Roberston Returns to CEBL After Stint in NBA Summer League

The Canadian Elite Basketball League is a movement that brings Canadians together through a new basketball experience. As the league prepares to be the first professional sports league in Canada to reunite sports and passionate fans through the CEBL Summer Series later in July, the CEBL caught up with Niagara River Lions guard, Kassius Robertson. 

It’s looking to be another eventful summer for Kassius Robertson.

Around this time last year he played his last game as a Niagara River Lion and went to Las Vegas to gear up for the Charlotte Hornets’ NBA Summer League team.

“It was an amazing experience for me, I loved every second of it,” Robertson said. “There were a lot of learning curves, in terms of getting used to playing in the system and the NBA game. Also, even though I’m a shooter, just shooting from that range and the spacing on that floor is going to be different unless you play in the NBA or the (NBA) G-League.”

In Vegas, Robertson laced up alongside current Hornets’ players Devonte’ Graham, Dwayne Bacon, Miles Bridges and PJ Washington.

Robertson also played against Graham in his last year in college, when he attended Missouri and averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 43% from behind the three-point line.

“I had to learn on my feet really quickly. The coaches gave me some great opportunities, there were a lot of nerves, don’t get me wrong. I thought I played terribly. I shot the ball terribly.”

In three games with the Hornets, Robertson averaged 5.3 points and 1.0 rebounds while shooting 43% from the field in 16.1 minutes per game.

Another big plus for Robertson was the coaching experience: Robertson was coached by current Hornets’ coach James Borrego in his Summer League tenure.

“At the end of the day… it was a great learning experience just to get out there and be out there on the court with those guys… the coaches were great (as well). It was really nice making those connections and meeting those guys.”

Robertson enters training camp familiar with the Niagara River Lions’ organization, suiting up in seven games for them last summer. 

His time in St. Catharine’s proved fruitful, as Robertson averaged 11.3 points, 1.9 assists while shooting 46% from the field, 43% from behind the three-point line and 75% from the free-throw line in only 22.4 minutes per game.

“When I came (to Niagara) last year, I already came like four or five games in, so I was pretty late… it was great for development for sure. I was really pushing guys in practice and it was great for getting better” Robertson said.

“In terms of the team and the offense, I think (my fit) came naturally. The characters on the team already (sets us up for success), we don’t have guys who are selfish and only want to score. We have guys (who find it) super easy to sacrifice… I wasn’t trying to come into the CEBL and try to score 40. That wasn’t my goal whatsoever, or anyone else’s goal. Whoever was hot, we’d give them the ball and that was working. We ended up blowing teams out by 20 because we were playing like that and other teams weren’t playing like that.”

The River Lions’ offense proved effective in 2019, as they placed 0.7 assists per game behind the league leaders (Edmonton) and shot the best field goal percentage (48) and three-point percentage on the highest volume (39% on 32 attempts per game).

The decision to return to the River Lions was an easy one for Robertson.

“It was a no-brainer for me to (return to the CEBL) this summer. Me and (River Lions head coach Vic Raso) are good friends, we talk all the time. I got a lot of respect for Vic, he’s got a lot of respect for me, I don’t think we’ve ever argued once. We might argue and go back-and-forth because he didn’t call a foul in practice, but that’s it,” Robertson laughed.

“I don’t know if (he’s not giving me calls in practice because he doesn’t want to look biased) or because he’s a terrible referee,” Robertson joked. “That’s my guy though, for real.”

The River Lions’ backcourt will look a bit different from last summer’s roster.

There are the familiar faces of Trae Bell-Haynes and Ryan Anderson, however they lost shooting guard Nem Mitrovic to retirement and Alex Johnson was loaned out to the Hamilton Honey Badgers late last week.

Add in newcomer Daniel Mullings and the return of Robertson, and the River Lions have enough firepower at the guard spot to offset their losses.

The River Lions boast one of the most talented rosters in the CEBL, and Robertson is excited about his teammates' skill sets.

“Dorian (Pinson) can guard one to five, Daniel (Mullings) can guard one to four, (Guillaume Boucard) can guard one to four, same with all those other guys, Grandy (Glaze), Ty (Watson), Ryan (Ejim), so I think our versatility is going to be a huge strength for us.”

When asked about his future, Robertson expressed his desire to get back to the level he had a taste of last summer.

“I was really hoping to (go back to the NBA Summer League) again this summer, but obviously Summer League got canceled because of the virus. I was training a lot with the ball and the (different NBA) range so I was looking forward to that this summer.”

“Obviously my goal is to get into the NBA and I think that‘s a great way to get in and get some eyes on you so I’m definitely aiming for that again next summer.”