Rowan Kavner
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – Head coach Doc Rivers wanted to add a veteran who was the best player available with Jamal Crawford sidelined.
The Clippers decided on Nate Robinson, who was signed Saturday morning to a 10-day contract and said he’ll be ready to play Sunday if the Clippers need him.
“We looked at a lot of different guys,” Rivers said. “We looked at another three, we almost brought in a two, there’s a four out there we could’ve brought in. At the end of the day, I just said, ‘Who’s the best player of the group?’ (The staff) said Nate, and I said, ‘Let’s sign Nate,’ and I know Nate.”
Rivers said Robinson had the most experience and talent of any player they thought about signing, and that mattered more than a strict position fit.
“I’d rather get a guy that’s been in the league, can score, and has experience,” Rivers said. “That’s our thinking. If you’re going to do it, it could be 10 days, it could be two 10 days, it could be for the year. If you’re going to bring a guy in at this point, to me, you bring in a veteran guy that’s played the game, and that’s why you don’t worry about positions. You’ll figure it out.”
Rivers has built a comfort level with Robinson, as Rivers coached Robinson in Boston for 81 games from 2009-11. Rivers said the signing has a lot to do with the calf injury to Crawford, who could be out multiple games.
Robinson hasn’t gotten minutes in a game since Jan. 9 with the Nuggets. He averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game during 33 games for Denver this season. For his career, he’s averaged 11.1 points, three assists and 2.4 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game between the Knicks, Celtics, Thunder, Warriors, Bulls and Nuggets.
While Crawford is four years older than Robinson, both players are Seattle natives who attended Rainier Beach High School and know each other well.
“I was a freshman and he was a senior, and we played with the Knicks together,” Robinson said. “This’ll be our third go around. It’ll be pretty cool. ‘Mal’s like my big brother. He’s a real Seattle guy. Our high school team is playing for their third state championship in a row tonight, so hopefully they can win it.”
Robinson also played with Glen Davis for Rivers in Boston. Despite never playing for the Clippers, he has a lot of reasons to feel comfortable with his new team.
The Clippers’ new point guard said he’s waited patiently for a call from a team, and he’s known for a couple weeks the Clippers were an option. He’s been going back and forth from Los Angeles to Seattle to try to stay in the best shape he could while spending time with his children.
He said it’s tough to stay in basketball shape without playing 5-on-5, but he’s been working out as hard as he can, doing a lot of work at UCLA. He wasn’t trying to drive himself crazy listening to rumors of where he might end up, but he’s glad to be with the Clippers. He said he also had interest from the Bulls, Wizards, Cavaliers and “a couple other teams,” but the Clippers pushed hard for him.
“Being under Doc’s system again is definitely going to be comfortable for me,” he said. “I know all the plays, so it won’t be hard to come in and help the team and run the team how he wants me to do it.”
Robinson said he believes the bench could use a spark with Crawford out, but he added that the reserves know what they need to do, and he’s watched the Clippers and seen the chemistry they have. He said he’s just trying to add to that, and if he’s needed Sunday against the Warriors, he’ll be ready.
“For them, or for us now, just continue to build that chemistry,” Robinson said. “You’ve got to get hot at the right time, and right now they’re going on the up. That’s what you want.”