Wolverines in the NBA: Duncan Robinson becomes fastest NBA player in history to 1,000 three-pointers
A lot went right for the Miami Heat Sunday (March 17) in Detroit. Center/forward Bam Adebayo hit a game-winning three to beat the Pistons, 104-101, in a game that saw former Michigan Wolverines basketball standout Duncan Robinson drop a season-high 30 points, 4 shy of his career best.
In the process, the 6-foot-7, 215-pound former undrafted free agent hit the vaunted 1,000 three-pointer landmark with his first of 7 triples on the afternoon. That made him the fastest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 threes, doing so in just 343 games. The previous best was Philadelphia 76ers’ guard Buddy Hield making his 1,000th three in his 350th career game. Robinson also previously set records for needing the fewest regular-season games to reach 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800 and 900 made threes.
“That’s the most important part — got it in a win, which is awesome” Robinson said with a smile.
“We can put it to bed now. After 1,000, I don’t need to hear about 1,100 or whatever it is after that. A thousand is what it is, and from there we can call it.”
The Heat were without its two leading scorers in guards Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro in the win over Detroit, meaning greater responsibility was on the shoulders of Robinson — the Heat’s all-time leader in made threes — who paced all scorers.
“He came out super aggressive behind the three-point line, and then that opened up a lot of different things from there,” head coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Once he knocked down a few, then we were able to run offense through him and then play off of some of their aggressive coverages, trying to get him off the line. And that’s a big part of our menu. You take out Jimmy, you don’t have Tyler — you have to be able to maximize your next best actions, whatever they may be.”
The 29-year-old former Michigan sharpshooter’s game has become much more well-rounded this season, after an up-and-down year in 2022-23, and that was on display in the victory. He’s already more than tripled his amount of made field goals and three-pointers from a season ago, and he’s averaging a career-high with 3 assists per game.
“Duncan has evolved and grown so much as a player,” Spoelstra said. “He basically hit every aspect of the game offensively. The threes, the catch-and-shoot threes, his spot-up threes, the catch-and-gos, the curl cuts, the passes from aggressive coverages. One of the biggest plays of the game was the pocket pass to Bam for a dunk when they were making their run. Duncan works at it tirelessly. He’s really improved with his entire skill set.”
Here’s a look at how every former Michigan basketball player in the NBA is performing, specifically highlighting the last week of action.
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Kobe Bufkin (played at U-M from 2021-23), G, Atlanta Hawks
Season stats: The former Michigan guard hasn’t played since March 2, out with a toe injury … Appeared in nine outings off the bench for the 30-37 Hawks, averaging 3.7 points, 1.7 assists and 1.6 rebounds … Shooting 35.1 percent from the field and 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from three-point distance.
Moussa Diabate (2021-22), F, Los Angeles Clippers
Season stats: Hasn’t played in the NBA since March 1 … Seen action in 11 clashes for the 42-25 Clippers, totaling 29 points, 24 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 1 block in 64 minutes.
Tim Hardaway Jr., (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks
Recent games: Scored 1 point (0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT), and added 3 rebounds and 1 assist in a 107-105 win over the Denver Nuggets March 17 … Contributed 23 points (8-13 FG, 5-9 3PT, 2-2 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in a 126-119 setback to the Oklahoma City Thunder March 14 … Posted 5 points (2-7 FG, 1-5 3PT) and 2 assists in a 109-99 win over the Golden State Warriors March 13 … Recorded 4 points (1-4 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-2 FT), 4 assists, 2 steals and a rebound in a 127-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls March 11.
Season stats: The former Michigan guard is averaging 15.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest, while connecting on 40.7 percent of his shots from the field, including 35.9 percent of his tries from long range, in 65 tilts with 10 starts for the 39-29 Mavericks … His 36.2 field goal percentage after the All-Star break is down from his previous mark of 41.4.
Caleb Houstan (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Scored 3 points on 1-of-4 shooting from three-point range in 15 minutes of a 111-96 win over the Toronto Raptors March 17 … Played a combined five minutes and went 0-for-1 from the field with no points in two games March 13 and March 15, wins over the Brooklyn Nets (114-106) and Toronto Raptors (113-103), respectively.
Season stats: The former Michigan guard has competed in 51 games with 10 starts for the 40-28 Magic, registering 4.3 points and 1.5 rebounds per game … Making 38.5 percent of his field goal attempts and 37.1 percent of his looks from three-point range.
Jett Howard (2022-23), G, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Went scoreless in three minutes in a 111-96 win over the Toronto Raptors March 17 — his first appearance in an NBA game since Feb. 14.
Season stats: Logged 14 appearances, tallying 23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in 52 minutes … Shooting 34.8 percent overall and 27.8 percent (5-of-18) on threes.
Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Recent games: Poured in 21 points (8-14 FG, 1-4 3PT, 4-5 FT), 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in a 117-103 loss to the Houston Rockets March 16 … Scored 2 points (1-6 FG, 0-3 3PT), and added 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal in a 116-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans March 13 … Registered 17 points (7-16 FG, 3-10 3PT), 11 assists, 6 rebounds and a steal in a 117-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns March 11.
Season stats: Recording 13.8 points, 5.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game with 55 appearances and three starts for the 42-25 Cavaliers … Connecting on 41.4 percent of his field goal attempts and has a 32.4-percent three-point shooting clip.
Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Washington Wizards
Season stats: Ruled out for the season Feb. 26 with a hip injury … Traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Wizards Jan. 14 and has yet to play in a game with his new team.
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Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Washington Wizards
Recent games: Dropped 31 points (12-19 FG, 3-6 3PT, 4-5 FT) and added 4 assists and 2 rebounds in a 130-104 loss to the Boston Celtics March 17 … Put up 13 points (4-12 FG, 3-6 3PT, 2-2 FT), 8 assists and a steal in a 127-98 loss to the Chicago Bulls March 16 … Notched 25 points (10-19 FG, 5-12 3PT), 2 assists, 2 steals and a rebound in a 135-119 loss to the Houston Rockets March 14 … Tallied 10 points (4-11 FG, 2-6 3PT, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 block in a 109-97 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies March 12.
Season stats: The former Michigan guard has started 54 of his 66 games for the 11-57 Wizards … Averaging 16.7 points, 3.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds per outing, while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from long range (his worst three-point shooting figure since his rookie season).
Duncan Robinson (2013-17), F, Miami Heat
Recent games: Dropped a season-high 30 points (10-15 FG, 7-12 3PT, 3-3 FT) with 5 assists and 4 rebounds in a 104-101 win over the Detroit Pistons March 15 … Registered 16 points (6-14 FG, 4-12 3PT), 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in a 108-95 win over the Detroit Pistons March 15 … Tallied 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-6 3PT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in a 100-88 loss to the Denver Nuggets March 13.
Season stats: Appeared in 62 clashes with 30 starts for the 37-30 Heat, tallying 13.7 points, 3 assists and 2.5 boards on average … Shooting 46 percent overall and 40.6 percent on threes, with 2.9 made triples per game.
Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Put up 22 points (8-13 FG, 0-2 3PT, 6-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a block in a 111-96 win over the Toronto Raptors March 17 … Scored 19 points (6-9 FG, 0-1 3PT, 7-8 FT(, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in a 113-103 win over the Raptors March 15 … Posted 14 points (6-14 FG, 1-4 3PT, 1-1 FT), 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in a 114-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets March 13.
Season stats: Opened all 60 games in which he’s played, recording 20.1 points (second on team), 5.6 rebounds (third) and 3.9 assists (second) per night … Holds a 47.9 field goal percentage with a career-low 29.2-percent mark on three-pointers.
Moritz Wagner (2015-17), F/C, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Put up 14 points (6-9 FG, 1-3 3PT, 1-1 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in a 111-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors March 17 … Scored 7 points (3-5 FG, 1-2 3PT) while adding 3 rebounds and a steal in a 113-103 win over the Raptors March 15 … Tallied 2 points (1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT) and 1 assist in a 114-106 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets March 13.
Season stats: The former Michigan forward has played in 66 outings with one start, averaging 18.1 minutes … Posting 11 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest, while shooting a career-best 59.5 percent overall and 32 percent from deep.
Michigan Wolverines in the NBA G League
• Joey Baker (2022-23), G, Grand Rapids Gold: The former Duke (2019-22) and Michigan (2022-23) guard was signed by the Grand Rapids Gold, the Denver Nuggets’ G League affiliate, March 7, after a brief sprint playing in Lithuania. He’s played in four games with the Gold, averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.3 minutes.
• Zak Irvin (2013-17), G, Grand Rapids Gold: Started 17 of his 28 games, averaging 9.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest.
• Glenn Robinson III (2012-14), F, Wisconsin Herd: Opened 22 of 25 contests, registering 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per clash.
• Zavier Simpson (2016-20), G, Motor City Cruise: Averaging 19.6 points, 9.3 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in 28 appearances, while making 1.4 threes per game on a 42.2-percent clip.
• D.J. Wilson (2014-17), F, Osceola Magic: Started all 27 games in which he’s played, putting up 21 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5 assists per outing, while shooting 57.5 percent from the field and 41.6 percent on threes.
