The New York Knicks want to make a statement this season.
They’ve struggled to find consistency early in the campaign, but they have the personnel necessary to make a splash in the Eastern Conference.
Notably, one of their most underrated players is Mitchell Robinson, a defensive specialist who has proved to be an elite stopper when he’s not getting into foul trouble.
Prior to Wednesday’s clash vs. the San Antonio Spurs, Robinson had already stated that he knew how to stop stellar rookie Victor Wembanyama, saying that he was going to guard him similar to the way he defends guys like Kristaps Porzingis and Bol Bol.
And while critics were skeptical at first, he was able to back up his talk in their first-ever matchup.
According to ESPN (via Legion Hoops), Robinson held Wembanyama scoreless in the six shots where Robinson was the primary defender.
Mitchell Robinson held Victor Wembanyama to 0-for-6 shooting as the primary defender 🔒 🔥
(via ESPN) pic.twitter.com/rWeoPYTgeP
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 9, 2023
Wembanyama had one of his worst games thus far in his young career.
Needless to say, all rookies are bound to go through growing pains, and he wasn’t going to be the exception to that rule, despite being arguably the most exciting prospect in recent basketball history.
The Knicks disrupted the Spurs’ offense from start to finish, leading by as much as 30 points at one point in the game.
They need to keep that momentum going if they want to sit at the contenders’ table and make a deep playoff run.
Robinson will play a significant role for the Knicks moving forward, and locking down one of the most exciting players in the game should give him much-needed confidence.
NEXT: Julius Randle Gets Honest On His Struggles To Start The Season
