Mitchell Robinson's Heartwarming Gesture
The New York Knicks' 7-foot center Mitchell Robinson is known for his impressive on-court skills, but it's his off-court actions that truly showcase the size of his heart. During a recent in-game interview, Robinson's high school coach, Butch Stockton, shared a touching story about the player's kindness.
According to Stockton, Robinson visited his wife, Dawn, every day while she was in the hospital. Sadly, Dawn passed away in September after a battle with metastatic cancer. In a remarkable display of compassion, Robinson invited his former coach to move in with him following his wife's death.
Stockton revealed that Robinson proposed the idea during Dawn's funeral. "He said, 'Coach, no reason to stay down here in Louisiana. You come to New York with me and enjoy yourself and get your mind back straight because you know how much you loved your wife,'" Stockton shared. "It's just been a great situation."
Dawn Stockton, who was married to Butch for 31 years, passed away at the age of 70. Her obituary can be found here.
During the Knicks' victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, Robinson, who contributed six points and grabbed nine rebounds, expressed his admiration for his coach, calling him a "great guy" who has helped him reach his current level of success.
"It's a mutually beneficial relationship," Robinson stated. "I assist him, and he assists me." Robinson also revealed that his coach will be living with him for the remainder of the year.
In a 2018 interview, Stockton mentioned that he became aware of Robinson, a "tall kid walking in the neighborhood," after the Robinson family relocated to St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana. Stockton sought to recruit him for his high school basketball team, and after speaking with Robinson's mother, the teenager enrolled in Stockton's school. Stockton assured Robinson that he would have the opportunity to excel in basketball at the next level.
"I always tell everyone, Mitchell Robinson was the first one in the gym every day, and the last one to leave the gym every day," Stockton told MSG Networks.
Following his selection by the Knicks in the 2018 draft, Robinson went on to become one of the NBA's top offensive rebounders.
