Player Recap: Orlando Robinson

This 11-part series takes an extensive look at Skyforce players throughout the 2022-23 season. We will highlight season and career highs, as well as the impact each player made on the court. First, we start with Miami HEAT two-way player Orlando Robinson.

It’s been a whirlwind of a rookie season for Miami HEAT two-way player Orlando Robinson. His journey so far has been defined by two things: work ethic and tunnel vision.

He went from a Summer League standout to playing in 31 games for the Miami HEAT in the regular season, earning two NBA Call-Ups with Miami, to helping Sioux Falls make a late push to the Western Conference Finals.

"I would say arguably he's the most improved since summer league of all the guys that we've had," HEAT Head Coach Erik Spoelstra said after Robinson’s career night against the Minnesota Timberwolves in December. "This is his third or fourth impactful game with his minutes. It doesn't necessarily lead to these kind of stats but I think it shows he's slowly earning the trust of the team."

‘Big O’ joined the Skyforce in November as an affiliate player, after spending training camp and preseason with the HEAT, and had a steady start to his G League career, which looking back was the beginning of his hard work paying off. Two of his first four games were 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds, which helped Robinson ink his first two-way deal with the HEAT on November 13.

Robinson returned to the Skyforce as an affiliate player after his first stint on a two-way and reeled off seven-straight games of 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds, which set a G League era franchise record for Sioux Falls. In his final five outings, he would have games of 20 points and 17 rebounds, 31 points and 17 rebounds, 21 points and 13 rebounds, 28 points and 10 rebounds and finally a monstrous 26 points and 21 rebounds on December 10 against Motor City. Not to mention, the Force would go 4-1 during that stretch.

He finished the Showcase Cup with 22.8 points on 55.6 percent shooting, 12.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks per 22.8 minutes a game.

The next day, he inked another two-way deal with the HEAT, and would not only stay on contract with Miami throughout the season but ended up playing meaningful minutes for almost half the regular season.

In 31 games, ‘Big O’ averaged 3.7 points on 52.8 percent shooting, 4.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per 13.7 minutes a game. His season-high with the HEAT was 15 points on 7-9 FGA, nine rebounds and four assists on December 26 in a victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Robinson would fill a need at the backup center position for the HEAT until mid-February and held his own. As the calendar hit March, Sioux Falls was on the cusp of a playoff run, as Robinson was running out of NBA games on his two-way contract.

“That experience was nice,” Robinson said during his return to the Force in March. “I learned a lot and saw how the game was played. I figured out the speed, how coaching is done, the intensity and competitiveness it takes. I’ve been taking everything in and learning as much as I can by watching Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and Tyler Herro. I feel like I’ve picked up a good feel for the game.”

He was allocated to the Force ahead of the March 12 game against the Austin Spurs and put up 24 points on 10-16 FGA and seven rebounds in a victory.

“Getting to the playoffs is very important for me,” Robinson said at the time. “Once I found out the situation we were in, winning became my main priority. If I’m here for the last six games, we are winning all six of those games. That is my focus. Nothing else. My job is to put my team in a position to play in and be successful in the playoffs.”

He sure spoke that into existence.

Sioux Falls finished 6-0 in the regular season and 8-1 in the nine total games he played in to finish the season – and Robinson was a pivotal part in the Force returning to the Western Conference Finals and NBA G League Playoffs for the first time since 2015-16.

He complied the regular season with 18.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 blocks per 28.6 minutes a game.

In two-of-three playoff games, Robinson posted 31 points on 11-15 FGA on March 28 against Salt Lake City and 28 points on 9-15 FGA, 16 rebounds and six assists against Rio Grande Valley on April 2.

“You can’t really measure how important it was for us to get Orlando back when we did,” Head Coach Kasib Powell said. “He’s an NBA talent. I think he’s one of the best players in the G League, if not the best post player in the league.”

After the Skyforce season ended in early April, Robinson returned to the HEAT, where he would play a total of 27 minutes in the team’s final two games.

As a two-way player, Robinson is ineligible for playoff minutes, but the experience gained being a part of a playoff run for a young player is invaluable.

Next in the story for Robinson will be another crack at Summer League, somewhat of a full circle moment. His high motor and ability fits the modern NBA game and it seems like things are just getting started for ‘Big O’.