Knicks fans, the wait is finally over: Mitchell Robinson will take the court this weekend. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the seven-footer will make his much-awaited season debut either Friday in Memphis or Sunday in Miami. He’s listed as questionable to play against the Grizzlies but is certain to suit up in one of the games on NY’s two-game road trip. New York finally gets their guy back after months of frustration with his slow rebab process. It took a while, but Big Mitch is finally back.
New York's Mitchell Robinson has been upgraded to questionable to play and will make his Knicks season debut as early as Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources tell ESPN. Robinson plans to return during team's trip in Memphis and Miami on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/ydOFKJWxga
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 27, 2025
Mitchell Robinson Return This Weekend: What it Means For Knicks
This is great news for everyone involved with the Knicks organization in the midst of a tough week. Their title hopes took a humbling beatdown after two embarrassing losses to the East’s top teams this past weekend. Many within the franchise, including head coach Tom Thibodeau kept repeating the same message: “we’re not us until we get our center back.” Well, now they have him, but what does it mean?
Firstly, Robinson gives Thibodeau another player he trusts fully. For a team hampered by injuries and depth concerns all season, this could be a game-changer. Thibs now has eight guys he feels comfortable playing big minutes: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Deuce McBride, Precious Achiuwa and Robinson. Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet will get spot minutes in certain matchups, but NY finally has the eight-man playoff rotation they envisioned when GM Leon Rose assembled this roster.
Robinson is the Solution to NY’s Biggest Problems
So, why is the seven-footer so important to the Knicks? Robinson just happens to be the answer to many of NY’s worst flaws. Most of the reasons New York was dominated so badly by Cleveland and Boston have to do with defense, effort, and toughness. It’s weird to say that about a Thibodeau-coached group, but the Knicks have lacked the “fire and desire” of usual, to quote the legendary Walt “Clyde” Frazier.
In terms of the energy areas of the game, Robinson is one of the league’s best rebounders. He ranked second in all of basketball in 2023-24 in offensive rebounding despite only playing 24.8 minutes per night. Robinson was first in offensive rebounding percentage and was 12th in overall rebounding percentage last year. He’s a ferocious athlete who relentlessly attacks the glass as well as loose balls on both ends. In fact, Robinson may even be Thibodeau’s favorite player, and he embodies their identity better than anyone not named Josh Hart.
New York Sorely Missed His Defense
Most importantly however, Robinson’s return can solve many of NY’s defensive issues. By now, any basketball fan knows that the Knicks’ biggest struggle against elite teams has been the Brunson/Towns pick-and-roll defense. They’ve also been flat-out bad in switches and protecting the rim. Robinson instantly changes their outlook in all three of those aspects.
As for pick-and-roll, he gives Thibs several options. Towns can now guard a traditional four, where he is much more comfortable and also less likely to be dragged into a screen with Brunson. For those teams who insist on still bringing KAT into the action, he will at least have Robinson as an elite rim protector in the paint. This will let him play up farther on screens, rather than the drop coverage he is so poor at. Against any team who has a traditional center, Robinson will be parked at the rim on every possession. Gone are the days where opposing offenses can waltz down the lane for easy buckets.
Robinson is a versatile defender who can guard on the perimeter, in the post, or defend the basket. In last year’s playoffs, he shut down Joel Embiid in several fourth quarters. He will help if NY has to face Giannis Antetokounmpo. Robinson embarrassed both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley two seasons ago en route to a five-game series win. He’s the answer to matchups the Knicks have been outclassed far too often in.
Thibodeau’s Lineup Flexibility
Robinson will now allow Thibs to choose from an array of lineups depending on the matchup. He can go huge with an Anunoby, Towns, Robinson frontcourt. He can play Brunson with McBride, Bridges, Anunoby, and Robinson to lock opponents down. His bench units will now be an advantage rather than a huge negative, as they have for much of the season. Simply put, the return of the longest-tenured Knick changes their championship outlook. He doesn’t fix all of their issues (they still have no way to matchup with Boston’s five-out attack), but he certainly puts a band-aid on some of their biggest flaws. New York now has a much better chance to hoist the trophy.
Photo credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
