Thomas Robinson aims to prove his worth with late-season increase in minutes

By Staff     Apr 3, 2017

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Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, left, reacts as Los Angeles Lakers forward Thomas Robinson, right, goes to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

As has been the case throughout his professional career, since leaving Kansas to become the fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft, Thomas Robinson has spent far more of this, his fifth, season in the NBA as a spectator than he would like.

The Los Angeles Lakers, among the worst teams in the league, are more committed to giving minutes to young players they have on long contracts, so Robinson, who will again become a free agent in July, has only played in 43 of his team’s 77 games.

However, an injury to rookie 7-footer Ivica Zubac, whom the Lakers drafted at the top of the second round in 2016, has meant a recent leap for Robinson’s minutes. And the 26-year-old power forward hasn’t let the opportunity go to waste.

The 6-foot-10 backup big man scored in double figures for the third straight game on Sunday, in L.A.’s victory over Memphis. Robinson told reporters afterward — as seen in a [1] — he’s thankful coach Luke Walton has given him more chances of late.

> “Now I can show all the aspects of my
> game,” Robinson said following a
> double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds)
> in 20 minutes, “and it took a minute,
> but it’s here.”

Following a string of three consecutive DNP’s, Robinson scored 12 points at Minnesota, 16 points in a road game versus the Los Angeles Clippers and, following a 5-for-9 shooting effort against the Grizzlies, has shot 18-for-33 (55%) from the floor with an increased role in his past three games.

Robinson, who’s averaging 4.7 points in 11.1 minutes on the season, said getting more than a cameo has allowed him to prove he’s not one-dimensional.

> “That I’m mobile. I’m not just a
> bruiser,” the former KU star said of
> what he has shown. “But with all due
> means I would take that definition and
> run with it for years. But I think
> there’s a little bit more to my game —
> not saying that’s what I want to be
> known as — just if you recognize it,
> respect it.”

Robinson spent much of his most recent strong showing grappling in the paint against veteran big body Zach Randolph.

> “I’ll battle with anybody. I love it,
> though. Z-Bo’s like an old head to
> me,” Robinson said. “I’ve been
> watchin’ his game for years and
> talkin’ to him throughout the years
> and he’s constantly tellin’ me to keep
> pushin’.”

The late-season surge for Robinson really began when he poured in 16 points in 10 minutes on March 21, in a blowout loss to the Clippers.

> “I don’t want to say I proved a
> point,” Robinson [told The Orange
> County Register][2] at the time. “But
> hopefully I showed I’m capable of
> performing at this level when I play.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brnVs6Ibovc

Currently suiting up for his sixth NBA franchise, Robinson told The Register the only thing he could do was prepare himself to perform.

> “That’s all part of being a pro.
> That’s my job description this year,”
> Robinson added. “It’s to be ready
> whenever my name is called. It’s
> probably not called when I want. But
> that’s my job description. So I have
> to come in here and do it.”

Walton, the Lakers’ first-year head coach, praised Robinson’s approach.

> “He’s been one of our hardest workers
> all year,” Walton said. “He made the
> team by how hard he worked.”

An NBA nomad, Robinson remains hopeful the impression he has made in L.A. will allow him to stick around beyond this season. He told The Register he would do “anything possible” to re-sign with the Lakers this summer.

> “I would love to be here for a few
> years,” Robinson said. “Just be
> somewhere for a while.”

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M7Y2_bZgD4
[2]: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/robinson-747860-energy-walton.html

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