Mitchell Robinson prophetically declared Victor Wembanyama’s size wouldn’t be an issue.
Then he was a driving force behind shutting down the Frenchman.
“He backed up his words,” RJ Barrett said.
According to ESPN, Wembanyama went 0-for-6 with two airballs with Robinson as the primary defender in the Knicks’ 126-105 victory Wednesday over the Spurs.
Robinson, earning very early consideration for an All-Defense selection, was coy afterward and didn’t want to gloat.
“He’s a great player, one of the best in the league right now,” Robinson said.
Two nights earlier, he was less impressed while saying it would be like guarding Kristaps Porzingis or Bol Bol.
“I’m not worried about his tallness, bro,” Robinson said.
Gregg Popovich, interestingly, dismissed Robinson’s defense on Wembanyama.
“Don’t think they played against each other, all night long,” Popovich claimed, incorrectly. “There were many small guys guarding him all night long. That was not a one-on-one matchup.”
The Knicks indeed implemented a team scheme to stop Wembanyama, but Robinson was a point man along with Isaiah Hartenstein.
“I think Mitch did a great job just understanding what Wemby likes to do, making it difficult for him,” Jalen Brunson said. “It’s the NBA. It’s really hard to stop people one-on-one. But I think Mitch did a great job of trying to make everything difficult for him. The whole team did. We tried to show him bodies. Obviously, he can see over everybody. We just tried to make it difficult for him.”
Brunson has been battling a sore left hand since spraining it last season and said he aggravated it Wednesday with a spill.
“I tripped and fell,” Brunson said.
Brunson has been wearing tape on his hand this season and hoped the aggravation won’t affect his game or status.
“I don’t think so. I hope not,” he said. “I’m all good. I’ll be ready for the next game.”
The Knicks host the Hornets on Sunday.
Popovich coached Tim Duncan, who was the NBA’s best player for a few years but had zero interest in marketing himself as the face of the NBA.
On Team USA, Popovich also coached LeBron James, who embraced all the aspects of fame and glory.
So where does Wembanyama fall in the Duncan-to-LeBron personality spectrum?
“Just speculating he’s in between the two,” Popovich said. “I don’t see him in love with it. Or running away from it.”
Wembanyama is also used to the attention as a wunderkind.
“He’s been lauded for quite awhile,” the coach added. “He’s kind of used to it. It doesn’t affect him in any way. He pretty much ignores it. His parents did an unbelievable job with him. He’s so level-headed and mature for a 19-year-old with all the attention he gets. He’s able to prioritize and focus on becoming a better player. He enjoys the game and his teammates. He’s blended in that sense culturally very well.”
Hubie Brown served as ESPN’s lead analyst for Wednesday’s game to start his 50th season working in the NBA.
The 90-year-old, who was the Knicks head coach in the mid-80s, started as a Milwaukee Bucks assistant in 1972.
“Unbelievable. Just a treasure to the game,” Tom Thibodeau said. “Great person, great coach, great announcer. Amazing that he’s still doing all the things that he’s doing. Great impact on the game of basketball, on coaches, players, everything. Incredible person.”
