This time three years ago, Nate Robinson was a promising Knicks rookie preparing for a trip to the All-Star festivities in Houston, where he participated in the rookie-sophomore game and the slam-dunk contest, the latter of which he won.
That year’s Knicks ended the season with 23 wins, a long way from the playoffs, and Robinson looked to be one of the few bright spots in a grim future for the franchise.
LEE LEFT OUT OF ALL-STAR GAME
The ensuing 2 ½ years have been an up-and-down road for the 24-year-old guard, and it has never been more so than since the start of 2009. After going through about a two-week slump that saw his minutes decline along with his field-goal percentage, in the last 10 days Robinson has regained his shooting touch.
He was electric in Wednesday night’s 112-104 win over Atlanta, scoring 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. He is averaging 19.5 points in the previous six games, five of which the Knicks have won, pulling them into a tie for the final playoff spot in the East.
“I just always try to bring energy,” Robinson said. “It’s all confidence and the team. You got to shoot your way out of slumps, so now I just stay in the gym like I’ve been doing and just doing my same routine.”
The low point of the slump for the 5-foot-9 sparkplug from Washington came on Jan. 6 in a 107-99 loss to the Thunder. After scoring four points in 20 minutes the previous night in the Knicks’ biggest win of the season against the Celtics at home, Robinson might have been pressing too much going into Oklahoma City.
As in most games when he struggles, Robinson couldn’t find his outside shot, going 0-for-7 from three-point range and 4-for-18 overall from the field.
“When [his energy] channeled in the right direction, he is one of the better players,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Then he has these other moments where he goes with a different plan. When he was in his mini-slump, that is why we struggled.”
The Knicks travel to Indiana for tomorrow night’s game there before hosting three of the best in the league – Lakers, Cavaliers and Celtics – in what will be a key stretch going into the All-Star break.
Unlike any time in Robinson’s career, his consistency is now paramount to a team that is showing signs of being a playoff contender.
“Honestly, it feels good, but it’s a long second half of the season coming up after the All-Star break,” Robinson said. “We got a couple of games coming up that are big, but we’re just trying to take it one game at a time.”
*
David Lee’s hopes to be the first Knick named to an All-Star team since 2001 was denied yesterday when the reserves list was announced. Lee is fifth in the league in rebounding with 11.6 per game and third on the Knicks with 15.7 points per game.
bcyrgalis@nypost.com
