Mitchell Robinson stands tall as one of the NBA‘s premier defensive centers, giving the New York Knicks a formidable presence in the paint.
His rebounding skills and shot blocking ability transform the team’s defense whenever he steps on the court.
Yet one persistent weakness limits his playing time and impact: his ongoing struggles at the free throw line.
This vulnerability became painfully obvious during Game 2 of the New York Knicks versus Boston Celtics series.
With just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Boston Celtics holding a comfortable 84-70 lead, Robinson stepped to the charity stripe only to launch a free throw so off target it missed everything, not even grazing the rim.
“Mitchell Robinson missed this free throw… badly,” ClutchPoints captioned.
Mitchell Robinson missed this free throw… badly 😬pic.twitter.com/K4FgI95wUh
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 8, 2025
The moment quickly spread across social media.
Whether nerves or mechanics were to blame remains unclear, especially considering Robinson typically converts about half his attempts, boasting a career mark of 52.2 percent.
He actually showed improvement during the regular season by hitting 68 percent of his free throws, though in limited attempts.
Fans didn’t hold back their reactions. “This the worst free throw attempt I have seen in a long time,” one commented, while another simply asked, “What in the world?”
This the worst free throw attempt I have seen in a long time
— SportsHub (@Sprts_Hub) May 8, 2025
What in the world?
— JLow ❌❌ (@JumpmanJLow) May 8, 2025
The statistics tell a concerning story. In the three games before Wednesday’s matchup, Robinson converted just 7 of 21 attempts, shooting a disappointing 33 percent.
His current playoff performance has dipped even lower to 27.3 percent in this series.
The Boston Celtics have recognized this weakness and implemented a deliberate strategy of sending the seven footer to the line through intentional fouls.
Despite this tactical exploitation, Robinson and the New York Knicks ultimately secured a crucial 91-90 victory in Game 2, proving that even with this glaring flaw, they could overcome the challenge when it mattered most.
NEXT: Jalen Brunson Reveals What Knicks Did In Win Against Celtics
