Glenn Robinson III had some concerning remarks about his role in an interview with Basketball Insiders. The veteran wing said that it was “not really explained” and that he doesn’t “really understand it.”
In Brett Brown’s pregame availability before the Sixers’ home game against the Knicks, the head coach responded to Robinson’s comments.
“About six seconds before I came out here, we spoke and I did see that quote. ... And that is not true. With all of our players, you sit down and you go through this clearly. After All-Star break, every single one of them got a roadmap — this is your role, this is what we expect.”
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SIGN UP HERE Speaking to reporters in the locker room before the game, Robinson did get the chance to add clarity to what he said.
"I think some of it got a little blown out of proportion, but it was just really like figuring out my role here," he said. "What did I get brought here to do? How can I help this team? I understand that both me and [Alec Burks], we were brought here to help this team win and that's what it's about."
When Robinson was brought in along with Burks from the Golden State Warriors, they both seemed to have clear roles. Burks would provide a scoring punch off the bench while Robinson provided an ideal 3-and-D wing.
That hasn’t exactly come to fruition. We’ve seen flashes of what Burks can do — especially in the Sixers’ overtime win over Brooklyn — but Robinson has struggled since a strong debut. He’s 0 of 9 from three and hasn’t made the defensive impact the team was hoping for.
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Both players were in the midst of career years on expiring deals, meaning a possible lucrative free agency payday was on the horizon. Brown gets all that goes into a midseason trade but needs Robinson to provide what the head coach believes he can.
“I get when you have a career year on a poor team and it's a contract year, I understand it. I coached those years myself,” Brown said. “And so in the middle of all of it, he's good people. He's a good person and he's trying to figure out what his next step is while coexisting in a team framework. …
“I think that he has an important role to play here. We hope to see more of it. But as I said to him, and I'll say it again, this is a show me league and here it is, and this is what we expect and hope to see. And from time to time, we have seen that. I think that he is a league keeper.”
Down All-Stars Ben Simmons (lower back impingement) and Joel Embiid (left shoulder sprain), there should be plenty of minutes up for grabs. Robinson should get a closer look while in the starting lineup Wednesday.
After talking with Brown, does Robinson have a clearer picture of his role?
"I'm just really at that wing spot just competing every night and playing hard and really just letting him figure that out, and I just control what I can control on my end."
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