It is oxymoronic to classify being picked in the NBA Lottery as unlucky. A pick influenced and encouraged by The Logo himself would be a dream scenario for any Draft Prospect. Jerome Robinson appeared dreamy when he heard his name called 13th by Commissioner Adam Silver for the L.A. Clippers in the 2018 NBA Draft. Wide-smiled, he walked across the stage (or could have been clouds) to meet The Commissioner and accept His congratulatory handshake. Robinson was selected just two picks after his new teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, both sharing the aforementioned endorsement of Consultant Jerry West. Indeed, the Clippers’ lottery backcourt was picked and in place. Flash forward to Aril 7, 2021, Jerome Robinson was cut by the Washington Wizards. What???
Oh, and by the way, SGA now plays for the OKC Thunder.
Jerome Robinson is a wonderful young man! The coaches he has played for rave about his work ethic, including Scott Brooks of the Wizards. For Robinson’s sake, let’s examine these past few years. He left Boston College after his junior year as the second leading scorer in the ACC (20.7 ppg). Drafted to a Clippers’ Coach in Doc Rivers, an old-school NBA Champion, he’d find NBA playing time sparse and a stint in the GLeague on his plate in the 2018-19 Season. In 24 games with Agua Caliente, Robinson averaged 19/4/4 in 32 minutes. He did this shooting 44% from the field and 41% from three while swiping a steal a game.
The Clippers landed Kawhi Leonard in Free Agency, dealt for Paul George, and traded its young backcourt in 2019-20. Jerome Robinson found himself backing up Bradley Beal in a season interrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Following its restart, in the Disneyworld Bubble minus Bradley Beal, Robinson would average 15/3/3 in 29 minutes on 43% shooting from the field and 37% from three. In the 2020-21 Season, still affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jerome Robinson continued backing up Bradley Beal as well as a recently acquired Russell Westbrook. After playing in just 17 games, averaging 18 minutes per, Jerome Robinson was cut.
This wonderful young man and hard worker would likely tell you what a great opportunity and honor it was to play for a likely Hall of Fame Coach in Doc Rivers and backup four likely Hall of Fame Wings in Leonard, George, Beal and Westbrook. It should also be told, in the limited stretches of extended play he’s been given in the GLeague and Bubble to this point and very early in his pro career, Jerome Robinson has performed well and worthy of his Lottery Selection.
Here’s to him having better luck, a lucky team now having the opportunity to snag an underutilized lottery pick, and a wink and a smile from Jerry West when his playing time matches his talent and reveals the player he’s capable of becoming...
-Dusty Mat, 2021
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