Mitchell Robinson touts his ‘incredible’ Knicks impact with unique free agency on horizon

HOUSTON — Mitchell Robinson will be a unique study in NBA free agency. On one hand, he was only averaging 5.4 points before Tuesday’s game against the Rockets. There aren’t many players who got seriously paid with that type of scoring production.

But on the other hand, Robinson is, without much debate anymore, the top offensive rebounder in the NBA. He knows his value. He’s been paying attention to it and recited Tuesday his plus-minus numbers as proof.

“My impact is always incredible,” he said.

Indeed, Robinson, heading into Tuesday, owned the Knicks’ top net rating this season after OG Anunoby. He was No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, by a wide margin. He was shooting 72 percent from the field, which included a heavier dose lately off alley-oops from lobs — especially from Jalen Brunson.

Apparently Robinson’s teammates finally listened.

“We talked about it all year [throwing me lobs for alley-oops],” Robinson said. “They finally started to throw it a little bit. That’s great.”