Duncan Robinson in middle of his own redemption story with Heat: ‘I’m not going out like that’

Miami Heat three-point shooting forward Duncan Robinson is in the middle of what’s turning into one of the best seasons of his NBA career. He’s also in the middle of what’s turning into one of the most fun seasons of his NBA career

“Honestly, the whole year has been fun,” Robinson said to the Miami Herald, with the Heat (13-10) returning to Miami to open a four-game homestand with another matchup against the Hornets (7-14) on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., Bally Sports Sun). “I think part of that has been my approach, part of that has been just the mindset that I had coming in. But then, obviously, part of it is getting to enjoy having the opportunity and doing my best to make the most of it.”

Heat holds on for road win over Hornets despite another shaky finish. Takeaways and details

That fun and career-best production continued in the Heat’s 116-114 road win against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, when Robinson totaled a team-high 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range, seven rebounds, four assists and a season-high two steals in 33 minutes.

Robinson, who has started 13 consecutive games for the injured Tyler Herro after opening the season in a bench role, is averaging career highs in points (14.8 per game) and assists (2.9 per game) while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from beyond the arc this season. He’s the Heat’s fourth-leading scorer behind the team’s leading trio of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Herro.

Robinson’s elite NBA skill is three-point shooting, and that part of his game has again been elite this season. Among the 29 players in the NBA who Tuesday are averaging seven or more three-point attempts per game this season, Robinson has the fourth-best three-point percentage at 42.6 percent behind only Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Chicago’s Coby White.

But what has made this season different for Robinson is everything else he has been able to do to complement his three-point shooting ability. Not only is he averaging a career high in assists, he has also already made 30 shots from within the restricted area through the Heat’s first 23 games this season compared to just 12 makes from within the restricted area in 42 appearances last season.

“With Duncan, it’s not at all even a surprise anymore,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He’s so skilled offensively and he fits with any unit. He knows how to complement either unit. He also knows how to be a focal point of actions. He creates overreactions.”

But what is surprising and worth exploring is this question: What were the motivating factors behind Robinson’s work behind the scenes to develop other areas of his game? After all, he already earned a life-changing five-year contract worth $90 million contract with the Heat in 2021 after going undrafted out of Michigan in 2018.

“There’s a lot to unpack there,” Robinson said after letting out a sigh when asked that question. “I think that the why, I don’t think boils down to one simple thing. I think that part of it is like that’s been my identity as a person and player to just try to maximize every situation in front of me.”

The situation in front of Robinson for the last one-plus years was one he preferred not to be in, spending three consecutive seasons as a full-time starter before Max Strus replaced him in the Heat’s starting lineup late in the 2021-22 season. Robinson went from being a fixture in Miami’s starting unit to getting inconsistent playing time in the final months of the 2021-22 season and for essentially the entire 2022-23 season.

“In terms of why I kept pushing, I think part of it was there was no other alternative,” Robinson, 29, continued. “That’s all it was always ever going to be. And then two, I think I try to walk a very delicate line, I think everybody does to a certain extent, of you don’t want to be caught up in narratives or this and that. You want to keep that out of sight, out of mind. But the reality is, all those exist. And a part of it, too, is having the inner fire to be like, ‘I’m not going out like that.’”

So Robinson went to work in hopes of becoming a more well-rounded player, and that’s why the outside narrative that questioned his work ethic bothered him so much.

“The narrative that I had checked out and I didn’t care or whatever,” Robinson said of the external story line that frustrated him the most after losing his spot in the starting lineup in March 2022. “Because I think having a daily and consistent routine is hard in general and that’s why not a lot of people do it. But it’s a whole lot easier when things are going well. It’s easier to get your lifts in, your shots in, take care of your body when you know you’re going to be playing 30 minutes a night and you know that the team needs you.”

But, despite up-and-down playing time, Robinson continued his daily routine behind the scenes to strengthen his weaknesses with the goal of again becoming a consistent part of the Heat’s rotation.

“I think looking back, it was like a weird juxtaposition because you have this outside narrative of he doesn’t give a [expletive],” Robinson said. “But internally that was like, arguably, the most proud of myself I was because I just knew that I was staying at it and kept chipping away. So not getting caught up, valuing the substance of what’s actually happening versus the noise of what’s happening around you.”

The expectations that came with Robinson’s contract didn’t help, as he was the Heat’s fourth-highest paid player in each of the last two seasons while not being a consistent member of the rotation. That led to trade rumors and scrutiny about his salary.

For the first time in Robinson’s NBA career, he was no longer just the inspiring underdog story who established himself as one of the NBA’s top three-point shooters just a few years after going undrafted. The contract changed the outside expectations for Robinson and he wasn’t living up to them as a part-time rotation player.

Robinson turned to friends, family and sports psychologists who he has close relationships with to help him through this stage in his basketball life.

“This was something that I discussed internally with some close friends of mine and my family that for the first time, the goalposts shifted,” said Robinson, who is due $18.2 million this season and has two seasons left on his contract after this one. “I was always kind of like the guy coming up or whatever. If I did anything, it was like: ‘Oh, wow. It’s like found money. Look at this undrafted dude, overachiever.’

“I think I let the narrative shift in my mind more than it should have or I let it influence my own thoughts more than it should have. I have the understanding and perspective to look back now and be like, nothing actually changed and nothing needed to change. I could have just kept being myself.”

Robinson returned this season as an improved version of himself — an improved ball-handler, finisher around the rim, passer and defender — and is again a must-play player for the Heat. When Herro eventually returns from a sprained ankle, Robinson may return to a bench role but he won’t be pushed out of the rotation.

The good times may continue for Robinson or he may run into another rough patch. Whatever comes his way, he’s now better prepared to handle it on and off the court.

“I mean, it’s bound to happen,” Robinson said. “There’s going to be another stretch in my career where everything kind of trends down or whatever. I think having gone through this, it’s a skill like everything else. You just get a little bit better at dealing with it. The goal is to make the highs what they are, the lows what they are and then find that consistency in between.”