Duncan Robinson

Duncan Robinson Bio

Duncan McBryde Robinson is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6 feet 7 inches, Robinson has established himself as one of the premier three-point shooters in professional basketball. After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, he signed with the Miami Heat, where he developed into a sharpshooter who set numerous franchise shooting records. In July 2025, Robinson joined the Detroit Pistons via a sign-and-trade agreement, continuing his career with a new organization.

Early Life and Background

Duncan McBryde Robinson was born on April 22, 1994, in York, Maine. He grew up in New Castle, New Hampshire, as the youngest of three children born to Jeffrey and Elisabeth Robinson, with older siblings Marta and Eli. His mother Elisabeth is of Hawaiian descent. Robinson attended Maude H. Trefethen Elementary School before heading to The Governor’s Academy in Massachusetts for high school. During his senior season at Governor’s Academy, he averaged 18.5 points per game and earned selection to the 2012 All-NEPSAC Class B first team and the All-Independent School League team. He graduated with a 3.55 grade point average.

Following his senior season, Robinson played on the AAU circuit and completed a postgraduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy to strengthen his college prospects. He led Exeter to a 28-1 record and the NEPSAC Class A title, posting 24 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game to earn Tournament MVP honors. Robinson worked with trainer Noah LaRoche during his development years and grew from 5 feet 7 inches as a high school freshman to 6 feet 8 inches by the end of his AAU career. He played for the Middlesex Magic AAU program under Michael Crotty Jr., a two-time All-American at Williams College who had served as point guard for the 2003 NCAA Division III Tournament champions.

Path to Professional Basketball

Robinson committed to Williams College, an NCAA Division III powerhouse ranked as the nation’s top liberal arts college by U.S. News and World Report at the time. In his freshman season of 2013-14, he became Williams’ first freshman starter in six years under head coach Mike Maker. He was named NESCAC Rookie of the Year and Second-team All-NESCAC while leading the Ephs to the 2014 NCAA Division III championship game. Robinson set school records for single-season minutes played (1,110) and freshman-season points scored (548). He led the NESCAC in three-point field goal percentage (44.8%) and minutes played while ranking second in the conference in three-point shots made per game. Following the season, he became Williams’ first freshman to be named All-American.

After Maker departed Williams to become head coach at Marist, Robinson transferred to the University of Michigan, where head coach John Beilein had developed players similar to Robinson. He became the only player besides Bob McCann to transfer from Division III to Division I with a full scholarship. At Michigan, Robinson redshirted the 2014-15 season before making his impact felt in 2015-16, when he led the Big Ten Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.565) through the first week of conference play. Over three seasons with the Wolverines from 2015 to 2018, he was part of Big Ten tournament championship teams in 2017 and 2018. He earned Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2018 and finished his career fourth on Michigan’s all-time list with 237 made three-point shots at 41.9 percent shooting. He helped Michigan reach the 2018 NCAA Division I championship game, becoming the first player to play in both a Division I and Division III championship game.

Duncan Robinson Career

Miami Heat (2018-2025)

Robinson went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft but signed an NBA Summer League contract with the Miami Heat. After five Summer League games in which he averaged 12.4 points while shooting 58 percent from the field including 63 percent on three-point attempts, he agreed to a two-way contract with the Heat and their G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, on July 10, 2018. When Robinson made his NBA debut, it marked the first by a former Division III player since Devean George and the first ever by a Williams Eph. He made his NBA debut on October 24, 2018, against the New York Knicks, recording three points and four rebounds in 10 minutes of action.

During his rookie season with Sioux Falls, Robinson averaged 21.4 points while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from three-point range over 33 games. He established two Skyforce franchise records: single-season three-pointers made (157) and career three-point percentage (48.5%, minimum 200 attempts), which stands as an NBA G League all-time record. He earned NBA G League All-Rookie Team honors and Third-team All-NBA G League recognition before his contract was converted to a standard two-year deal on April 9, 2019.

Robinson’s second season marked his breakthrough as an elite NBA shooter. On December 10, 2019, he scored a career-high 34 points against the Atlanta Hawks, tying the Heat franchise record with 10 three-pointers made in a single game. That performance established an NBA record for points by an undrafted duo (70) with teammate Kendrick Nunn. The Wall Street Journal described Robinson as “the most improbable player in the NBA” and “one of the best shooters on the planet.” During the 2019-20 season, he made 270 three-pointers, breaking Wayne Ellington’s Heat single-season record. On February 12, 2020, he became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 200 career three-pointers, accomplishing the feat in just 69 games. He competed in the 2020 NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest and helped Miami reach the 2020 NBA Finals, where he set an NBA Finals record with seven three-pointers in Game 5 as an undrafted player. Miami ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

On August 6, 2021, Robinson signed a five-year, $90 million contract with Miami, the largest contract in NBA history for an undrafted player at the time. Over the following seasons, he continued building his shooting legacy, becoming the fastest player in NBA history to reach 500, 600, 700, and 800 career three-pointers. In the 2023 playoffs, he became Miami’s all-time leader in postseason three-pointers made, passing Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, and LeBron James. He helped the Heat return to the NBA Finals in 2023, where they lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games. On March 17, 2024, Robinson scored a season-high 30 points, including his 1,000th career three-pointer in his 343rd game, breaking the previous record of 350 games set by Buddy Hield.

Detroit Pistons (2025-Present)

On July 7, 2025, Robinson signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Detroit Pistons via a sign-and-trade with Miami in exchange for Simone Fontecchio. The move represented a fresh start with a franchise undergoing transformation. In his debut season with Detroit, Robinson experienced a resurgence, averaging 12.2 points per game on 41 percent three-point shooting during the regular season. The Pistons finished the 2025-26 season with a 60-22 record, earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2007. This represented the third-best regular season in franchise history and their first 60-win season since 2005-06. Robinson continued his strong play into the postseason, shooting 58.8 percent from three-point range.

Shooting Style and Strengths

Robinson has established himself as one of the most prolific three-point shooters in NBA history. His quick release and range allow him to score from well beyond the arc while his high release point makes his shots difficult to contest. He excels at coming off screens, moving without the ball, and converting catch-and-shoot opportunities at an exceptional rate. Robinson’s shooting gravity creates spacing for teammates, forcing defenses to extend and opening driving lanes. His basketball IQ enables him to read defenses and find open looks, and he has shown playmaking ability with career highs of 11 assists in a regular season game. His efficiency metrics rank among the best in NBA history for three-point shooters, holding multiple Heat franchise shooting records.

Notable Milestones and Records

Robinson’s professional career has been defined by milestone achievements and records. His rise from undrafted free agent to $90 million contract recipient made him an inspirational story in professional basketball. He holds NBA records for the fastest player to reach 200, 500, 600, 700, and 800 career three-pointers. He is Miami’s all-time leader in playoff three-pointers made and regular-season three-point shooting percentage. His shooting consistency is demonstrated by streaks of 69 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer and 25 consecutive games with multiple three-pointers. He competed in the 2020 NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest representing Miami.

Duncan Robinson Career Achievements

Robinson has accumulated significant accomplishments across his professional and college career. In the NBA, he has established numerous shooting records and helped lead teams to multiple playoff runs including two NBA Finals appearances. His journey from Division III Williams College to NBA prominence remains unique in league history.

NBA Highlights

Throughout his NBA career, Robinson has been one of the league’s most efficient three-point shooters. He holds NBA records for the fastest player to reach 200, 500, 600, 700, and 800 career three-pointers in league history. He is Miami’s all-time leader in playoff three-pointers made. His 270 three-pointers during the 2019-20 season broke Miami’s single-season franchise record. In the 2020 NBA Finals, he set an NBA Finals record with seven three-pointers in Game 5 as an undrafted player. His career total has exceeded 1,000 made three-pointers.

College and Pre-Professional Achievements

Robinson’s pre-professional career was equally distinguished. At Michigan, he earned Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2018 and finished fourth all-time in program history with 237 career three-pointers at 41.9 percent shooting. He helped the Wolverines win the 2018 Big Ten tournament championship and reach the NCAA championship game. At Williams College, he was named NCAA Division III Rookie of the Year and Fourth-team All-American as a freshman while leading the Ephs to the 2014 Division III championship game. He was the NESCAC Rookie of the Year and a Second-team All-NESCAC selection, setting Williams records for freshman scoring and single-season minutes.

Duncan Robinson Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Robinson grew up in New Castle, New Hampshire, with his parents Jeffrey and Elisabeth Robinson and his older siblings Marta and Eli. His mother Elisabeth is of Hawaiian descent, making Robinson part Hawaiian on his mother’s side. His older brother Eli passed away by suicide in 2025 after a schizophrenia diagnosis, a tragedy that profoundly affected Robinson and his family. Following this loss, Robinson and his family established the Robinson Family Foundation to help others dealing with mental health issues.

Personal Life

Beyond basketball, Robinson has pursued media ventures. In 2021, he launched “The Long Shot Pod” with his friend Davis Reid. Produced by ThreeFourTwo Productions, a company owned by former NBA player JJ Redick, the podcast features exclusive conversations with NBA players and celebrities. The podcast has accumulated 8 million views on YouTube. Robinson maintains active engagement with fans through social media platforms including Instagram and X.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Robinson’s first with the Detroit Pistons and proved to be one of his most productive since his early career breakthrough with Miami. After joining Detroit via a sign-and-trade in July 2025, Robinson quickly integrated into the team’s rotation and provided the spacing and shooting expertise that a young Pistons roster needed. He averaged 12.2 points per game while shooting 41 percent from three-point range during the regular season, his highest scoring average since the 2019-20 campaign. His veteran experience and championship pedigree from his Miami tenure added valuable leadership to a developing team.

The Pistons experienced a remarkable turnaround in 2025-26, finishing with a 60-22 record to earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2007. This represented the third-best regular season in franchise history and their first 60-win season since 2005-06. The team’s success validated Robinson’s signing as a crucial addition who could provide floor spacing and playoff experience. Robinson’s shooting remained sharp into the postseason, where he connected on 58.8 percent of his three-point attempts. The Pistons’ deep playoff run demonstrated Robinson’s ability to contribute at a high level with a new organization and established him as a key piece of Detroit’s future.