Robinson is Heat’s new three-point leader: ‘I’m grateful’
To understand the significance of Duncan Robinson’s record-setting night for the Miami Heat, it’s important to remember where he came from.
Robinson, 28, started his college career at Division III Williams College before transferring to the University of Michigan. Then Robinson went undrafted in 2018 before signing a two-way contract with the Heat that summer.
And in Friday night’s 124-119 road loss to the Denver Nuggets to open a five-game West Coast trip, Robinson finished with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting from deep to become the new franchise leader for career threepointers made by a Heat player. Robinson has hit 807 threes in his Heat career, surpassing the previous record of 806 set by Tim Hardaway.
If somebody would have told Robinson while he was playing Division
III basketball that he would hold that record just five seasons into his NBA career, what would his reaction have been?
“Hell no. No, no, no,” Robinson said before the Heat continued its trip on Saturday against the Utah Jazz. “I would have thought you might be on something. Yeah, no I never would have imagined that. Stuff like that definitely helps put it all in perspective, so I’m grateful.”
Making it even more impressive is the fact that Robinson set the record in just 265 regular-season games, with Hardaway needing 367.
“I mean, it’s not nothing,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s pretty remarkable what he’s been able to do and how much he’s had to overcome with the different path to get to this point. I’m happy for him. And I know Timmy was happy for him. I just wish it could have led to a win.”
Robinson has seen his role with the Heat shrink from full-time starter last season to full-time reserve this season and he entered Saturday shooting just 34.4 percent from three-point range — his lowest percentage since his rookie year in 201819.
But Robinson’s record serves as a reminder of the elite outside shooter he is.
“He’s always been one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen. The best shooter I’ve ever seen besides myself,” Heat guard Tyler Herro said with a smile. “But ever since I’ve been here, he’s been a guy who comes in and works hard every single day no matter what the results were the night before. I think everything he’s gone through just to stay ready, I’m just happy for him with where he’s at now and obviously being able to break the record. That’s big-time.”
Robinson entered this season shooting 40.6 percent on threes in his first four NBA seasons and set a Heat record for threes made (270) in a single season in 2019-20.
Even with this season’s struggles, Robinson is still shooting 40.2 percent on 7.6 three-point attempts per game during his career. Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the only other two players in league history who have shot better than 40 percent from deep on seven or more three-point attempts per game in their careers.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to take a little time afterwards to reflect,” Robinson said. “I haven’t really taken too much time in the process of it. But yeah, I’m proud of the journey.
“A lot of people helped me along the way. A lot of people in this organization, a lot of teammates, a lot of people in my corner. It’s not just me, so I celebrate it with them, for sure.”
After passing Hardaway, Robinson is now in a class that includes Hall of Famers Reggie Miller, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Steve Nash as players who stand as franchise leaders for career three-pointers made.
“There have been some great players and great shooters to come through this organization and play here for a while,” Herro said. “So for him to do it in such a short period of time, it will be his record for a while I’m guessing now, until I come.”
That’s why Robinson doesn’t expect his new record to hold up for long. The 22-year-old Herro, who is just in his fourth NBA season, has made 491 threes during his career.
“Tyler is on my heels,” Robinson said. “I just told him that I got it for now, but you’re going to get it soon. I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.”
WHAT HAPPENED TO HEAT’S DEFENSE?
The Heat’s defense, which entered Saturday as a top-10 unit, struggled to stop the Nuggets’ highpowered offense in Friday’s loss.
Denver shot an ultraefficient 59.2 percent from the field and 17 of 28 (60.7 percent) from three-point range, and exploded in the fourth quarter for 39 points on 13-of-16 shooting from the field, 5-of-5 on threes and 8-of-10 from the foul line.
The Heat led by eight points with 9:09 to play.
INJURY UPDATE
Heat star Jimmy Butler missed Saturday’s game as part of the team’s injury management plan for his troublesome right knee. Miami has not played Butler in both games of any December back-to-back.
Anthony Chiang: 305-376-4991, @Anthony_Chiang