Mitchell Robinson: great offensive rebounder, better friend.
Robinson invited his high school coach, Butch Stockton, to live with him in New York after Stockton’s wife, Dawn, passed away in September.
"He said, 'Coach there’s no reason for you to stay in Louisiana anymore. You come to New York with me and enjoy yourself,'" Stockton told MSG Network’s Rebecca Haarlow on Thursday. "Get your mind back straight because you know how much you loved your wife. I loved your wife."
Robinson plans to host Stockton for the entire season.
"He's a great guy, he helped me get to where I'm at," Robinson said Thursday night. "…. So it works out for the best. I can help him out like he helped me."
Robinson said he and Stockton watch movies together. Stockton also cares for Robinson’s dogs.
"That's my guy," Robinson said. "…. He looked out for me. He helped me get to where I'm at, I feel like, so it's the least that I can do. It's been cool."
A quick look at Robinson’s social media pages show how much he cared for Dawn Stockton. Robinson said on Thursday that he didn’t want Butch to be by himself in Louisiana after Dawn passed. Stockton seems moved by Robinson’s kindness.
"It’s just been a great situation," he told Haarlow on Thursday.
Robinson has been a driving force behind the Knicks’ 11-7 start to the season. He has an NBA-high 104 offensive rebounds, 27 more than the No. 2 offensive rebounder in the league, Clint Capela.
His defense in the paint and ability to cover space in defending the pick and roll and perimeter has been key for New York.
"He’s not going to have a 40-point night. But some of the plays that he makes are just incredible," Tom Thibodeau said earlier this week. "They’re great effort plays. Oftentimes there’s two, three, four efforts on the play. He’s got bodies all over him. People are clamping and holding him and he’s still getting to the ball.
"It’s a credit to him. His pick and roll defense is terrific. His rim protection, terrific. All the intangibles that he brings to the team; I know his teammates have great appreciation for what he does, coaches, our whole organization. Sometimes people don’t realize the impact that he has."
Robinson’s made a significant impact on the court this season. But his impact off the court may be even greater. Just ask Butch Stockton.