Duncan Robinson replacement excites Miami Heat with record-breaking EuroBasket display

Robinson is a good fit for the Pistons’ starting line-up, while Fontecchio’s spot on the Heat roster remains uncertain.

But the Italian star has made life easier for the Heat after a remarkable display at the EuroBasket tournament on Sunday.

Fontecchio set a new single-game scoring record for Italy, contributing significantly to their 96-79 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The forward achieved his total by shooting an impressive 13-of-20 from the field.

The reaction on social media was overwhelmingly positive, with plenty of Heat fans taking to X to share their excitement about what he could bring to the upcoming NBA season.

“Better than Duncan Robinson,” one fan wrote.

Another X user added: “This performance will go down in history.”

A third fan commented: “He broke the record beautifully.”

“Give him more minutes in the NBA,” a fourth said.

“Really hoping he carries some of this over into the regular season,” added another.

Robinson spent seven seasons with Miami, so Fontecchio has a lot to live up to. But if his play this summer is any indication, he might be up for it.

Comparing Duncan Robinson and Simone Fontecchio’s NBA careers

The Heat have a reputation for turning overlooked prospects into reliable contributors, and Robinson fits that mould perfectly. He went undrafted before carving out a steady role in Miami.

Over seven seasons, Robinson put up 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 43.4% overall and nearly 40% from beyond the arc.

Fontecchio’s path was not much different early on – he also went undrafted. After stops with the Jazz and Pistons, Miami marks the third chapter of his NBA career.

Across three seasons so far, he has averaged 7.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and just over one assist per game on shooting splits of 41.9% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.

Robinson’s track record gives him the edge at this point in their careers, but Fontecchio now has an opportunity to develop further under Erik Spoelstra in Miami.