If Celtics used their full mid-level exclusion to sign Mitchell Robinson to a three-year, $47 million contract over the summer, it appeared that one of New York’s main rivals had dealt a significant blow to the reigning champions.
However, through the first two weeks of the season, Robinson has struggled to make an impact on his new team. The veteran center is averaging 4.5 rebounds per game and Boston has been outscored by 16 points per 100 possessions during his time on the floor. Coming off the bench for the first time this season on Monday, Robinson told reporters, including Jay King of The Athleticthat he is determined to start contributing more.
“I don’t know (what it is) to be honest,” Robinson said of his slow start. “I know I’ve got to figure it out quickly. … It’s new, but at the end of the day it’s still basketball. What I do naturally, I just have to keep doing. And I don’t know, I just haven’t found my rhythm yet.”
Robinson has been one of the NBA’s elite rebounders in recent years, especially on the offensive end, so the fact that the team has a lower overall rebounding rate of 46.8% when he’s on the court comes as a surprise. Head coach Joe Mazzula suggested that the way the team has used him thus far likely contributed to this slump.
“I would say as far as his offensive rebounding, we keep him a little bit off screens setting the rim and making plays for us on the perimeter as part of our offense.” Mazula said. “I think that has a little bit to do with it.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic:
- The Celtics announced that the star is ahead Jason Tatum will rest Wednesday against Milwaukee, tweets NBA Insider Chris Haynes. Tatum has appeared in each of Boston’s first seven games, averaging 27.0 points and 7.9 assists in 35.1 minutes per contest, but the team will likely be cautious about his workload in his first full season since recovering from a torn Achilles.
- Yehor Demin wounded and three of NetworksThe other 2,025 first-rounders have fallen out of the rotation, but Nolan Traore writes a promising start after two years Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required). The 20-year-old Frenchman shot 47.5% from the floor this season, including 50.0% from beyond the arc, and earned praise from the head coach Jordi Fernandez for his increased willingness to speak up and take on a leadership role despite English not being his first language.
- After successfully completing the 2025/26 season and signing a new two-year, $9 million contract with Networks in july Josh Minot there hasn’t been much action this fall. Fernandez says Minot has done “nothing wrong” and that he simply has too many players on the depth chart. CJ Holmes of The New York Daily Newswho wonders if there is room for the 23-year-old in Brooklyn’s development plans.
- There was still no room in Sixersrookie guard rotation Labron Filon the youngerwho logged just 34 minutes in five short regular season games. As he looks forward to new opportunities, Fillon says he’s focused on learning from his veteran teammates and being a “sponge” while maintaining a “positive energy,” according to PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson and Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required).
