DALLAS — Mitchell Robinson has one precedence: being upright when the Knicks want him most.
And if that requires shortened stints, lengthy waits, and an unconventional minutes plan within the meantime, so be it.
“It was [tough mentally] at first,” Robinson stated after Wednesday’s shootaround earlier than going through the Dallas Mavericks. “But after thinking about it a lot — obviously I don’t want to miss no playoffs or later on down in the future. So whatever’s best, we’re just gonna stick to it.”
Robinson entered coaching camp in September absolutely cleared after present process two left-ankle procedures that worn out the primary half of his 2024–25 season. Then the Knicks pulled him at halftime of their third preseason sport and sidelined him three weeks underneath what they referred to as left ankle load administration.
Now he’s working underneath a brand new minutes-distribution plan that limits him to quick bursts.
“Getting out there playing hard for my little short minutes and spurts, whatever,” he stated. “Just taking it all in.”
These “spurts” have been uneven. Two-minute stints. Three-minute stretches. No rhythm, no prolonged run, simply fast hits of exercise earlier than returning to the bench. And whereas head coach Mike Brown has publicly insisted Robinson’s workload is rising, the numbers say in any other case: his 16.6 minutes per sport are the bottom of his profession, and he hasn’t exceeded 18 minutes since his Halloween debut in Chicago.
“Obviously whenever you have short stretches, it’s always tough,” his teammate Josh Hart empathized after shootaround on Wednesday. “Sometimes, the first minute or so is just you getting your body ready and warm and running and doing all those kinds of things. So yeah, it’s tough, but you’ve gotta be able to adapt to situations and kinda figure it out.”
Robinson is making an attempt his greatest to roll with it — however he is aware of he’s able to extra if referred to as upon.
“I just continue to play hard,” he stated. “And if they need me out there longer, shorter, whatever, I’m just there.”
Brown stated after Monday’s loss in Miami that Robinson “could play 27 minutes” and that his plan just isn’t tied to a proper minutes restriction. Robinson referred to as his conditioning “a work in progress.” He didn’t give the 27-minute marker any life.
“I’m just doing what they ask, bro,” he stated. “[I can play] whatever they throw me out there for.”
Brown has repeatedly stated the plan is trending upward. On Nov. 12, after sitting Robinson in Memphis, he pushed again on the thought his heart’s availability could be sporadic all yr, although it’s clear he received’t be enjoying in each legs of back-to-backs this season.
“I’m not sure about that,” Brown stated. “We’ve gotta take it one game at a time and follow what the medical people tell us. He can go longer with his stretches. He can go longer with his minutes now than before. It’s constantly on the rise based on what Casey [Smith] and his group tell us.”
Quick spurts and all, Robinson’s mindset hasn’t wavered.
“Just go out there and play hard, do the little things,” he stated. “Box-out, offensive rebounding. Everything else is gonna work itself out.”
And the offensive rebounding? Nonetheless elite. Robinson as soon as once more leads the league, averaging 5.7 offensive boards per sport and 12.5 per 36 minutes, placing him on an historic tempo regardless of his restricted workload.
“I knew before I got here [via trade] that Mitch was special, and just seeing him every night, it’s amazing,” OG Anunoby stated on Oct. 5. “No one can do what he does. He impacts the game in ways that no one else can do. Blocking shots. Just everything he does. He’s amazing defensively, and he helps our team a lot.”
For the Knicks, the overarching objective stays unchanged: preserve Robinson intact for the lengthy haul, when the Knicks count on to chase a deep playoff run in a wide-open Jap Convention.
“Just want to be healthy, ready to play,” Robinson stated. “That’s the biggest goal. Keep doing everything right and keep hooping.”
Robinson is averaging 3.9 factors, 9 rebounds and a block per sport. He’s within the last yr of his contract and can be an unrestricted free agent this summer season if no extension is reached.
