Heat’s Orlando Robinson showing off improved three-point shot in summer league
Dominant is one word that can be used to describe Miami Heat center Orlando Robinson’s performance to open Las Vegas Summer League.
Robinson finished Saturday’s win over the Boston Celtics at Cox Pavilion on UNLV’s campus with 36 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Those are eye-opening numbers for a player who’s entering his second year in the Heat’s well-regarded developmental program.
But one of the most encouraging aspects of Robinson’s impressive day and his continued development is his improved three-point shot as a big man listed at 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds.
Robinson, who turns 23 on Monday, shot 3 of 4 from three-point range in Saturday’s win in Las Vegas and is now 5 of 8 (62.3 percent) from beyond the arc in the Heat’s first three summer league games. It’s an area of Robinson’s skill set that he worked to grow during his first year in the Heat’s developmental system.
“I’ve always tried to expand it because that’s kind of where the game is going now,” Robinson said, with the Heat set to play its second of at least five Las Vegas summer league games on Monday against the Phoenix Suns (6:30 p.m., NBA TV). “In today’s game, the bigs are able to stretch the floor and space the floor. It’s always been in my game, so just trying to perfect it is something I’ve been focusing on for a long time now.”
Robinson didn’t get many in-game reps from three-point range in his first NBA season after shooting a respectable 37 of 105 (35.2 percent) from deep in his final college season. He shot 0 of 6 on threes in the NBA and just 2 of 12 (16.7 percent) on threes in the G League this past season while spending his rookie year on a two-way contract with the Heat.
But Robinson has been putting up a lot of threes behind the scenes. He estimates that he’s taken at least 500 three-pointers most days since the offseason began and he aims to hit around 80 percent of those shots each time.
Robinson, who went undrafted out of Fresno State last year, has also made some changes to his mechanics in hopes of becoming a more reliable three-point shooter who’s trusted to take those shots in games.
“I definitely tweaked some things, keeping my arm closer to me and keeping it more in line and getting more arc on it instead of flat,” Robinson said. “And just repetitions. Just getting up as many threes as possible, so I can mentally get those reps and just feel it. So when I get into the game, I can shoot confidently.”
Robinson believes becoming a three-point threat will give him a better chance of earning a consistent role in the Heat’s rotation, making him an option to play alongside starting center Bam Adebayo for stretches when the team needs more size on the court. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has only played another big man next to Adebayo if they can shoot threes to complement Adebayo’s effectiveness around the paint.
“He’s identifying how he’s going to be on the floor with the main team,” Heat assistant coach and summer league head coach Caron Butler said of Robinson. “Bam is a roll guy, we need size and help with the rebounding and things like that. If Orlando can be a spacer, we explored that last year with Omer [Yurtseven]. He’s like, ‘Alright, that’s something that I probably can add to my game and help.’”
Robinson feels especially comfortable shooting threes from the corners and above the break.
“I can still shoot from the wings, but not as much as at the top and the corners,” Robinson said. “Because I know if I’m going to space the floor, most of the areas are going to be in the corner or at the top. The wings, I might get it on a drive and kick and it might be wide open. But I feel like predominantly, if the big helps from the base line and I’m in the corner and I can shoot that three effectively, then I’ll be able to help impact the game that way.”
Robinson is on track to be on the Heat’s 15-man roster this upcoming season after recently being promoted from a two-way contract to a standard deal. But only $75,000 of his $1.8 million for next season is guaranteed, with his full salary becoming guaranteed if he’s still on the Heat’s roster on Jan. 10.
Not known for his athleticism around the basket, the revamped three-point shot is an important development for Robinson. But Heat coaches have made clear to him that he still must make his presence known around the paint to maximize his offensive skill set, while also continuing to improve as a defender.
“First, we want you to roll, we want you to set screens, we want you to play with a motor,” Butler emphasized regarding Robinson. “Then when he checks that box, we’ll build on the perimeter shooting.”
Robinson hopes to have an opportunity to compete for the backup center role this upcoming season behind Adebayo. Robinson’s main competition at the moment for that job is center Thomas Bryant, who has played six NBA seasons and signed with the Heat as a free agent this summer.
Saturday’s summer league display was a step in the right direction for Robinson, but Adebayo was in attendance to immediately bring him back down to earth after the game.
“Bam told me that he would bust me up right after I got 36 points,” Robinson said with a grin. “He said I wasn’t doing that on him. But it’s all love. I love him and I love the competitiveness. Just getting that reinforcement from my teammates and coaches is wonderful because it shows me that I’m doing the right thing, walking the right path and I’m going to continue to do that. Listen to them, take their knowledge and apply it.”
