Strus: 'Robinson Is a Curry-Level Shooter' — Teammate Praise or Tactical Reality?

Max Strus sat in front of the camera for the Link With JB program, his eyes showing no hesitation when talking about former teammate Duncan Robinson: "He's one of the most special shooters in the NBA. Robinson's shooting is on the same level as Steph Curry." The statement spread quickly across social media, but what does it actually mean? Is it emotional teammate praise, or a tactical assessment with substance? I have followed the NBA for nearly two decades, and I know that comparisons of this kind are often exaggerated by the locker-room context. But let's dissect it further. Context: Strus and Robinson played together for three seasons with the Miami Heat. Robinson joined the Heat first, becoming a key part of the team that reached the 2026-20 NBA Finals. Strus arrived later and was "taken under Robinson's wing" — as he himself admitted: "Robinson took me under his wing. He motivated me to become a better shooter." This mentor-student relationship sets the stage for the praise. But when I reviewed Robinson's game data from the 2026-20 season, I noticed something interesting: the numbers do not fully support this comparison. Core analysis: "Same level as Curry" is a misleading statement if interpreted in a holistic sense. Curry is not just a shooter — he is an elite ball-handler and creator who can generate his own shot against any defense. Robinson, by contrast, is a catch-and-shoot and off-ball movement specialist. He excels in that role but cannot create his own shot at Curry's volume. I found it in a data table nobody looks at: Robinson's shooting percentage depends heavily on Miami's drive-and-kick system. When that system runs smoothly, Robinson is a devastating weapon. When it gets choked off, his value drops noticeably. This does not diminish Robinson's importance — every modern team needs a spacer like him. But it places Strus's praise in proper context: it is praise for pure shooting skill, not for carrying an offense. Contrarian angle: There is a possibility few consider — Strus may be describing practice sessions, not official games. Many elite shooters look "generational" in low-pressure shooting drills. Robinson could be one of them: a guy you cannot miss in warmups, but whose real value is measured by the defensive attention he commands. I have witnessed this many times in games: Robinson stretches the defense, creating lanes for Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to exploit. That is his real value — not points, but gravity. And that explains why Miami values him highly, even though he never became a star. Takeaway: Strus's praise is a positive signal for Miami's locker-room culture — where veteran players mentor younger ones. But it is not statistical evidence to compare Robinson with Curry. The real question front offices should ask: what is the value of an elite shooter who is limited elsewhere? Robinson answered that question with his contract. Strus, through this praise, is also affirming his own position in the Heat's player-development story. As for Curry? He remains in a different tier — one that no teammate's praise can change.