Duncan Robinson: From Division III to NBA Finals – An Unconventional Basketball Journey

Duncan Robinson’s basketball journey is nothing short of remarkable. It’s an incredible story of perseverance, talent, and the power of unexpected opportunities that has taken him from Division III college basketball to the pinnacle of the sport – the NBA Finals.

Robinson’s journey began at Williams College, a small Division III school in Massachusetts, where as a freshman he led the Ephs to the 2014 NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament championship game and was named the 2014 Division III national rookie of the year. However, after his coach, Mike Maker, left for a Division I job, Robinson found himself at a crossroads​.

Maker encouraged Robinson to consider the Division I interest he’d begun to receive. This led him to John Beilein, then the head coach at the University of Michigan, who saw potential in Robinson. Beilein, familiar with talent from lower divisions due to his previous coaching roles, watched Robinson’s film extensively and decided to take a chance on the Division III standout. This was largely due to his belief that Robinson could fill a void in the team and benefit from a redshirt year to physically prepare for high-major Division I basketball​.

Robinson made the most of the opportunity. He became the first player to score points in both a Division I and Division III national semifinal game. He started in his first year of eligibility at Michigan, scored more than 1,000 points for the Wolverines, and was a part of conference tournament champions in 2017 and 2018. Despite losing his starting spot during his final season, Robinson continued to excel, turning what could have been an unsettling setback into one of the best stretches of his career. Beilein’s faith in Robinson was repaid in full, as Robinson played a significant role in Michigan’s run to the 2018 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament championship game, where they eventually lost to Villanova​​.