There’s a lot of challenges that lie ahead, but we have time, we have some flexibility.
“The league has said they’d be willing to wait until much later and then maybe postpone the [start of ] next season. So just kind of disappointed. We’re just waiting to see what executives and higher-ups ultimately decide.”
A starter in 60 of his 65 appearances, Robinson said the challenge has been to maintain focus.
“I mean, I would rather finish out this season,” he said. “You know, we had a good thing going. We’ve got a great group and would definitely like to see this season through.
“Obviously, it depends on if they can find a scenario where it’s safe. Health and safety of not only the players, but the staff and everybody that’s involved with putting on a game, it’s a priority.”
A year ago at this time, Robinson was weeks removed from having his two-way contract converted to a standard deal but with only minimal salary guarantees going forward, all the while working on the very same practice court with Yante Maten and Kendrick Nunn, the practice court that now is only available for solo sessions.
As then, Robinson said it remains a matter of rewarding the faith of Heat President Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra.
“I’m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities that this organization has given me,” he said. “I just try to make the most of every opportunity. And starting with the front office, Coach Riley and obviously Coach Spoelstra as well, they’ve given me an incredible opportunity and I’m just trying to make the most of it.
“We’ve had definitely an enjoyable year. It’s been a ton of fun playing with this group of guys. We all really get along. And we pride ourselves on playing the right way, so it’s been a fun year.
“That’s part of the reason why it’s so unfortunate that everything got put on pause. But hopefully we’ll be able to kind of finish what we started.”