Max Strus Compares Duncan Robinson to Steph Curry: 'Same Level' - Reality Shatters Consensus

The missed free throw in the 88th minute had nothing to do with technique, but with the pressure from an exaggerated comparison between two players. Max Strus, who played with Duncan Robinson for three seasons at the Miami Heat, just declared in the YouTube program Link With JB that Robinson's shooting is 'at the same level as Steph Curry'. This statement hit like an upset against the dominant NBA narrative: if Robinson is really on the same level, why did the 2026-20 Heat only reach the Finals and then collapse? People call me the troublemaker. I am just listening to the squeak of the wheels. The real context is not on the court, but in Miami Heat's famous player development system. Since 2026, the team built rosters relying on internal talent: not spending hundreds of millions on stars, but honing overlooked players. Duncan Robinson is the living proof. He was not a high draft pick, not a big contract player, but a pure shooting specialist. And Strus, after mentorship from Robinson, became the narrator of this story with a mix of pride and modesty. But behind the praise is an empty shell: in reality, Robinson is not Curry. The core analysis lies in Strus's observation through practice sessions. He did not provide numbers, shot difficulty, volume, or defensive attention. Only one thing: Robinson shoots 'same as Curry'. But reading the transcript carefully, there is no data proving it. This is just teammate praise, not tactical analysis. While Curry creates shots through on-ball creation, handling and decision-making – things Robinson never had – Robinson is a pure catch-and-shoot specialist. He opens space, creates driving lanes, and is a weapon any team needs against switching defenses. But that role is not 'same level' as Curry, but an effective supplement for a drive-and-kick system. The blind spot even Strus might miss is that this comparison is blind to playoff reality. In the 2026-20 season, when Heat reached the Finals, Robinson contributed only a small part to the spacing success. He was not the decision-maker, but the space stretcher. When opponents switched to hunt limited creators, Robinson was easier to hunt than Curry. In fact, Robinson was much worse than Strus's comparison when talking about practice shooting: in empty gym or warmup, he looked 'generationally good'. But under real pressure, when defensive attention multiplies, the difference shows. Many NBA analysts noted that elite off-ball shooters age better because technique depends less on burst. But Robinson is now 30, and his role is now just backup spacing. While Curry is still the shot creator against any coverage. This comparison is not a compliment, but a reminder of the limits of 'elite specialist' in modern NBA. I could be wrong where? Yes, if I underestimate Robinson's value. He was really important for Miami 2026-20. Without him, the Heat offense might not have overachieved in a season full of injuries. But comparing him to Curry is the biggest mistake. Curry is not only a shooter; he is an on-ball creator, a defender-bender. Robinson is the space opener, the one replacing execution mistakes. Many NBA fans easily fall into 'role player = underdog' narrative, but in reality, spacing is the key to teams contending. However, when Strus says 'same level', he unintentionally diminishes Robinson's actual value: he is not a mini-Curry, but one of the league's most excellent shooters, enough for Heat to survive playoffs but not to lead. If Robinson is paid the max, that is a financial mistake – because his value does not match the contract. Instead, Heat should focus on developing more Robinson-style players instead of hoping for a 'Curry mini'. Based on 30 years of NBA observation, I see this story repeating hundreds of times: ex-teammate praise is often personal, not data. Strus is not the first to call Robinson 'special'. Many others said he is unmissable in practice. But when transferred to in-game, Robinson is just a shooting machine, not a game-changing weapon. The takeaway: in modern basketball, elite spacing is still important, but not to be exaggerated into 'Curry level'. If Robinson wants to prove value, he needs to transition to creator role, not cling to pure shooter. As for Heat, they need to learn the lesson: develop internal talent well, but never let a teammate's praise change reality perception. Basketball does not die from losing, but dies when thinking that supportive roles are enough to compare with stars.