Michigan's Duncan Robinson among 41 Finalists for Team USA’s 2024 Olympic Roster
https://www.si.com/nba/heat/miami-news/four-heat-players-named-in-usa-basketballs-roster-finalists-
From the article:
Robinson has never been associated with USA Basketball in the past. In fact, he and Herro are among the select few players on the list to have never been selected to an NBA All-Star game. Robinson is also in the middle of his best season as a professional. He is averaging 13.7 points and has been a key role player for the Heat this year.
My personal view may be obscured by the maize and blue tint of my lenses, but I think Team USA should give strong consideration to including Duncan Robinson on its final roster. The perfect roster is not made of 100% ball-dominant players. Role players, especially #notjustashooter are needed to win international competitions, especially considering FIBA's rules. Someone like Robinson could feast offensively in the international game, and his ability to create loads of space for the elite scorers is on par with any other sharpshooter on the planet.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:56 PM ^
Hey SI! Good to see a publication from my childhood going strong!
January 24th, 2024 at 5:25 PM ^
Um about that...
at least you'll always have the WSJ
January 24th, 2024 at 4:09 PM ^
What a career this guy has had! Unreal!
January 24th, 2024 at 4:11 PM ^
Looks like he's having a bounce back year, looking at the stats.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:41 PM ^
To extend this thought for those of us who haven't lent much brain space to the NBA this year.
Duncan is averaging: 13.7ppg 41% 3p on 28mpg
So that's his highest average of ppg of his career, his minutes are up from 16 and 25 the last two seasons to right around his peak 20-21 season numbers. That 41% is the second highest of his career, behind only his freak 19-20 breakout season (44%). And he's hitting that 13.7 ppg number averaging 7.0 3pa which is 1.5 shots LESS than his peak 19-20 (8.3a) and 20-21 (8.5a) seasons.
Scoring more. Shooting less. Shots are falling. Minutes are WAY up from last year.
Love this for Duncan.
The true test is going to come when the playoffs hit. How does his D hold up, will they have confidence in him when other teams are targeting him every possession down the court. It's part athleticism (he is who he is), it's part effort (he is not a lazy defender at all, or sloppy like say JP), and it's part mental knowing that they're going to do it every time down the court. If his shot keeps falling Spo will have confidence in him, which hopefully allows him to continue to have confidence in himself.
Needlesstosay, I'm a HUGE Duncan fan.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:04 AM ^
GREAT breakdown! I'm a huge D-Rob fan, too...
January 24th, 2024 at 5:44 PM ^
That he has any kind of NBA career is just amazing. Given where his game was at when he transferred from not so well noted D3 Williams. Thought if things went well for him he might be seventh or eighth in Beilein's rotation.
What he has accomplished helluva statement about the man.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:37 PM ^
I may be pulling for the Germans if the Wagner bothers are both on it.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:32 PM ^
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Hell no.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:42 PM ^
What an amazing journey through college, pros, and hopefully national team. Keep living the dream, Duncan!
January 24th, 2024 at 5:31 PM ^
From Ephman to Olympian would be pretty amazing.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:43 PM ^
hell just settling for a $90 million contract and living in Miami is pretty impressive on it's own.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:44 PM ^
From D3 to D1 to NBA to USA (maybe)!
January 24th, 2024 at 6:42 PM ^
I smell a feel good movie.
Is the Director of Hoosiers still alive?
January 25th, 2024 at 2:06 AM ^
David Anspach and Angelo Pizzo are both alive and thriving in Bloomington IN.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:56 PM ^
Couldn't happen to a better, hard working dude. Good luck, Duncan!
January 24th, 2024 at 4:59 PM ^
I mean, I'd luv to see D'Rob with a gold medal... but the national team doesn't need wingers who can shoot 3's but don't really seriously contribute to the D. With the superstars they'll select (KD, Harden, etc.), we already can hoist the 3's. What we need, to beat the best Euro and So Am teams, is a bunch of BIGS who can DEFEND in waves.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:08 PM ^
That was my thought too. Duncan is a great shooter, but it's not like he's ahead of other guys in that regard who can also play high level, switchable defense.
That's no knock on Robinson, it's awesome seeing his efficiency back up this year after what was looking like a worrying year over year over year decline, but he probably doesn't help them win a gold.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:45 PM ^
[T]he national team doesn't need wingers who can shoot 3's but don't really seriously contribute to the D
I agree, but I think it may be a bit more nuanced. I'm not an expert on the international game. My sense is there's a greater need for catch-and-shoot three-point-shooters compared to ball-dominant/create-your-own-shot shooters. The three-point line is shorter. Someone like Robinson should shoot 50%+ from 3, which is game-changing. Games are only 40 minutes, so 3-point shooting takes on an even greater level of importance.
You bring up Harden and KD, both of which are all-time scorers. I cannot imagine Harden morphing into an elite catch-and-shoot/come-off-screens type of player. KD, on the other hand, is world class at using screens in addition to his own shot-making capabilities. KD with space is virtually unstoppable. Not really a hot take, but I wouldn't include Harden on the final roster.
I think a player like Robinson could help enormously with a player like Embiid, or even Tatum. With a player like Robinson spreading the floor, double-teaming Embiid becomes incredibly problematic. And as of today's date, there is no one on Earth that can guard Embiid 1-on-1. Fouling Embiid is problematic because you only get 5 fouls under FIBA rules. Embiid is the best offensive player on the planet right now. Full stop. When you add in Embiid's rim-protecting abilities, Robinson's defensive shortcomings can be somewhat mitigated.
Embiid + Robinson (as a second or third unit) = massive 2nd or 3rd quarter runs. For the first unit, I like something along the lines of Haliburton, Steph, Kawhi, Tatum, and Embiid.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:26 PM ^
Paul George is the best player in the NBA as a wing off-ball guy who will shoot 40% plus. That's who you want as your role players. Also, Joel Embiid declared for the US so he's likely playing on the team and will be destroyer of worlds.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:39 PM ^
I agree on both fronts.
Healthy Paul George has a game that fits perfectly into FIBA-ball. I always worry about his health, which is a bit unfair considering how his major leg injury occurred while playing for Team USA.
Embiid declared for Team USA several months ago. I personally was expecting him to play for France. There's no international player capable of guarding Embiid right now 1-on-1, whether it be Gobert, Jokic, Sabonis, etc. With Kerr as the head coach, and Spoelstra as an assistant, I imagine a weaponization of the shooters playing with Embiid that will be akin to a destruction of the Multiverse.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:10 PM ^
Good maybe we won’t dunk our way to a bronze medal this time.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:12 PM ^
Good for him. Go, Blue!
January 24th, 2024 at 5:29 PM ^
I agree... he's totally a take for them.
Also, I feel good about Jim coming back. I may be a bit of an over-optimist, always picking us for a national championship (hit on that this year though!) and always picking the most outrageously lopsided wins for the good guys. But I think the chargers couldn't give him what he wanted, and that not only is he coming back, but part of the negotiating was to get Minter so much $$$ to stay at Michigan that we're going to have pretty much the whole staff intact for next year.
Not worth a thread.
DR's game is tailor-made for international play. The olympic team would be stupid not to take him.
January 24th, 2024 at 7:58 PM ^
My guess assuming everyone is healthy who will end up on the team:
1.Lebron
2.Durant
3.Embiid
4.Tatum
5.Curry
6.Chris Paul
7.Kwahi
8.Paul George
9.Adebayo
10.Devin Booker
11.Mikal Bridges
12.Anthony Edwards
First 8 just have to say they are in and they are in. Next 4 is combo of time served and talent.
That's 4 top 30 players of all time plus Embiid who's having the greatest regular since since Wilt in 61-62.
Lot's of shooters. I think they would pick 10 more players before Duncan Robinson was selected.