Meet Mitchell Robinson — the one from Brentwood, not the Knicks star
Brentwood's own Mitchell Robinson on the court on Friday. His wife, Pamela, is also a huge Knicks fan. Credit: Howard Simmons
Mitchell Robinson says he used to be pretty good at basketball.
No, not THAT Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks center, age 28. Mitchell Robinson, 60, the Estée Lauder auditor who lives in Brentwood with his wife, Pamela. Both are Knicks fans.
"I tell her, she’s a big Knicks fan, but she has the real Mitchell Robinson at home," the elder Mitchell said Friday morning.
Brentwood's Mitchell Robinson, top, sinks a free throw. New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson dunks during a game, bottom. Credit: Howard Simmons; AP/Sue Ogrocki
Like the namesake, Brentwood’s Robinson also likes to play basketball. As a young man, he played at Amityville Memorial High School and around the neighborhood. Unlike his namesake, he’s a pretty good free-throw shooter.
"I had my time," he said. "Trust me. I was good when I was younger. Not as young as I used to be."
Robinson is among dozens if not hundreds of Long Islanders who share names with the Knicks lineup and are drawing special attention as the team seeks to win its first NBA title in 53 years.
There’s Dillon Jones, of Selden, not the Knicks forward. Jaylen Brunson, of Baldwin, might be confused for Jalen Brunson, the Knicks guard.
Jose Alvarado, 21, of Central Islip, a pet store worker, has point guard Jose Alvarado's jersey, which he bought about three weeks ago.
Alvarado, of Central Islip, said others notice the two share a name.
"People always recognize it. They tell me all the time. They send me his Instagram and stuff," he said. "I hope he’s one of my long-lost cousins."
It’s an unsought right of passage for those who share a name with an athlete who leads a local team to glory, where the fame-less seem famous.
In 2019, a human resources manager named Lucas W. Falk, who is not Jets quarterback Luke Falk, recalled having accidentally been sent part of the Tennessee Titans’ playbook, ESPN reported.
"Anytime Luke Falk gets a time to shine, I’m reminded of when the Tennessee Titans accidentally sent me a portion of their playbook," he tweeted.
Sometimes, being a name twin turns into a question of loyalty.
In 2024, before the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series, men named Aaron Judge, Luke Weaver, Anthony Volpe and Clay Holmes told the Los Angeles Times that they’re rooting for the Dodgers despite sharing names with Bronx Bombers.
So it's no surprise that not all New Yorkers are rooting for the Knicks.
Newsday looked through public records to find Long Islanders whose names matched the Knicks roster, then did the same for the San Antonio Spurs.
That search yielded the phone number for a man named Julian Champagnie, who appeared to be registered to vote in Islip Terrace.
Newsday called him on Friday — he has a San Antonio area code, 210 — and it turned out to be THE Julian Champagnie, the Spurs forward, not just someone who shares a name with a famous person.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns defends San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Champagnie was puzzled and amused and in a rush to get off the phone.
"I’m sorry. I don’t usually do this on game day," said Champagnie, who hails from Flatbush and went to St. John's. "We have Game 2 tonight."
How does he feel to be playing against his hometown team?
"I feel fine."
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
