Mitchell Robinson on the Knicks' NBA Finals Run, Team Chemistry & New York Energy | Pro Files Ep. 2

Cold Open On Doing Your Role

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Playing my role, just bringing energy off the bench and you know, just help like either push a league, help a league, or you know, maintain a league. That's kind of like my job to do. So I just kind of do that, but add a little extra to it, you know, extra possessions, stuff like that.

SPEAKER_05 0:14

This is Derek Thompson from Pick Em Pros. You can catch us on all podcast platforms, including YouTube and now 104.5 WCCG in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 0:26

I pick 'em like broke, drop a ball, talk to pick a rope. We're gonna up the scope, touchdown, this is not feel good. We the one that's been tempted when you walk through the hole. Pick them up, bro, we'll drop a ball, talk to pick and roll. We go up the go touchdown, this is not feel good.

Welcome And Knicks Finals Moment

SPEAKER_05 0:50

All right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Pick'em Pros. Man, we have a special, special episode today. We are here with our guy, Big Country, Mitchell Robinson, number 23 of the New York Knicks. What's going on?

SPEAKER_02 1:03

Nothing much, man. Just happy to be here.

SPEAKER_05 1:05

Man, well, hey, it is uh great to have you here. We appreciate you taking time to be here, especially today. You know, come on, it's the next day. Just made it to the NBA finals. Brianna, thank you so much for being here, our pick and pros correspondent. Brianna is on fire, up and coming. Um, not even I can't even call you up and coming anymore, Bree. You're just here. You've already arrived. Just like the Knicks have arrived, you've arrived. So uh thank thank you, Brie, for bringing um Big Country to us. And we're gonna let you kick us off. Uh, Diego, man. Uh, one thing I gotta call you out, man, you're wearing the Knicks jersey. Man, I've had this jersey, man.

SPEAKER_01 1:43

You know, the last few uh a few episodes ago, I was rocking it, you know, and I was picking the Knicks to win their playoff series and all that. I've I've been on the Knicks. Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:50

I'm one and am I the last person to know about this interview?

SPEAKER_01 1:54

Maybe, man. You guys, I'm predicted.

SPEAKER_05 2:00

You got the jersey a few months ago. So I don't know. Y'all might have had some something going on behind the scenes. All right. Well, um, well, uh, Mitchell, man, again, thank you for

Off-Court Bond That Builds Chemistry

SPEAKER_05 2:10

being here. And just uh before we kick it to Brianna, man, just tell us about making it to the NBA finals and that that plane ride home last night.

SPEAKER_02 2:18

Hey man, it's been a long time coming. You know, I've been here for eight years. I done I can finally say I done damn near seen it all. Um, you know, just like being in the like not going to the playoffs, losing in the first round, losing the second round, making the Eastern Congress Finals last year, losing in that round, and like finally we got it done this year. And, you know, you know, especially after we done won the in-season uh tournament and stuff like that, it's it's just been it's been crazy. Um, the playing ride home was it was fun, it was smooth, you know, guys excited, and you know, we just ready to go.

SPEAKER_05 2:55

I bet you are, man. Well, congratulations once again. And um, hey Bree, take it from here.

SPEAKER_03 3:01

Yeah, and like you said, I mean, it's been eight years, but with this specific team, what made it so special? Because I mean, you got guys like Josh Hart, Mikhail Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and you guys all have great chemistry on the court. So, what makes it extra special with this team?

SPEAKER_02 3:16

I feel like it's what we do off the court. Um, our bond is just crazy. Like we, you know, always joking around in the group chat and you know, go out to eat here and there and stuff like that. And you know, just building that that bond off the court, it helps out on the court. So, you know, we just continue to do that and I mean everything just been you know flowing.

SPEAKER_03 3:35

Yeah. What team would you rather play? OKC or the Spurs?

SPEAKER_02 3:39

Uh, me personally, I don't really have a preference uh who I want to play. Um so whoever it is, you know, we just gonna go out there and get active.

SPEAKER_05 3:47

Well, hey, you did you did beat the uh Spurs already in that in that um uh the midseason tournament. So uh the the the cups. So it was nice to uh see that maybe maybe that that's a preview of what's to come.

SPEAKER_04 4:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:01

Hey, maybe we're gonna see.

SPEAKER_04 4:02

Hope so.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Yeah, yeah. All right, Diego.

Defense Reads Conditioning And Will

SPEAKER_01 4:06

All right, yeah. So one of the questions I had, uh, I know you're obviously an elite defender, really good REM protector. Um, so I was just wondering like what type of training you do to be able to become that great uh defender that you are.

SPEAKER_02 4:18

Um, my biggest thing right now that I need to really focus on is more conditioning. Um that's like the biggest thing for me right now, because like I can kind of read players like you know, after seeing them play a few a couple times and like within a few minutes of the game, I can kind of learn how like players go to moves and stuff like that. So it's like with that, I just need to be able to, you know, last a little longer than two minutes, you know what I mean? So it's kind of like just one of those type of things, but uh it's like it's just a mindset and your will, really. Like, you know, you just you just gotta want to do it, you know what I mean? So that's kind of like how I just go about it.

SPEAKER_05 4:53

Okay. From a from a fan's perspective, man, can you tell us about the how detailed and meticulous the scouting reports are that you get on on an opposing team or an opponent? What what is that like?

SPEAKER_02 5:05

Yeah, well, we have a whole team, they break everything down like to a T, like literally every little detail, even possibilities that can happen. It's crazy. Um, you know, you just lock in on the little uh little things, and it's like it's it's insane. Like the way that they break it down for they give us the answer to the test, you know? So it's just our job is to, you know, go out there and pass the test, really. So that's kind of just how it is.

SPEAKER_05 5:28

Yeah, and then the the technology nowadays with the cameras all around, you know, measuring every single movement. And I think they know like how many miles you run in a game and everything.

SPEAKER_02 5:39

Yeah, uh-huh. They definitely do that. It's crazy. It's like technology now is just it's insane. Like it's it's unbelievable.

SPEAKER_04 5:46

It's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 5:47

Yeah, and I know you probably had a lot of uh good matchups throughout your career, played eight years, probably seen a lot of different

Scouting Reports And Tracking Tech

SPEAKER_01 5:54

types of players. But I was wondering like who's the toughest player, toughest matchup you've ever had in the NBA.

SPEAKER_02 6:00

Um, I feel like the battle with Joel and B was like my toughest. Um is that either him or Jokic? Um, you know, he's very skilled. He can pass, he can, you know, he can, he, he, he, he got some stuff to him, you know what I mean? Um, same with Joel, you know, he's been working on his game, he can shoot it really well. So it's like between them two, I feel like it like was my challenge. But then as it like kind of goes on and on and on, and like, so if I had to pick out of them two, I'm gonna just go with Joel just because I had to play him more. I only play Jokic like twice a year, you know, being in the east and he's in the west. So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:33

Well, it follows that actually really quick. A lot of people like on social media and everything, like try and make that like a real rivalry. Do you do you see it like that, or do you just think it's just tough competition every time you play?

SPEAKER_02 6:45

Uh it is tough competition. At the same time, it is a rivalry, you know, Philly, New York. It's like there's that's just how it is. Like they got the same thing with Boston. Uh it's just, you know, out of those three areas right there, just close by each other, you know, one of them gotta be the best, you know. So that's kind of like you know how the fans see it and stuff like that. And it is it's fun though. It's like it's real fun and like enjoyful to watch.

SPEAKER_05 7:06

Yeah, yeah. I know that's a wild matchup between Joe Robinson and Joel Embiid. Oh, yeah, scale level there. Do you want to tell them about when we saw Joel?

SPEAKER_01 7:15

Oh, yeah, about about like three years ago, we saw Joel Embiid, and because we were we live in North Carolina, so we went to uh Hornets Gang and um he didn't even warm up, just pulled up right around the national anthem when they're playing that. Then he dropped like 40 and 10, like he just effortlessly doing all types of stuff.

SPEAKER_02 7:34

So I mean big fellow's putting a lot of work, he put in a lot of work for show, but hey, some people can do it like that, some people can't, you know. So I mean, yeah, it was funny.

SPEAKER_05 7:48

We we didn't even think he was playing. I was like, oh man, hey, he really wanted to see him because the national anthem was playing and everything, he still hadn't come out, and then he just came strolling out and played. Yeah, crazy.

Tough Matchups And Knicks Rivalries

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Yeah, and um, yeah, the city, I know you mentioned that earlier, New York. Uh, we know they obviously loved love their basketball over there, and um, I was wondering like how electric has the city been since they finally got over that hump and got into the finals.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

Well, the city has been crazy, it's been like wild. Like, I guess I think they have stopped doing uh the little watch party outside the garden. It's been so wild. Like, it's been crazy. They found somewhere else to go, though. They're gonna find somewhere to go. If they're gonna be at the garden, they're gonna find somewhere to go. It's crazy in the city right now. Like, they so excited, and you know, we are too, and it just it's it's electric out here, like it is wild.

SPEAKER_03 8:37

Yeah, I mean, since 1999, so they better be.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

Yeah, hey, almost had it last year, but we still short. So it's it's crazy. Like, New York is just like the ticket pricing is wild. It has been crazy, yeah. It's been wild, like um like you know, they they be having them like on Bleach Report, like the tickets, how they go and wow. Like, I I've seen like noseblee seats with like three grand. I'm like, way at the top is crazy. Like uh I'm like, good thing, I good thing I get to see uh courtside, so with a jersey on. So I mean, but it's it's man, it's wild. Them prices is crazy. I know for the finals. Man, could you imagine? Yeah, I can't wait to see it. This obviously since 1999, you know, you see in the background how deep the crowd was. I want to see how the crowd is gonna be in 2026, you know what I mean? So it's a new generation. I want to see how that's gonna be too. So I'm excited.

SPEAKER_05 9:39

All the all the all the uh the old school players there, like you said, it's got to be amazing seeing them. I know in that comeback from game one, but it was like at about the two and a half minute mark, and it looked like, oh man, they might really do it. Like it was just like everybody was hugging each other. It was just this this big, you know, euphoria there in the stadium. It looked like it was just an amazing place

Knicks Fans Take Over Road Games

SPEAKER_05 10:01

to be. Um can can you tell us about the road? Like how the Knicks fans have just been taking over stadiums. You took over Philly, took over Cleveland that last night, you've taken over all these uh areas. Now, what's it like being on the road with the Knicks fans?

SPEAKER_02 10:16

It is it is very wild. It's like it feels like a home game. Like everywhere we go, it just feels like a home game. Like it is so crazy. Like, Knicks fans are real passionate about their Knicks. I'm gonna tell I'm gonna say that right now. They definitely love their Knicks, boys, because uh every time, like like last night, even like you know, when you see the score run up like that, you know, fans tend to like start to leave out. You should have seen how many blue and orange jerseys it was in that crowd. Like, it was a lot of red seats, but man, there was a lot of blue and orange in there. It was crazy. Like it was wild.

SPEAKER_01 10:53

Oh yeah, so another question.

Blocking Noise Through Rough Patches

SPEAKER_01 10:55

So um uh I know you're the longest tenure Nick, you've been there for eight years, you were drafted there. So I was wondering, like, are there any like words of wisdom or like um or advice that you give to the other players in the team?

SPEAKER_02 11:09

Um, I kind of just tell them, like, you know, you just gotta stay focused and keep your head on. So um, you know, sometimes when you hit a rough patch in the season, you know, you don't people won't start doubting and you know, you just gotta block out the eyes out of noise. Um, so once you do that, it's like you kind of you kind of get used to it as it goes. Uh, especially, you know, we we had a very hot start in the beginning. And then towards like, I want to say maybe January to February, close around between, we hit like a little rough patch where we might we'll win one game, probably lose about four or five. You know what I mean? And, you know, that's when it started doubting and you know, stuff like that. But I mean, most of the guys, they, you know, as they see it throughout the year, um, as it went on, they kind of just, you know, picked it up on their own, just like, you know, we just gonna, it's about us. We're gonna focus on us. Outside north, block that out, and just keep it going.

Mike Brown’s System And Culture Fit

SPEAKER_05 12:02

Um, with uh Mike Brown, you know, it I feel like he's done from you know my side, man, an amazing job. You know, got you guys in the finals. Looks like he's established a great, you already had a great culture, but it looks like he's just added on to that. I know you made some great um moves in the offseason. But can you just talk about the job that Mike Brown has done with this team?

SPEAKER_02 12:24

Oh, he's done great, man. Um you know, him coming here and and giving us a whole new like style of play, and it it's it fits us, um, the way that we play. Um as you can tell, I mean, we made it this far with it, you know what I mean? So, I mean, like with just the way that he has like everything lined up, the practices, uh, shoot arounds and all that stuff, and how we just like stay afloat with it is it's just been amazing. Like just watching, you know, even when I was injured a couple times and you know, just sitting there watching and just you know, studying, it's it's just been amazing. Like just watching how it just goes and how he just does everything is it's really crazy. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 13:04

All the experience that he has with the Cavs and being on those Golden State teams and the Lakers and everything.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

Yeah, yeah, Sacramento and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 13:12

Yeah, it's been crazy.

SPEAKER_03 13:13

A lot of experience.

SPEAKER_05 13:15

Yeah, absolutely.

Jalen Brunson’s Relentless Work Ethic

SPEAKER_01 13:17

Yeah, um, so I want to ask you about uh your teammate Jalen Brunson. Uh, we know he always plays really well during the playoffs. And um, so I just what I was just wondering, like, what is he like around this time and what is his and just what's his work ethic like around this time?

SPEAKER_02 13:32

Oh no, he's always putting in work. Um, he goes to the gym, like be the first one in there, last one to leave. And um yes, he every time like before shoot around, he would definitely go to the gym early. So like with the buses at 9:30, he might leave at nine. You know, usually the gym, it'd probably take about a good five, seven minutes to get to the arena. And you know, he get there getting his shots up, getting his shots up, and stuff like that before this the shoot around actually started. Then when everybody else comes in, and you know, even after we done uh with shoot around, he continue to shoot some more, you know, work on his game footwork, stuff like that. And it's just it's amazing to watch.

SPEAKER_05 14:07

You know, he was with the Mavericks and the Nick Nick's picked him up. And I was like, man, I don't know. Although they, you know, got him for a great price or whatever. But I think he, I think even the biggest Bronson supporters, it seems like he's surprised everybody. I mean, being, I mean, shoot, he's MVP, you know, he should be an MVP candidate. Yeah, so uh yeah, just to see to see what he's done has been been amazing. I think it surpassed everybody's expectations. Yeah, yeah.

New York Pizza And City Life

SPEAKER_01 14:33

Yeah, I haven't been to New York before. Uh hope to go one day, but I was wondering, like, what is the spot? Like I like pizza, but what's the one spot to where I need to get a slice in New York?

SPEAKER_02 14:44

That's funny you say that. So they got a spot. I don't know if it's still there. I haven't been there in years. Like, I don't really go downtown, it's too, it's too busy for me. The country guy. So it's like it's kind of you know, too fast space for me. I gotta kind of I need my space, you know what I mean? But no, so when I first got drafted here, we went to a pizza spot, uh, me and Kevin Knox and the PR guy, it was right across the street. I forgot the name of it. I mean, I'm pretty sure I can probably find it if it's still there or not. But yeah, that's a I mean, basically anywhere you go to get Peaceville in New York is gonna be it's like at least uh say a seven out of ten, eight out of ten, uh it's gonna be up there, never below five. So it should

Playoff Mindset And Winning Details

SPEAKER_02 15:25

be all right.

SPEAKER_05 15:25

So we have one fan question that we want to ask you. All right. So this question is your impact doesn't always show up fully in the box score. The fans know how much you're rebounding, rim protection, and hustle changes games. During this pro playoff run, what's been the mindset for you personally when it comes to doing the dirty work that helps this team win?

SPEAKER_02 15:45

For me, it's more like do your roll plus um. Um at this point, it's like winner go home, basically. So, like, you know, regular season is 82 game. You might play a team twice, you might play them three times, possibly even four. You know what I mean? So it's like just going, especially in a time like now, those little details like boxing out, uh, you know, help defense, being in a shift, you know, stuff like that. That that really helps. And you know, you need that, you know. If a guy like, you know, might be a little laggy here and there, you gotta, you know, tell him, like, yo, yo, get right, you know what I mean? Like, this ain't this ain't the time for that right now. You know what I mean? We've been doing this all year. We should already know what to do. So really just like just playing my role, just bringing energy off the bench and you know, just help like either push a league, help a league, or you know, maintain a league. That's kind of like my job to do. So I just kind of do that, but add a little extra to it, you know, extra possessions, stuff like that. So, yeah, yeah, I I can see that.

SPEAKER_05 16:43

I bet the opposing center is like, dang, don't I don't know what they do when they see you come in, like, oh man, I gotta go against the city.

SPEAKER_02 16:50

Yeah, they'd be like, Yeah, this dude, he's active. He ain't gonna get that offensive glass, yeah, for sure. So I know a couple players done told me that a few times before. So for sure.

SPEAKER_05 16:59

Yeah, I've got one last one last thing uh to get you out of here on this.

MR23 Foundation And Youth Camps

SPEAKER_05 17:04

So one of the things that we love here at Pick and Pros is uh community give back and you know just helping helping others. And there's a lot that we do with that. But one of the things that um I love to see when you know we were doing a little more research is you know some of the great things that you've done in the community, um, between you know your foundation, the MR23 foundation, and you know, we've seen some other things that you know you've done on a personal level just for other people. So first we just want to commend you for that. Um then you're welcome. But then secondly, just want to you know give you an opportunity to just share anything about uh your foundation or you know what you have going on in the community.

SPEAKER_02 17:40

Um so with my foundation, I actually I actually I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in the offseason, um, you know, from Louisiana. Um I I still do my annual camp in Louisiana, but I also just started, I just got it this year. It's July 2nd, I believe, if I'm not mistaken. Um doing a camp in Tennessee this year. Because a lot of kids out there, they they you know, they see me drive my big trucks around and stuff like that. And they they you know, they look up to me, you know what I mean? And being a kid myself at one point and you know, looking up to somebody, I I I understand it. You know what I mean? That's probably when a kid or adult, whatever, ask me for like a picture, autograph, or something like that, I never say no. You know what I mean? I sit like I done sat in the rain and signed almost everybody's stuff, sat in snow. And I'm like, I'm from the south, bro. You know, we don't do the snow, but I still did it. You know what I mean? It's it's just like that one little thing can change somebody's life. You know what I mean? They can they give them hope, you know. So that's kind of like my thing. And then like with the foundation stuff, like, you know, we just try to give back as much as we can. Um, you know, the road has blessed me, God bless me. Um, so if I can give back, I'm definitely gonna do it.

SPEAKER_05 18:47

I love that. I love that. Well, anyway we can help with that, we definitely would love to uh to you know to help promote, uh, to buy merch. I saw you know some of the merchandise and whatnot. So we're definitely gonna be copying that and wearing that. Appreciate it, appreciate it, appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah, yeah, no, our pleasure, man. So really appreciate that. So I said, dang, I said last question.

Big Trucks Hobby And Final Advice

SPEAKER_05 19:09

I guess I I lied because you you you brought up you brought up the truck. So I just gotta ask you about just your love for trucks and and whatnot. Can can you speak on uh maybe what's the present truck?

SPEAKER_02 19:20

So my I don't really have a favorite kind of. I mean I thought I do. It's my 2005. I love that truck, but I heard of it. I love it so much. Like I drive it every day. It don't got AC, but it is it's a you know, 21-year-old truck. So I'm gonna get it fixed here soon. But I know I just love that truck. That's my favorite. But my thing with the trucks is just like having a hobby outside of basketball. Um, you know, I mean, just have just another life, you know, just see something different. And it's it's fun, you know. You enjoy it, you know, you put it in your head, a vision that you see, and then you just bring it to life. Now that's like with anything. Like if you got your mindset on something, you know, chase your dream and you know, just get it done. You know, it might take a while, sometimes it might take sooner than later, but you know, at the end of the day, it's gonna get done at some point.

SPEAKER_03 20:07

Yeah, well said. So inspirational.

SPEAKER_05 20:12

Very well said. Words of wisdom, inspirational, and uh, I think we got to end on that note.

SPEAKER_03 20:19

Yeah, you have to because you said last one.

SPEAKER_05 20:21

That's right. That's I can't you're never gonna come back if I ask another one. So no, this is cool.

SPEAKER_02 20:27

This is cool. I like this.

SPEAKER_05 20:30

Yeah, thank you. Well, again, we really appreciate it, uh, especially at this time. Um, so best of luck to you in the NBA final. I know that sounds good to say again.

SPEAKER_02 20:43

I can't wait to see how it is. First time going, eight years.

SPEAKER_05 20:50

Well, thank you, Bree. Thank you, Diego. Thank you, big country Mitchell Robinson. On that note, we know how to find out. Until then, we'll see y'all next time.