The season’s storylines have been set in stone for the 17-14 Miami Heat. Tyler Herro’s all-star performances and the Jimmy Butler trade rumors are what has been talked about, but one heat starter has made a resurgence this season that has not been talked about.
Once the Heat’s undrafted sharpshooting gem during the Jimmy Butler era, Duncan Robinson was a key piece in Miami’s 2020 NBA Finals run. However, after Max Strus emerged as a more potent, more versatile option, Robinson’s role diminished, even resulting in DNP-CDs from 2021 to 2023. With Strus departing to Cleveland in the 2023 offseason, Robinson reclaimed his role as Miami’s primary shooter. While his 2023-24 campaign began strong, a cold stretch saw him return to the bench. Now, it seems Duncan Robinson is finally rediscovering his groove.
In his last 10 games, Robinson has averaged 13.6 PPG, including a 17-point performance in Wednesday night's win against the Pelicans. For a Heat team trying to find offensive production with Butler being out of the lineup and Adabayo’s offensive struggles, Duncan has stepped up to be that spark when the Heat have needed it most. When Robinson has scored 17 or more this season, the Heat are 5-1.
Despite not playing in the quarter and having a poor second period, Robinson’s impact at the start of each half gave the Heat comfortable leads over a struggling Pelicans team. What has been a game-changer for Duncan’s stellar performances the past month has been his ability to not only be a spot-up shooter but also move off the ball and attack off the dribble. His cuts and attacks at the rim have allowed him to get easy and efficient shots near the basket.
The Heat are coming to a crucial point in the season, as for the second time, they are three games over .500 and only one game behind the fourth-place Magic. If Robinson can maintain this level of play alongside Butler’s return and a favorable first-half of January schedule, the Heat are well-positioned to climb the standings and establish themselves as Eastern Conference contenders.
Duncan Robinson’s resurgence is more than a storyline; it is a spark that could define Miami’s season.