The NBA season is in full swing, so we sat down with Nate Robinson to get his perspective on basketball’s biggest talking points. From this season’s most impressive players, to LeBron’s performance, and how the game is changing, Nate shares his expert opinion on some of the NBA’s biggest stories.
Nate Robinson Dishes On This Season’s Top NBA Players
Tipping off our exclusive interview with Nate Robinson, are his thoughts on the top players of the 2023-24 NBA season, and his opinions on the hype surrounding Victor Wembanyama:
Which players have impressed you the most this season?
“The most impressive kid right now has to be the point guard for the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton. The way he is playing, his percentages; he’s shooting over 50 percent from the field, he’s shooting 40 plus from 3, he’s shooting 90 from free throw, and he’s making a lot of assists. He’s not making too many turnovers and he helps his team win. So I would have to say he has impressed me the most so far. I love Anthony Edwards too; he’s impressed me big time.
“Victor Wembanyama is bringing back a lot of buzz to the NBA, which is awesome. I do like Chet Holmgren. He’s showing me that he can play at this level and be effective — he’s having a great season. I love Dennis Smith Jr. What he’s doing defensively; I think he’s one of the best, if not the best, defensive guards in the league. Guys are shooting at an all-time low when they’re shooting against him. He’s dropping guys with student percentages drastically when he’s on the court.”
I think Wemby is an alien. I don’t think he is from this earth, and I think they’re just messing with us.
Who is the next superstar in the NBA and could it be Victor Wembanyama?
“They want Victor Wembanyama to be great, but he hasn’t even played a full season yet. They’re not letting him become great, they’re already saying he is great. Let him play some seasons first, jeez Louise. Slow down and let him play some seasons first. I haven’t ever seen somebody get rushed to become a superstar in my life.
“Maybe it’s because they’ve never seen somebody like this guy before — a 7-foot guy who can move and play basketball and shoot. Usually, those type of guys are unorganized; they can’t run, shoot, dunk, or do anything. But now the world is changing, and guys can move like they’re five-foot-seven. I think Wemby is an alien. I don’t think he is from this earth, and I think they’re just messing with us. I think they’ve put an alien in the NBA, but now they have two of them and the other alien is LeBron James.”
Nate Robinson’s Thoughts On The Current NBA Season & LeBron
Robinson digs into the current NBA season and weighs-in on the raging debate about who is the greatest NBA play of all-time, LeBron James or Michael Jordan:
How would you rate the NBA season so far this year?
“This season has been decent. I’m not sure about the In-Season Tournament thing — that was weird. I’m not a fan of it, but it is what it is. You get to win some money for your team and your family, so that’s pretty cool. It’s always fun when you can win some free money, but somebody needs to tell us what the real reason is behind it? It’s not like whoever wins gets a free playoff bid or the number one draft pick. I don’t know what you could make out of it, but for now, it’s about the money. I don’t know how they’re going to spin it and turn it differently.”
What are your thoughts on LeBron this season, and how long do you think he can continue in the sport?
“He’s the GOAT. LeBron can play until he wants to stop playing, and that’s the beauty of LeBron. He’s good enough to be playing basketball at a high level and when he wants to stop playing basketball, you don’t need to tell him. He’s got five years, two years, one year, only he knows. The way he plays the game is the right way and how it’s supposed to be played. He’s one of our greatest superstars from any sport. You can go pick soccer, football, baseball, or whatever sport, and LeBron is one of the best superstars we have around the world…he’s one of the best, if not the best.”
How does LeBron keep performing?
“He enjoys it and you can still see that’s the best thing about his game. It will never leave him, because it’s a part of who he is, and it’s his inner child. He’s having fun at 39 years old. It’s still the backyard game that you grew up playing as a kid with your friends, and he still plays it that way — that’s why he’ll be able to play it forever.”
Do you think LeBron has eclipsed Michael Jordan?
“You can’t compare the two. They are both great, but also great people. At the end of the day, it comes down to people’s preferences. For a lot of kids these days, LeBron is their Michael Jordan. All I am saying is, it is unfair to both of them.
“Personally, I think Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever play the game, because that’s who I grew up watching and I’m a great fan of him. He was the reason I wanted to play basketball; he was the person I wanted to compete against.”
Nate Robinson Reflects On His Career & How The NBA Has Changed
As the final seconds count down on our interview, Robinson reminisces on his career, player salaries, and where he sees the NBA heading in the future:
What has changed from your time in basketball to now?
“The players are getting younger, but they’re faster, stronger, better shooters, and are athletes who understand the game. We’re seeing different styles of players. You’re not seeing the same type of players, like Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan, or somebody like LeBron James. Everybody’s different in their own way and that’s something I’m enjoying.
“Everybody wants to be a professional athlete. I like the fact that there are other outlets; the league for the men and there’s women’s basketball that’s coming up. They’re adding more teams for the women, so it’s getting more competitive. It’s getting more fun and I’m loving where basketball is heading in the next 10 to 20 years.”
Do you see the NBA playing league games outside of America?
“You will be seeing different teams in different countries being a part of the NBA, and I think that’s when it’s going to be the most competitive time. When the NBA starts playing in different countries, that’s when it becomes even more global.
“I know one thing; you’re going to have to build bigger stadiums for games in the NBA. There’s going to be so many people who want to come and see the NBA play. Can you imagine LeBron James and Steph Curry coming overseas and playing a real game, and not an exhibition game? A real basketball game in front of fans would be crazy. Saudi Arabia will never takeover the NBA, but you never know. They could team up and join forces.”
How has the culture changed in the NBA since you retired?
“The coaches are a little different but, first and foremost, the money is different. Now guys are really grinding so they can take care of their family, leading to generational wealth — that changes everything. The money has increased from when I was coming up. $60 million was like oh my God — the biggest deal was $50 million. Now that’s chump change compared to what guys are making. To some people, $50 million can change somebody’s life, but the superstars and the big contracts are now $300 million.”
What were the best moments of your career?
“Honestly, I just appreciate the time spent being around my peers. Being around guys that I grew up watching, guys who I grew up competing against — and me ultimately becoming a kid’s favorite player one day. That was probably the coolest thing for me. Some kids in China, Africa, Spain, France, Madrid, Portugal, Brazil, or anywhere else around world knew who I was and wanted to be like Nate Robinson. That’s a pretty cool highlight.”
If you want to bet on the NBA season, whether it’s season long wagers, individual games, futures or prop bets, then head over to Bovada. This premiere NBA betting site has an extensive list of NBA wagers that you can bet on. You’ll also find some fantastic sports betting bonuses to help build your NBA bankroll.
More NBA News from The Sports Geek
Get even more of the latest NBA news from our basketball experts by heading over to The Sports Geek’s NBA blog!
