Duncan Robinson Bio
Duncan McBryde Robinson is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Known as one of the league’s most dangerous outside shooters, Robinson built his reputation as a record-setting three-point specialist during a seven-year run with the Miami Heat. He is the only player from Williams College to ever play in the NBA.
Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 215 pounds, Robinson has become a symbol of perseverance after going undrafted in 2018. He has helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals in both 2020 and 2023, and he continues to extend his place among the most prolific long-range shooters in league history.
Early Life and Background
Born on April 22, 1994, in York, Maine, Duncan McBryde Robinson is the youngest of three children of Jeffrey and Elisabeth Robinson. He is part Hawaiian on his mother’s side. Robinson grew up in the small town of New Castle, New Hampshire, a community of roughly 1,000 people where his sixth-grade graduating class consisted of just four students.
He attended Rye Junior High School and then enrolled at The Governor’s Academy in Massachusetts. A late growth spurt transformed him from a 5-foot-7 freshman point guard into a 6-foot-7 wing. Robinson attended Phillips Exeter Academy for a postgraduate year, leading the team to a 28-1 record and the NEPSAC Class A title while earning Tournament MVP honors. He finished his prep career with a 3.55 grade point average.
Path to Basketball
Robinson’s basketball journey began as a workmanlike shooter at The Governor’s Academy, where he developed his trademark outside shot by attempting around 1,600 attempts per week. His only Division I scholarship offer came from Merrimack College, so he accepted a spot at Williams College, the top-ranked liberal arts school in the country and a Division III powerhouse.
As a freshman at Williams, Robinson set school records for minutes played and points, led the NESCAC in three-point percentage, and guided the Ephs to the 2014 NCAA Division III championship game. That summer, Michigan coach John Beilein offered him a full scholarship, allowing Robinson to transfer to a Division I program. He redshirted in 2014-15, broke the Wolverines’ practice three-point record, and over the next three seasons developed into one of the Big Ten’s most dangerous shooters.
Duncan Robinson Career
Williams College Era (2013-2014)
In his only season at Williams College, Duncan McBryde Robinson emerged as one of the most decorated freshmen in program history. He set Williams single-season records with 1,110 minutes played and 548 freshman points, while leading the NESCAC in three-point percentage at 44.8 percent and minutes played.
Robinson scored 30 points in the Division III tournament semifinals against rival Amherst College and added 17 points in the championship game loss to Wisconsin-Whitewater. He became Williams’ first freshman All-American, the D3Hoops.com National Rookie of the Year, the first freshman NCAA All-Tournament Team selection, and the first freshman 500-point scorer in school history.
University of Michigan Breakthrough (2014-2018)
After redshirting in 2014-15, Robinson played three seasons for the Michigan Wolverines under coach John Beilein. He posted a then career-high 21 points against Nebraska in January 2016 and became the fifth Wolverine in history to record 90 three-pointers in a single season. Robinson finished his sophomore year second in the Big Ten in three-point percentage at 45.0 percent.
As a senior, Robinson helped Michigan win the 2018 Big Ten tournament and reach the 2018 NCAA championship game, where the Wolverines fell to Villanova. He was named the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year by the conference coaches. Robinson finished his Michigan career with 237 made three-pointers at a 41.9 percent clip, placing fourth on the program’s all-time list.
Miami Heat Era (2018-2025)
After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, Duncan McBryde Robinson signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat and the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He made his NBA debut on October 24, 2018, against the New York Knicks, becoming the first former Division III player in the NBA since Devean George and the first player ever from Williams College to appear in a league game.
Robinson quickly developed into one of the league’s most dangerous shooters. In December 2019, he scored an NBA career-high 34 points with 10 three-pointers against the Atlanta Hawks, tying the Heat’s single-game franchise record. He reached 200 career three-pointers in just 69 games, the fastest in NBA history at the time, and finished the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season with 270 made threes, shattering the Heat single-season record. Robinson helped Miami reach the 2020 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
On August 6, 2021, Robinson signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension, the largest deal in NBA history for an undrafted player. He continued to set pace records, becoming the fastest player to reach 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 career three-pointers. Robinson helped the Heat return to the NBA Finals in 2023, where they lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games. He set the Heat career playoff three-point record, passing Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, and LeBron James along the way, and surpassed Tim Hardaway for the franchise’s all-time three-point record.
Detroit Pistons Era (2025-Present)
On July 7, 2025, Duncan McBryde Robinson joined the Detroit Pistons via a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat in exchange for Simone Fontecchio. He signed a three-year, $48 million contract that runs through the 2027-28 season. The move marked a new chapter for Robinson, who brought his elite shooting to a young Pistons team looking to build momentum.
Driving Style and Strengths
Basketball analysts describe Duncan McBryde Robinson as one of the most efficient shooters in NBA history. He set records for fastest to reach 200, 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 career three-pointers, and he holds multiple Heat franchise shooting marks. His ability to space the floor and run off screens has made him a valuable offensive weapon throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Robinson’s most memorable moments include his 34-point outburst against the Atlanta Hawks in 2019, his record-setting 2020 playoff run to the NBA Finals, and his record $90 million extension in 2021. He surpassed Tim Hardaway to become Miami’s all-time leader in made three-pointers and in March 2024 became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-pointers, doing so in just 343 games.
Duncan Robinson Career Wins
Duncan McBryde Robinson’s win résumé spans college, G League, and NBA competition. He helped Williams College reach the 2014 NCAA Division III championship game, led the Michigan Wolverines to the 2018 NCAA championship game, and contributed to two NBA Finals runs with the Miami Heat in 2020 and 2023. He also set two Sioux Falls Skyforce franchise records during his 2018-19 G League season.
NBA Highlights
Robinson’s top NBA wins and records include his 34-point performance with 10 three-pointers against Atlanta in December 2019, his record-setting 2019-20 season with 270 made threes, his appearance in the 2020 NBA Three-Point Contest, and multiple single-season and career three-point records with the Miami Heat. He set the Heat single-game playoff record with eight three-pointers against the Atlanta Hawks in April 2022 and became the fastest player in NBA history to record 1,000 career three-pointers in March 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
During his time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Robinson was a 2019 All-NBA G League Third Team selection after averaging 21.4 points with a 51.4 percent field goal mark and a 48.3 percent three-point rate. He set Skyforce franchise records for single-season three-pointers made (157) and career three-point percentage, the latter of which also stands as an NBA G League all-time mark. He was also named the 2018 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and the 2014 NESCAC Rookie of the Year during his college career.
Duncan Robinson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Duncan McBryde Robinson is the son of Jeffrey and Elisabeth Robinson, both longtime supporters of his basketball career. He is the youngest of three children, with an older sister, Marta, and an older brother, Eli. On his mother’s side, Robinson is of part Hawaiian heritage.
Personal Life
Robinson’s older brother, Eli, died by suicide in 2025 after a schizophrenia diagnosis. Following his passing, Duncan Robinson and his family established the Robinson Family Foundation to help others facing mental health challenges. Off the court, Robinson co-hosts a podcast called The Long Shot Pod with his friend Davis Reid, produced by ThreeFourTwo Productions, the company founded by former NBA player J.J. Redick.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a major transition for Duncan McBryde Robinson, who joined the Detroit Pistons in July after seven seasons with the Miami Heat. Robinson brings veteran leadership and elite shooting to a young Pistons roster aiming to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
His three-year, $48 million contract signals the Pistons’ belief that his three-point shooting can help transform their offense. Robinson is expected to serve as a primary floor-spacer and mentor for the team’s developing wings and guards.
Coming off his record-breaking run with the Heat, Robinson enters Detroit with momentum as the fastest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-pointers. His ability to move without the ball and stretch defenses should play a central role in the Pistons’ offensive game plan throughout the 2025-26 campaign.