There are two things I noticed about New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson while I watched him and his teammates  prior to their game against the Washington Wizards.  One, he was clearly the shortest player on the team (he’s generously listed at 5’9″).  Two, he was by far the loudest, most enthusiastic, energetic player on the floor.

While the rest of the players methodically went through shooting and dribbling drills, Robinson was putting on a one-man show.  One minute he was playfully ribbing Mardy Collins about missing consecutive shots; the next minute, he was draining three-pointers from the top of the key with ease; then he would stand off to the side reciting lyrics to the song blaring over the Verizon Center loudspeakers; then he worked on dribbling with both hands and his vicious crossover; and finally, he stopped to watch three women do a practice run of the National Anthem.

To say Robinson has a lot of energy would be an understatement of epic proportions.

Six games into this his fourth season in the NBA, Robinson is already producing career numbers.  Despite just playing 28 minutes a game, he is averaging 15 points, 4 assists, he is third in the league in steals at 2.8 per game, and he is a legitimate early contender for Sixth Man of the Year.

It is no coincidence that this level success is happening under new head coach’s Mike D’Antoni system.

“It’s fun, we’re having fun playing basketball again,” Robinson told Hoops Addict after his Knicks defeated the Wizards. “Coach[D'Antoni] has instilled so much confidence in all of us, and the sky’s the limit for us.  I just need to play my game and bring energy.”

In his post game press conference, new Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni raved about not only Robinson, but the improvement of his team’s offense within the new system overall.

“The offense was good. We had 36 assists and 10 turnovers… I just thought that the ball was moving better now, and then we have guys with individual talents,” D’Antoni said looking like a kid with new toys.  ”We have Jamal (Crawford) and Zach (Randolph) and Nate (Robinson) and Wilson (Chandler) and then their talents came out, as we were moving the ball and it was good. There are going to be some bumps in the road obviously, but (we have to take it) one step at a time.”

Since it appears Stephon Marbury will be inactive for the forseeable future, Robinson and newly signed free agent, Chris Duhon, are responsible for filling the point guard position for the Knicks.  According to D’Antoni, he likes to start Duhon because of his ability to run the offense and get his teammates in an early flow.  When Robinson checks into the game, his job is to not only sustain that continuity that Duhon has intiated, but to take that energy up several notches.  Although D’Antoni likes to play both Duhon and Robinson at the end of games, for now, he likes Duhon in the starting lineup and Robinson coming of the bench.

Newly named Assistant to the President, Allan Houston, agrees that Robinson’s talents can best be maximized coming off the bench.

“[Duhon and Robinson] are two of our solid defenders and they can both shoot, but the thing about Nate is he gets so energetic and so emotional all the time, and that is key for us.  When you’re dependent so much on your offense, you’re going to have to get some off of and steals and energy plays.  Nate has always been a guy to bring a lot of energy, and he has the potential to come in and change a game around because of it”

Those energy plays that Robinson brings to the Knicks were on display for all to see last November 5th during his team’s 101-98 victory against the Charlotte Bobcats.  In a 10 minute span in the first half, Robinson scored 24 points, was a perfect 5-5 from three-point range and took time to pump the crowd along the way.

“24 points in 10 minutes, you don’t see that very often I don’t care who it is,” D’Antoni marveled. “He was incredible not only offensively, but defensively as well.  In the second half I don’t even think he attempted a shot, he had five or six assists, played great defense and took what was there.”

Sitting courtside for Robinson’s performance was none other than Charlotte Bobcats executive, and future Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan, who has had many legendary performances in Madison Square Garden.

I asked Nate if he saw Jordan sitting there, and he smiled and said, “How could I not?”

When I asked Robinson what Jordan said to him after the game, the smile got even bigger.

“He didn’t say anything to me really, I just wanted him to sign my Jordans[shoes].”

Photo Credit: ICON Sports Media