Pacers assign Robinson to D-League for one game, but future remains bright

Candace Buckner | IndyStar

Over the past few days, a little-used small forward has been the most talked-about player on the Indiana Pacers’ roster.

First, Glenn Robinson III appeared as the good son in a video that features him giving his mother a Mercedes for Christmas. Then Robinson returned to Minnesota for a "revenge" game of sorts against the team that drafted and then waived him.

On Sunday, Robinson deserved mention once again when the Pacers assigned him to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Robinson, a second-year player who has appeared in 18 games this season, made his first trip to the NBA Development League to play in the Sunday matinee game against the Sioux City SkyForce. The Pacers also sent rookie guard Joe Young for a one-game Mad Ants assignment. Both players are expected to return to Indianapolis on Monday night as the Pacers face the Atlanta Hawks.

“It’s great for those guys,” coach Frank Vogel said Sunday. “There’s very little practice time. Those guys go and play for 30 minutes and get hit, get tired and get some game shots. We can’t replicate that. Really intelligent use of our D-League team.”

The D-League duty came just a day after Vogel implied that Robinson, who turns 22 in January, could eventually see rotational minutes for the Pacers. Gifted in athleticism, the 6-7 Robinson oozes with potential for a team that now prizes versatile wing players.

However, Robinson waits his turn behind veterans like Chase Budinger, C.J. Miles and full-time starter Paul George. So upon his homecoming on Monday, Robinson, who has averaged 4.1 points in a little more than 10 minutes per game this season, will likely return to the bench.

“(Robinson’s) going to play for us soon,” Vogel said in Minneapolis on Saturday night. “It’s just a matter of finding the right time. We've got a lot of guys playing well ahead of him. I believe in that kid and he proves me right every time he steps on the court, in practice or in games.”

On Saturday, Vogel rewarded Robinson with almost 4½ minutes of game action, all in the first half. In the brief appearance against the Timberwolves, Robinson missed his only shot attempt but grabbed two defensive rebounds. Before the game, Robinson said through conversations with Vogel and Larry Bird, the president of basketball operations, he has remained optimistic about a possible big break into the rotation.

“They’ve done a great job of talking to me. They haven’t really given me a definite timeframe or when it’s going to come, but they're saying that that point is going to come,” Robinson said. “Just knowing my moment is coming, I think that really locks me in, too. That keeps me going. So that’s a good thing to hear, especially from Larry.”

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ATLANTA vs INDIANA

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Monday, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

TV: FSI

Radio: 1070 AM, 93.5 FM

Pacers (17-12)

Pos;Player;PPG;Key stat

PG; George Hill; 12.0 ppg; 3.4 apg

SG; Monta Ellis; 12.7 ppg; 4.5 apg

SF; Paul George; 24.8 ppg; 7.7 rpg

PF; C.J. Miles; 14.6 ppg; 39.5 3pt%

C; Ian Mahinmi; 8.1 ppg; 7.1 rpg

6th; Rodney Stuckey; 10.7 ppg; 3.5 rpg

Hawks (20-12)

PG; Jeff Teague; 15.4 ppg; 5.9 apg

SG; Kyle Korver; 9.9 ppg; 40.7 3pt%

SF; Kent Bazemore; 12.3 ppg; 4.5 rpg

PF; Paul Milsap; 17.9 ppg; 8.8 rpg

C; Al Horford; 15.2 ppg; 6.9 rpg

6th; Dennis Schröder; 10.8 ppg; 4.4 apg

Stuckey 'tweaked' ankle but will play

Rodney Stuckey says he does not have a history of ankle problems but this season he has experienced three documented sprains to his right ankle. The most recent problem occurred on Saturday night in Minnesota when Stuckey stepped on Ricky Rubio’s foot. Stuckey briefly left the game but returned and finished with 7 points (3-of-9 shooting) in 24 minutes. Though the ankle remained sore on Sunday, Stuckey expects to play against the Hawks.

“He certainly doesn’t like to sit out,” Vogel said. “He’s one of those tough guys that’s going to tough it out. If he can walk, he’s going to be out there.”

Myles Turner update

Myles Turner will undergo an x-ray on Monday, the six-week marker since undergoing surgery to repair a chip fracture in his left thumb. Turner, whom the Pacers selected 11th in last summer’s draft, has not appeared in a game since Nov. 11 and even if the x-ray reveals a fully recovered thumb don’t expect to see him back on the court soon. During these six weeks Turner has conditioned – but has not participated in live action or 5-on-5 activity – and will “have a ways to go” to get back to game speed, said Vogel.

Prediction

While teams like the Warriors and the Spurs are snatching all the attention, the Atlanta Hawks have won six straight and climbed into the No. 2 seed in the East. As the Hawks gain footing before the turn of the calendar, the Pacers should be ready to forget about December and their up-and-down play through the month. Atlanta wins 101-99.

Follow Star reporter Candace Buckner on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.