When Glenn Robinson III walked into the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday to make his return debut against the Chicago Bulls, things were a little different than the last time he donned a Sixers uniform.
He last played with Philadelphia in the 2014-15 season as a rookie and he was playing for a very bad Sixers team that was going through the infamous “process”. He is now playing for a legitimate championship contender with a lot more talent and his role is to provide shooting and scoring to a team in desperate need of it.
“The players definitely got better,” he said with a laugh. “But, it’s always weird. Like I said, a new day at a job, that first step, it’s always different, but I felt the energy in the building. It’s great to be back; a lot of fans, a lot of everyone coming to me with open arms and I’m glad that I’m back here in Philly. I really feel like I could help this team and I’m just glad to be wanted.”
The Sixers definitely wanted him. They gave up three future draft picks in order to bring him and Alec Burks in from the Golden State Warriors. All of those good feelings are things that are going to help the transition for him and playing for coach Brett Brown again has its advantages as well.
“I think that’s the main thing as a player, coming to different situations, whether it’s a trade or getting picked up in free agency. Being wanted is a great feeling.,” he explained. “For Brett to FaceTime me almost immediately after finding out the news, I think that that says a lot about his character, my character and what they want here.”
Robinson has made huge strides since his last time in Philadelphia. He has developed a reputation as a two-way player and his jumper and perimeter defense has improved. After the Sixers, he joined the Indiana Pacers and he made strides forward as a shooter and he learned the game in order to improve as a player.
That will give the Sixers exactly what they need in order to make an impact.
“The game’s slowed down a lot,” he explained. “It slows down every year that you’re in the league and just becoming a better defender and a better shooter. When I left here, I had to guard Paul George every day in practice and compete for a spot on every team I’ve been on. So I feel like my confidence and just being an overall better basketball player, my IQ of the game has gotten a lot better, it’s just slowed down. It’s as simple as that.”
Brown only had Robinson for 10 games as a rookie, but he noticed something with him the last time he had him that would allow him to stay in the league for a long time.
“I felt that he had the pedigree like he had the DNA to make you pay attention,” explained Brown. “The more you paid attention, the more you felt like ‘He has a real chance’ like he did some things that were unique. As you step back and watch him grow, he can shoot and he can defend.”
Robinson III had the tough task of defending the opposition’s best players while with the Warriors. He would constantly go at guys like James Harden, Devin Booker, Kawhi Leonard, Brandon Ingram, and others that would make life hard on any better and he held his own.
He forced Booker into five turnovers in two matchups with him, for example, and that type of effort will help the team going forward.
“Look at the assignments he was given on that Golden State team,” Brown continued. “He had to go guard the other team’s best player. The fact that he can guard and he can make a shot really helps like it’s a pretty positive two-way player that you get into the program in February.”
Robinson III is especially excited to see the team’s new practice facility after practicing at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine the last time he was here.
“I haven’t seen the new practice facility,” he said with a smile. “I’m excited to do that too because we were at PCOM last time when I was here. It’s a big difference, I’ve heard.”
Things are going to be much different this time around. [lawrence-related id=25401,25393,25375]