Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Mitchell Robinson

Discover the career path of Mitchell Robinson, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Mitchell Robinson III is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the New York Knicks in the NBA. Robinson gained attention before his NBA career for his unconventional decision to forgo college basketball at Western Kentucky University. Instead, he opted to dedicate the 2017-18 season to individual training, making him the first player to ever choose this development path. He was drafted by the Knicks as the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

February 2017: Committed to Western Kentucky

In February 2017, Mitchell Robinson initially committed to play college basketball at Texas A&M, but then de-committed to follow coach Rick Stansbury to Western Kentucky. Jason Frakes noted it as a significant recruiting achievement.

July 2017: Suspended from Western Kentucky

In July 2017, Mitchell Robinson enrolled at Western Kentucky University for the summer semester and practiced with the team for two weeks. Subsequently, he left campus, was suspended for violating team rules, and was granted a release to transfer, potentially sitting out the 2017–18 season.

August 2017: Visits to Universities and Return to Western Kentucky

In August 2017, Mitchell Robinson visited Louisiana State University, University of Kansas, and the University of New Orleans, anticipating a waiver from the NCAA. On August 27, he returned to Western Kentucky after a month away.

2017: McDonald's All-American Game

In 2017, Mitchell Robinson played in the McDonald's All-American Boys Game, scoring 14 points, securing three rebounds, and blocking two shots. He also participated in the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic, scoring 15 points in 17 minutes and grabbing three rebounds.

2017: National Team Roster

In 2017, Mitchell Robinson was named to the preliminary roster of the United States national under-19 team, but did not make the final cut for the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.

2017: Training on his own

In 2017, Mitchell Robinson withdrew from his commitment to Western Kentucky University to train on his own, gaining national coverage as the first player to make this decision.

June 21, 2018: Drafted by New York Knicks

On June 21, 2018, Mitchell Robinson was selected as the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft by the New York Knicks.

July 8, 2018: Signed with the Knicks

On July 8, 2018, Mitchell Robinson signed a multi-year, rookie-scale contract with the New York Knicks after playing in the 2018 NBA Summer League and setting summer league records for blocked shots and offensive rebounds.

2018: Preparing for NBA Draft

In 2018, Mitchell Robinson chose to forgo college and prepare for the NBA draft on his own. This decision prevented him from participating in the NBA G League due to existing rules. It also influenced Darius Bazley's decision to train independently before entering the NBA draft.

March 28, 2019: Season Highs

On March 28, 2019, Mitchell Robinson recorded season highs of 19 points and 21 rebounds in a game against the Toronto Raptors. He was the first Knicks rookie since Willis Reed in 1965 to achieve this.