When Jerome Robinson‘s name was called as the 13th pick in this year’s NBA Draft, more than a few heads were turned. With Michael Porter Jr. still on the board, surely the Clippers had made a mistake in selecting Robinson. But either way, fans put their trust in Jerry West, knowing that this was exactly the kind of thing he was brought in for.
That trust is looking increasingly well-placed as of late. I’m convinced that Robinson will be a star in this league.
Robinson has all the tools to become a great in this league — a nice three-point stroke, excellent handles, a knack for strong defense, and of course, the smarts to know what to do, and when. His instincts are very obvious.
In the preseason, Robinson got off to a bit of a shaky start. But once he settled in and got more minutes (and more touches), he began to show off a few reasons why West had taken such a likening to him.
First of all, there’s his ability as a catch-and-shoot threat from three-point range. Robinson resembled J.J. Redick more than a few times earlier this month, running rampant around the floor until he could find an open spot on the perimeter.
Robinson also showed flashes of his surprising ball-handling and ability to drive. As a primary ball-handler, he showed he could create with ease, something that Redick never quite possessed as a member of the LA Clippers.
Above all, Robinson is a freak athlete. It’s only a matter of time before he starts throwing down poster jams and nailing game-winners like he did in college.
He still needs to work on his efficiency more than anything else. However, if Robinson can start hitting his shots at reliable rates, he and Gilgeous-Alexander could easily become the backcourt of the future in the NBA.