Wolverines in the NBA: Duncan Robinson has made big jump this season
Former Michigan Wolverines basketball sharpshooter Duncan Robinson had a rocky season in 2022-23. He battled injuries and was in and out of the rotation until earning a more prominent role during the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat’s improbable run to the NBA Finals, a series they lost to the Denver Nuggets.
This season has gone much differently for Robinson, who’s started 27 of his 59 games for the 35-29 Heat, including being in the opening five on a much more frequent basis lately, opening the last eight contests.
Robinson has become a much more complete player, too. Entering this year, his career-high for two-point field goals made in a season was 65 in 73 games in 2020-21. He’s already up to 105 this season, shooting 56.8 percent from inside the arc.
The former Michigan wing has maintained his prowess as an outside shooter, too, connecting on 40.6 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc with 2.9 makes per game.
After averaging 6.4 points per game last season, he’s up to 13.4 this year, playing nearly twice as many minutes (up to 28.4 from 16.4 per game).
Here’s a look at how every former Michigan 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
Recent games: Has missed the last four games and was seen in a boot after suffering a toe injury … His last appearance came in a 114-102 loss to the Brooklyn Nets March 2, playing 14 minutes … Posted 3 points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field with a made free throw on 2 attempts, 3 assists and 2 rebounds.
Season stats: Appeared in nine games for the 29-35 Hawks, who stand 10th in the Eastern Conference … Totaled 33 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds while shooting 35.1 percent from the field in 89 minutes.
Moussa Diabate (2021-22), F, Los Angeles Clippers
Recent games: Logged 7 minutes, totaling 2 points and 4 rebounds, in a 140-115 win over the Washington Wizards March 1, his last appearance in the NBA … Has recently played in the G League with the Ontario Clippers.
Season stats: The former Michigan forward has competed in 11 games off the bench for the 41-22 Clippers, who are fourth in the West … Averaging 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per clash.
Tim Hardaway Jr., (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks
Recent games: Put up 6 points (2-8 FG, 2-5 3PT), 1 rebound and 1 assist in a 137-120 loss to the Indiana Pacers March 5 … Recorded 11 points (3-11 FG, 2-6 3PT, 3-4 FT), 1 rebound and 1 assist in a 114-108 victory over the Miami Heat March 7 … Registered 17 points (6-13 FG, 4-8 3PT, 1-4 FT), 1 rebound and 2 assists in a 142-124 triumph over the Detroit Pistons March 9.
Season stats: The former Michigan guard has played in 61 contests with 10 starts for the 36-28 Mavericks, who sit eighth in the Eastern Conference standings … Averaging 16.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, while connecting on 40.7 percent of his overall shots and 36.1 percent of his three-point attempts.
Caleb Houstan (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Totaled 5 minutes in two wins early last week, 101-89 over the Charlotte Hornets March 5 and 119-109 versus the Washington Wizards March 6 … Scored 2 points on a pair of made free throws in 5 minutes of a 98-74 blowout loss to the New York Knicks March 8 … Logged 22 minutes in a 111-97 setback to the Indiana Pacers March 10, registering 2 rebounds and 1 assist.
Season stats: The former Michigan guard has seen action in 48 games with 10 starts for the 37-28 Magic, which are fifth in the East … Registering 4.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per outing, while connecting on 39.1 percent of his field goal attempts, including 37.7 percent of his three-pointers.
Jett Howard (2022-23), G, Orlando Magic
Season stats: Hasn’t played in an NBA game since Feb. 14 and has appeared in just 13 on the season … Totaled 23 points on 8-of-22 shooting from the field (5-of-17 from three-point range) with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in 49 minutes for the year.
Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Recent games: The former Michigan guard posted 6 points (2-6 FG, 1-3 3PT, 1-2 FT), 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals in a 120-101 loss to the Brooklyn Nets March 10 … Put up 15 points (5-15 FG, 2-6 3PT, 3-5 FT), 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in a 113-104 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves March 8 … Registered 13 points (5-17 FG, 208 3PT, 1-2 FT), 7 assists, 4 rebounds and a block in a 112-101 setback to the Atlanta Hawks March 6 … Tallied 10 points (4-10 FG, 2-5 3PT), 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in a 105-104 victory over the Boston Celtics March 5.
Season stats: Started in two of his 52 games for the 41-23 Cavaliers, averaging 13.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1 steal per contest … Shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 33 percent on threes.
Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Washington Wizards
Season stats: Ruled out for the remainder of the regular season Feb. 26 with a hip injury … Traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Wizards Jan. 14 and never played in a game with his new team … Appeared in 23 contests with Pistons, averaging 5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, while shooting 34.5 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range.
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Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Washington Wizards
Recent games: Posted 6 points (2-6 FG, 2-5 3PT), 6 assists and 4 rebounds in a 110-108 win over the Miami Heat March 10 … Notched 16 points (6-17 FG, 2-10 3PT, 1-2 FT), 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals in a 112-100 win over the Charlotte Hornets March 8 … Poured in 26 points (9-19 FG, 4-12 3PT, 4-4 FT), 5 assists and 4 rebounds in a 119-109 loss to the Orlando Magic March 6 … Exploded for 32 points (11-18 FG, 6-10 3PT, 4-4 FT), 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block and 2 steals in a 127-115 setback to the Utah Jazz March 4.
Season stats: The former Michigan guard is second on the 11-53 Wizards with 16.5 points per game, adding 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 62 games with 52 starts … Shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from long range … Has come off the bench the last 10 games.
Duncan Robinson (2013-17), F, Miami Heat
Recent games: Scored 18 points (6-11 FG, 4-9 3PT, 2-2 FT), adding 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal in a 118-110 win over the Detroit Pistons March 5 … Recorded 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-8 3PT), 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a 114-108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks March 7 … Notched 9 points (3-8 FG, 3-8 3PT), 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in a 107-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder March 8 … Put up 16 points (5-16 FG, 4-13 3PT, 2-2 FT), 2 rebounds and 1 assist in a 110-108 loss to the Washington Wizards March 10.
Season stats: Started 27 of 59 games for the 35-29 Heat, which are eighth in the East, averaging 13.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 28.4 minutes per game … Shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from three — with both of those shooting marks being his best since the 2019-20 season.
Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Tallied 8 points (4-11 FG, 0-5 3PT, 0-1 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal in a 101-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets March 5 … Exploded for 28 points (9-15 FG, 3-7 3PT, 7-8 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks in a 119-109 victory over the Washington Wizards March 6 … Put up 13 points (6-20 FG, 0-5 3PT, 1-1 FT), 4 rebounds and 1 steal in a 98-74 loss to the New York Knicks March 8 … Totaled 13 points (5-14 FG, 0-3 3PT, 3-5 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a 111-97 loss to the Indiana Pacers March 10.
Season stats: The former Michigan wing has started all 57 games in which he’s played for the 37-28 Magic … Second on the team with 20.1 points per game, adding 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per outing … Shooting 47.6 percent overall and just 29.5 percent from beyond the arc, both career lows.
Moritz Wagner (2015-17), F/C, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Posted 6 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 3PT), 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a 101-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets March 5 … Put up 16 points (6-7 Fg, 1-1 3PT, 3-3 FT) and 6 boards in a 119-109 victory over the Washington Wizards March 6 … Notched 4 points (1-2 FG, 2-2 FT), 1 rebound and 1 assist in a 98-74 loss to the New York Knicks March 8 … Tallied 9 points (3-6 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-5 T), 6 rebounds and 2 assists in a 111-97 loss to the Indiana Pacers March 10.
Season stats: The former Michigan forward is averaging a career-best 11.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per clash with 63 appearances and one start … Shooting a career-high 59.5 percent from the field and 31.9 percent on threes.
Michigan Wolverines in the NBA G League
• Zak Irvin (2013-17), G, Grand Rapids Gold: Averaging 1.06 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 25 appearances … Scored 20 points in a loss to the Wisconsin Herd March 9.
• Glenn Robinson III, F, 2012-14, Wisconsin Herd: Putting up 10.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 29.7 minutes per game … Shooting 50 percent overall and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc.
• Zavier Simpson (2016-20), G, Motor City Cruise: Posting 19 points, 9.1 assists (third in the G League) and 4.7 rebounds in 36.4 minutes per clash, while shooting 47.9 percent overall and 44.6 percent from deep.
• D.J. Wilson (2014-17), F, Osceola Magic: Averaging 21.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 34.3 minutes per game, while shooting 58.4 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from downtown.
