The 2024-25 NBA season has seen a boatload of injuries throughout the league. A team like the New Orleans Pelicans have been completely ravaged by the amount of injuries they have faced. Compared to most in the league, the New York Knicks have been relatively healthy.
The Knicks have had the same starting lineup for 18 of their first 19 contests. The only time they didn’t was when Karl-Anthony Towns needed to sit out a game. Otherwise, key reserves Miles McBride and Cameron Payne have combined to miss nine games.
There have been two players though who have yet to play this season for New York. They are big men Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson. While Robinson has been given a timetable of a January return, Achiuwa has been out longer than expected.
Speaking after Friday’s win by the Knicks over the Charlotte Hornets, Achiuwa stated what he’s waiting for to occur before he returns.
Precious Achiuwa On What Needs To Happen To Return
Achiuwa Has Yet To Make His Season Debut
Prior to the 2024-25 regular season tipping off, Achiuwa sustained a strained left hamstring. The injury was originally given a 2-4 week timetable. It is now going on about six weeks.
While the 25-year-old Achiuwa has missed New York’s first 19 games and is listed as out for Saturday’s tilt against the Pelicans, a return may be near. The 6-foot-8 forward/center recently returned to full-contact practice. Speaking after the Hornets game, Achiuwa said,
“I need to get to that point where I’m able to build confidence with myself again. I’m an explosive player. For me to be able to explode, I’m going to have to build that confidence…Once I get to that point where I feel like I’m optimal to play, I’ll be out there playing.”
The Knicks would love for Achiuwa to have that confidence, and be able to return for Tuesday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic. It is an NBA Cup contest, and the winner will advance to the knockout round. Both teams are 3-0 in East Group A.
What Could The Knicks Rotation Look Like Once Achiuwa Returns?
There have been games where the Knicks have gone with just an eight-man rotation, including Saturday’s win over Charlotte. When healthy, McBride, Payne, and Jericho Sims have been certainties for New York to come off the bench. Rookies Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet have also received playing time, but they have also had games where they never come off the bench.
Achiuwa will certainly be a part of the Knicks rotation once he returns. The question is: Will head coach Tom Thibodeau go with a nine-man rotation, or will Sims become someone who only plays due to an injury? Once Robinson returns as well, it seems possible that Sims may fall out of the rotation completely.
If Achiuwa is unable to play on Tuesday, his next two chances to play will come in home games against the Hornets on Thursday and the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. The Knicks currently own an 11-8 record, good for fourth-best in the Eastern Conference.
