You don't see too many three-year NBA veterans --- especially a Slam Dunk Champion who's become one of the game's most recognizable figures -- playing among the rookies, hopefuls and dreamers of the Summer League.

But when the quiet of the team bus is shattered by that familiar, non-stop chatter, and you realize this is Nate Robinson we're talking about, the logic is simple.

"Otherwise, I'd just be sitting at home just working out by myself," says the Knicks' instant-offense dynamo. "It's better to get a good run and get competition, get to go up and down, get to know the rookies. Just being here at Summer League for the third time is fun. I encourage a lot of guys to do it, just to stay in shape and get away from everything else and just to be in Vegas."

And that's exactly where he is, for the third straight year, at the NBA Summer League, presented by adidas.

Two years ago, Robinson made his professional debut at the Vegas Summer League far more as a curiosity than a sure thing. No one was certain if the 5-foot-9 dervish could survive in the NBA's land of the giants. Now, with a highlight-reel career in full blossom, Robinson is using summerball as a hoop laboratory yet again.

With the new dynamics of the Knicks' roster, Robinson may be asked to play major minutes at point guard, more time there than perhaps he's ever logged in his career. That learning experience began in earnest at Summer League.

The early returns have been more than encouraging. With Robinson running the Knicks' offense, New York has bolted to a 3-0 start at Summer League, as Nate has averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 assists in the three contests. He scored 19 points in New York's Summer League opener against Seattle on Monday, then poured in a team-high 21 with 10 assists in Thursday night's wire-to-wire triumph over Sacramento.

"That's just something that I want to grow to become a better player, and better myself in learning to become a point guard," said Robinson, who upped his scoring average to 10.1 last season after notching 9.3 points as a rookie. "Playing hard, playing smart, and getting everybody involved. And getting everybody involved is getting me open shots. That's another key that I want to do; better my teammates and better me."

Getting those open shots has resulted in Robinson going 16-for-33 from the field (.485) in the first three summer games, including 6-for-15 from three-point range. In Thursday's win over the Kings, he scored 16 first-half points as the Knicks took an 18-point halftime lead. He was slowed up in the third quarter when he suffered a cut under his right eye -- courtesy of an errant finger-poke from Sacramento's Spencer Hawes -- but returned in the fourth to help thwart a late Kings rally.

It's symbolic of a Robinson who vows improvement in one vital part of his game, without sacrificing the hellbent style that has symbolized his NBA career.

"Just being me, just making better decisions and going along at 110 miles per hour," he says. "Just being a smarter player. That's the only tool that I see that I need to become a better player. Just slow down and let the game come to me; everything else will fall into place."

Robinson is also using this week to serve as a mentor to the young Knick hopefuls, especially Draft Night acquisitions Wilson Chandler and Demetris Nichols. After all, it wasn't so long ago that he was in their shoes … before his -- and the Knicks' -- world changed in a flash.

"We have a lot of guys with great talent, both (Draft Night) guys have a lot of potential to be great, and that's the key," he said. "As long as they play hard and bring it every day, they'll be okay."

THURSDAY'S GAME: All five Knicks starters scored in double figures as New York led all the way and held off a late Kings rally in defeating Sacramento, 96-84 at Cox Pavilion to improve their Summer League record to 3-0.

In addition to Robinson's 21, Renaldo Balkman (18), Nichols (17), Chandler (15) and Randolph Morris (10) all notched double-digit points. Morris added 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the week.

New York built as much as a 22-point lead (76-54) late in the third quarter, but the Kings began the fourth quarter with a 21-6 run and cut the lead to four (84-80). Nichols and Robinson each hit three-pointers in the final moments to seal the win. Hawes (the tenth overall pick in the '07 Draft) and Pooh Jeter led the Kings with 22 points each.

NEXT UP: Following a day off (with a practice) on Friday, the Knicks return to Summer League action on Saturday (July 14) against Golden State at Cox Pavilion. Game time will be 10 p.m. ET. They'll wrap up Summer League play on Sunday (July 15) against Denver at 3 p.m. ET. … Both games will be cablecast on MSG with Gus Johnson and Walt Frazier.