Duncan Robinson’s parents are Jeffrey Robinson and Elisabeth Robinson, a New Hampshire-based couple who raised the NBA sharpshooter in the small coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire. Duncan, the youngest of their three children, credits both parents for building the work ethic and belief system that carried him from a tiny Division III school all the way to a long NBA career.
Now playing for the Detroit Pistons, Duncan Robinson is one of the most prolific three-point shooters in NBA history. He went undrafted in 2018 but signed with the Miami Heat and went on to help the franchise reach the NBA Finals in both 2020 and 2023. Behind that journey was a family that never stopped believing in him, even when almost no one else did.
Elisabeth Robinson’s Career and Hawaiian Heritage
Elisabeth Robinson is the more publicly documented of the two parents. She received her BA in English from UNH in 1981 and her RN in 1985, and prior to earning her Family Nurse Practitioner and Master’s degrees from the University of Southern Maine in 1997, she spent thirteen years as a registered nurse at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Labor and Delivery and Pediatrics.
She also became a certified Herbalist in November 1999 after completing a program led by Rosemary Gladstar and Donna Bryant, and has since founded Seacoast Waldorf Association and Pear Tree Herbals. She currently practices as a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Whole Life Health Care in Newington, New Hampshire.
On the ethnicity front, Duncan is part Hawaiian on his mother’s side, making Elisabeth the source of his Native Hawaiian heritage. That mixed background, combined with his American upbringing in New England, shapes Duncan Robinson’s ethnicity and nationality as an American of partial Hawaiian descent.
Elisabeth also coached Duncan’s third-grade basketball team and sent him an emoji filled pregame text before every NBA game, no matter the city or tip off time, according to a UNH Magazine profile. She has described Duncan’s path as anything but easy: “He had a lot of doubters in the past, but he just kept getting up and going to the gym.”
Jeffrey Robinson’s Basketball Roots and Parental Support
Jeffrey Robinson, Duncan’s father, is a less public figure but played a direct role in shaping his son’s shooting ability. Jeffrey played as a walk-on for one season at the University of Maine, was a 6’0 guard with a shooter’s touch, and could still challenge Duncan in games of H-O-R-S-E.
As of May 2026, there is no additional career or professional information publicly available about Jeffrey Robinson beyond his college basketball background. What is confirmed, through a University of Michigan Athletics profile, is that both parents told Duncan they believed in him completely, even when his future in basketball looked uncertain. Jeffrey even set up a mini basketball hoop in the family’s living room when Duncan was young.
Elisabeth is 5’11”, and Duncan has credited her height as a major factor in his eventually reaching 6’7″. The athletic genes on both sides of the family were clearly at work.
The Robinson Family’s Nationality and Tragic Loss
Duncan Robinson was born on April 22, 1994, in York, Maine, and holds American nationality. His parents are both American, with Elisabeth carrying Hawaiian heritage on her side. Duncan grew up in New Castle, New Hampshire, a town of roughly 1,000 people, where his sixth-grade graduating class at Maude H. Trefethen Elementary School had just four students.
The family has faced genuine heartbreak in recent years. Duncan’s older brother Eli, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2021, died by suicide in April 2025 at age 34. In the aftermath, the Robinson family launched the Robinson Family Foundation to help others dealing with mental health issues. Sister Marta is a licensed mental health counselor, and Elisabeth, as a nurse practitioner, was part of a family that had fought hard and resourcefully to support Eli throughout his illness.
The family’s response to that loss, going public and building a foundation rather than retreating, says a great deal about the character of the people who raised Duncan Robinson.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Who is Duncan Robinson’s wife?
Duncan Robinson got engaged to Caroline Nava in February 2025 during a Bahamas trip, and the couple officially tied the knot in July 2025. Caroline is a Florida State University graduate who works in real estate.
What is Duncan Robinson’s family background?
Duncan grew up in New Castle, New Hampshire, as the youngest of three children. His parents are Jeffrey and Elisabeth Robinson, and he has an older sister, Marta, and a late older brother, Eli.
Who are Duncan Robinson’s parents?
His parents are Jeffrey Robinson, a former college basketball walk-on at the University of Maine, and Elisabeth Robinson, a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner based in New Hampshire.
Is Duncan Robinson playing tonight?
As of May 14, 2026, Duncan Robinson is listed as Day-To-Day with a back issue. The Detroit Pistons listed him as Questionable for Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
What happened with Duncan Robinson’s injury?
Duncan Robinson is currently dealing with a back injury that has placed him on the Day-To-Day list heading into the Pistons’ playoff series against the Cavaliers.
Did Duncan Robinson play for the Celtics?
No, Duncan Robinson never played for the Boston Celtics. He spent seven seasons with the Miami Heat before joining the Detroit Pistons in 2025.
Was Duncan Robinson traded?
Yes. After opting out of a $19.9 million option with the Miami Heat in 2025, Duncan Robinson was traded to the Detroit Pistons on a three-year, $48 million deal.
