Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Robert Franks is a versatile forward whose ability to stretch the floor and score from multiple areas has made him an effective offensive weapon. His professional career has showcased a blend of size, shooting touch, and adaptability that has translated well across different leagues and playing styles.

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Robert Christopher Franks Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born December 18, 1996
  • Hometown: Vancouver, Washington, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Weight: 225 pounds (102 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 10 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Jersey Number: 0
  • Position: Power Forward

Educational and Athletic Background:

  • High School: Evergreen High School, Vancouver, Washington
  • College: Washington State University (2015–2019)

Professional Career:

  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in 2019
  • Teams Played For:
    • Greensboro Swarm (2019–2020)
    • Stockton Kings (2020)
    • Lakeland Magic (2021)
    • Orlando Magic (2021)
    • Brisbane Bullets (2021–2022)
    • Adelaide 36ers (2022–2023)
    • Hapoel Gilboa Galil (2023)
    • Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (2023–2024)
    • Ibaraki Robots (2024–present)
  • Championships: NBA G League champion with Lakeland Magic (2021)

Personal Life:

  • Children: Information not publicly available
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Robert Franks’ player archetype is that of an interior-perimeter scoring forward, a modern combo big who can function as a stretch four while still bringing enough rebounding and physicality to moonlight closer to the five. Defensively, he fits more as a size-and-effort frontcourt piece than a pure anchor, using his frame, length and competitiveness to battle on the glass, absorb contact and hold up across power forwards and some centers, even if rim protection is not the central value of his game. Offensively, Franks is at his best as a primary or high-volume secondary scorer, because he can space the floor, hit threes at a strong clip, attack mismatches, score inside the arc and carry real usage when a team needs frontcourt shot creation. Physically, he has good size for a forward at 201 cm with a strong build and enough mobility to play either frontcourt spot depending on the lineup. Altogether, his play style is built around versatile scoring, rebounding presence and lineup flexibility, making him the kind of forward who can stretch defenses, punish smaller matchups and give teams a legitimate offensive focal point in the frontcourt. (nbl.com.au)

Scouting Report

Robert Franks has always looked like a scorer trapped inside a power forward’s body. The first thing you notice is how comfortable he is shooting over contests from well beyond the arc, but his offense goes deeper than simply spacing the floor. He likes attacking closeouts with long, controlled strides, using his frame to shield the ball before finishing or pulling up when defenders retreat too quickly. There are possessions where he’ll drift almost unnoticed around the perimeter, then suddenly become the focal point after a quick pick-and-pop or a trail three in transition. That ability to score in bunches forces defenses to account for him even when he hasn’t touched the ball for several trips. The trade-off is that his decision-making can become shot-driven. If the jumper isn’t falling, he doesn’t always influence the game through screening, passing or creating advantages for teammates, and his handle is functional rather than dynamic when asked to generate offense against pressure. Defensively, Franks is more effective when he can guard bigger forwards than when he’s chasing wings around staggered screens or switching onto quick guards. He generally understands where to rotate from the weak side, offers timely help around the rim because of his length, and rebounds well when he establishes inside position early, but lateral agility can become an issue if opponents repeatedly force him into space. It’s easy to overlook that he is at his best in structured defensive systems where responsibilities are clearly defined rather than in schemes demanding constant switching. To me, his ideal role is as a floor-spacing four alongside a rim-protecting center and playmakers who collapse defenses, allowing him to punish rotating defenders instead of creating everything himself. Used that way, he becomes a genuine offensive weapon because his shooting stretches the floor while his straight-line drives punish aggressive closeouts. His overall profile shares similarities with Mike Muscala as a frontcourt scorer who opens the floor with perimeter shooting, while there are also shades of Omari Spellman in the blend of outside touch, face-up confidence and physical strength, even if Franks is more inclined to hunt his own offense once he finds a rhythm.

Fun Facts

  • Franks had a standout college career at Washington State University, earning First-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019 and being named the Pac-12 Most Improved Player in 2018.
  • After going undrafted in 2019, he began his professional career in the NBA G League, achieving a championship with the Lakeland Magic in 2021.
  • He had a brief stint in the NBA with the Orlando Magic before continuing his career internationally, playing in Australia, Israel, and Japan.
  • As of 2024, Franks is playing for the Ibaraki Robots in Japan’s B.League.

Sources:

NBL — Bullets Sign Former Orlando Magic Forward Robert Franks
Basketball.com.au — ‘Flush it’: Perfect metaphor for woeful Bullets
NBL — Where Your Team’s at for NBL23