In Game 1 of last season’s playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson suffered a left ankle injury. Robinson had surgery on the ankle, his second of the season, and missed the rest of the playoffs. There was hope that Robinson, New York’s starting center, would return in time for the 2024-25 campaign. However, roughly a week before the start of training camp, this seems unlikely.
According to NBA reporter Yaron Weitzman, Robinson “is not fully recovered” from the surgery. Weitzman also confirmed that the big man is not likely to be ready for the start of the regular season. Furthermore, Weitzman mentioned December or January as a potential return timeline for Robinson.
NEWS: Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is not fully recovered from his May foot surgery and will not be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season, according to a league source. The team is targeting a December/January return, but that depends on his rehab process. The Knicks’…
— Yaron Weitzman (@YaronWeitzman) September 23, 2024
Robinson has spent the first six years of his NBA career with the Knicks. However, he has been the team’s regular starting center since the 2020-21 campaign. Last season, the Florida native appeared in just 31 games for the Knicks, starting 21. On the year, he averaged 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Furthermore, he shot 57.5% from the field.
New York Knicks Starter Receives Worrisome Injury Update
How the Knicks Will Make Up for Mitchell Robinson’s Absence
As if it is not bad enough that Robinson will remain out for the Knicks, it is extra troubling for the team given that Isaiah Hartenstein, Robinson’s replacement last season, joined the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason. New York’s primary backup centers are Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims. While it is possible one of these two could start (Achiuwa, more likely), the Knicks have another option.
Recently, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau suggested that Julius Randle is an option at center for the team.
“We’ll probably have to do it by committee,” Thibodeau says of replacing Hartenstein. “We’ll look at some different things, because we have versatility — we could see Julius more at the 5. I don’t want to do that for long stretches, it would take its toll, but to have him do it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well. He also would create a lot of [offensive] advantages.”
Randle is not traditionally a center. However, sliding him down in the lineup might be the Knicks’ best option, at least until Robinson returns.
