Wizards

Wizards

LAS VEGAS -- Justin Robinson already knows his way around Capital One Arena. While growing up in nearby Manassas, VA, his family had season tickets to Wizards games. He remembers going to watch Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler play. Way back in the day, his favorite player was Richard Hamilton.

Robinson then starred at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. His final college game, in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, was played at Capital One Arena. Now, he looks forward to an NBA career, one that will likely begin in the very same building.

Robinson signed with the Wizards as an undrafted free agent on draft night. They quickly scooped him up and gave him a three-year deal, showing a higher level of commitment than they would for the average player in his position.

"He's a kid that we worked out," Wizards interim president Tommy Sheppard said. "And one of those guys where it's like 'hey look, I hope you get drafted and hope your dreams are realized, but if you don't then I promise you we will figure out a way.'"

Sheppard hopes Robinson can follow a similar path to Chris Chiozza, a point guard the Wizards developed last season from an undrafted signee to someone who signed a contract with the Houston Rockets to be on their NBA roster. The Wizards, though, hope Robinson reaches his NBA dream with them and not someone else.

The opportunity certainly appears to be there. The Wizards have some room at point guard for Robinson to take advantage. John Wall is likely to miss most, if not all, of the 2019-20 season due to injury. And Tomas Satoransky left during free agency to play for the Chicago Bulls.

The Wizards signed Ish Smith and Isaiah Thomas, but Robinson has a chance to earn a role quickly. That dynamic was a big reason why he signed with Washington.

"To be able to compete for a job and make a final roster is what I've always dreamed of, so that's what I'm doing," Robinson said.

"He has an opportunity to play for the Wizards," Sheppard said.

Robinson is a physical guard. He's built like a running back and uses that strength to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He is not afraid to dribble through contact and brings toughness to the defensive end.
Sheppard likes to refer to that as "grit" and believes Robinson has a good deal of it.

"I think he's got that championship pedigree and that grit. We are very fond of saying grit," Sheppard said.

"Everyone has their favorite players and their favorite style. With [head coach Scott Brooks], when he describes his favorite style of point guard, he describes a guy [just like himself] where it's like 'okay since you're not available who should we sign?' He likes a lot of the same characteristics that Justin has."

That "grit" was on display Saturday night in Las Vegas as Robinson made his Wizards debut in the Summer League. In the first quarter, he got his own rebound on a missed floater and muscled through contact to sink an and-one putback.

Sheppard has a longstanding relationship with Robinson's coach at Virginia Tech, Buzz Williams. He said Williams has told him for years about Robinson that "this kid is going to make it."

Part of why both Sheppard and Williams see NBA potential in Robinson is his resilience. He returned from a broken foot at the end of his senior season to play for Virginia Tech in the NCAA Tournament. While many players with NBA aspirations would have called it a year, he played through pain to help his team advance all the way to the Sweet Sixteen.

Robinson showed resolve. As he tells it, there were no guarantees he would be able to return when he first suffered the injury. The surgeon who operated on his foot told him it was unlikely he would play by the end of the college season.

"I'm a huge competitor. It broke my heart when I felt my foot pop. I knew what had happened," he said. "The fans knew me as a person, I was never going to sit out of anything."

Robinson now enters the professional ranks with a good chance to make a name for himself with the team he grew up rooting for.

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