Rick Barry, the 82-year-old Hall of Famer and 12-time NBA All-Star, offered clear advice when reached by phone.
"He should have switched to shooting [free throws] underhand before he broke his finger," Barry said.
Everything was going smoothly for the Knicks this postseason until Robinson broke his right pinky finger. The team revealed the injury did not occur during a game or practice, but declined to provide further specifics.
Robinson underwent surgery and hopes to play in the Finals against either the Thunder or Spurs. The bad news: Robinson is already a poor free-throw shooter, hitting just 13 of 43 attempts this postseason — a mere 30.2%.
Adding a brace to his broken digit will likely make matters worse at the line.
The Underhand Advantage
Barry shot 89.3% from the line over his 14-season career (1965-1980) using his unique underhand style.
Despite that success, the technique has fallen out of fashion in the NBA. Barry doesn't understand why.
"Shooting underhand has been proven scientifically by physicists to be a superior form from the free-throw line," Barry insisted. "It's much easier to control the ball and the arc it creates."
He noted it's especially beneficial for bigger players with larger hands.
Why It Could Help Robinson
Barry believes underhand shots would help Robinson — particularly with the broken pinky finger and brace he'll be wearing.
"That broken finger would be nothing with the underhand free throw because all the feel and touch comes from the other fingers," Barry explained. "You're rolling your hands together and the ball rolls out with your arm swing. The pinky has nothing to do with it."
Regarding the timeline — the NBA Finals begin on Wednesday — Barry was cautiously optimistic.
"If I showed him how to do it now, he'd have three or four days to practice it," Barry said. "And who knows, maybe he'd pick it up. It's a simple technique. It's all about the feel."
Barry also taught the approach to his son, Canyon, who used it in G-League and international 3x3 competitions.
The Stigma Issue
While convinced it would help Robinson become a better free-throw shooter, Barry acknowledged the likelihood of changes is low.
Athletes often resist the "Granny Style" aesthetic and fear peer judgment. Barry has little patience for that concern.
"Throw your ego in the freakin' closet," Barry said. "It's all about how often you can make it. Who cares what you look like? The style means nothing. It's the results that really matter. If you make more, they're gonna play you more."