For the primary time all season, the New York Knicks are totally wholesome.
Mitchell Robinson (ankle), OG Anunoby (foot), and Miles McBride (rib) have been all full members for apply on the crew’s Tarrytown coaching facility on Wednesday — a significant growth because the Knicks gear up for a playoff push.
Robinson, who suffered a second stress fracture in his left ankle final Might, has now progressed from particular person exercises to full-contact, five-on-five scrimmages — one of many ultimate hurdles earlier than returning to sport motion.
Which implies a important piece of the Knicks’ championship aspirations is sort of again in play.
However head coach Tom Thibodeau stopped wanting confirming Robinson’s availability for Thursday’s sport towards the Chicago Bulls.
“Haven’t heard from medical yet, so we’ll see,” Thibodeau mentioned after apply.
Even when Robinson does return, Thibodeau cautioned that it’ll take time for him to regain his rhythm.
“You have to anticipate that the game’s gonna be different, so we’ll see where he is once he’s out there. He’ll need a little bit of time,” Thibodeau mentioned. “But the things that he can bring—the hustle, the ability to see things early, play pick and roll, rim-protect, offensive rebound — those are things he’ll bring right off the bat.”
Robinson’s return is imminent, and Anunoby — who was listed as questionable within the two video games earlier than the All-Star break — is predicted to return on Thursday.
So is McBride, who logged simply eight minutes within the Feb. 12 victory over the Atlanta Hawks earlier than exiting with a rib harm.
For the primary time this season, the Knicks obtained to see their full-strength roster in motion throughout apply, and it’s solely a matter of time till these off-day reps play out on the Madison Sq. Backyard flooring.
“It means a lot. Obviously, after the break, you want everyone to be ready to go,” mentioned crew captain Jalen Brunson. “I’m excited to get down this stretch. I love this team a lot. I love everyone that’s a part of it and this organization. We all have one goal in mind, and I’m really thankful.”
“We’ve done a great job of sustaining what we need to do and being where we need to be at this point in the season. The next-man-up mentality of the guys in the locker room has been great,” added Karl-Anthony Cities. “To be able to get people back — Mitch, OG, and everyone— it gives us a chance to hone in on our team as a whole.”
THE LONG ROAD BACK FOR ROBINSON
Robinson hasn’t performed since Might 6, when he re-injured his surgically repaired left ankle in Recreation 1 of the Knicks’ second-round playoff collection towards the Indiana Pacers.
He initially suffered the harm towards the Boston Celtics on Dec. 8, 2023, underwent surgical procedure, returned after three and a half months of rehab earlier than reinjuring himself in the course of the playoffs.
The Knicks initially focused December-January for his return, however the crew prolonged his rehab into February to make sure full restoration.
Now, Robinson seems able to take the ground once more.
“He looks good,” Thibodeau mentioned. “He’s gotta get his timing down, but overall, he moved pretty well. He’s out there, did a good job. Makes it a little different—rim protection, offensive rebounding. But it will take some time.”
Robinson’s return isn’t nearly protection — it additionally offers the Knicks extra lineup flexibility and strengthens a skinny bench.
Thibodeau now has the choice to recreate the Minnesota mannequin, pairing Robinson with Cities, just like how Cities performed alongside four-time Defensive Participant of the Yr Rudy Gobert in Minnesota.
“I remember being in Minnesota with three bigs. It’s great to have [Robinson] back and to have the firepower we have,” Cities mentioned. “It gives us versatility. It allows us to play against teams that have a two-big lineup, or teams that go small. We can adjust however we need to.”
Thibodeau might additionally stagger their minutes, permitting Cities to bolster the second unit, which ranks final within the NBA in bench scoring, whereas Robinson anchors the beginning lineup’s protection.
Brunson, nonetheless, doesn’t imagine it issues who performs alongside Robinson — as a result of his presence alone modifications every thing.
“Do you think he’s a difference-maker?” Brunson requested. “Then I think he’s a difference-maker.”
THE ANUNOBY EFFECT
Robinson’s return isn’t the one defensive increase on the way in which — Anunoby is again, too.
Since Anunoby exited the Knicks’ Feb. 1 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with a proper foot harm, the Knicks’ protection has struggled considerably, permitting 118 factors to the Grizzlies, 115 factors to the Mavericks, 131 factors to the Celtics, 115 factors to the Rockets and 148 factors to the Hawks for the worst defensive ranking in all of basketball in the course of the 5 video games main into the All-Star break.
With Robinson and Anunoby again, the Knicks can lastly reestablish their defensive identification — one thing that’s been lacking of their absence.
“Yeah, I think the break was good for him,” Thibodeau mentioned of Anunoby. “We’ll see how he responds tomorrow after practice today.”
That is the closest the Knicks have been to one hundred pc all season, and Thibodeau is aware of they should maximize their alternative.
“Whatever your circumstances are, you deal with them as best you can,” Thibodeau mentioned. “We had guys out, so it was an opportunity for the new guys to get time together. Now that you have more depth, you take advantage of it the other way. You need everyone over the course of the season. So just get in there and get the job done.”
With their full squad lastly intact, the Knicks are formally locked and loaded for the ultimate stretch.
The crew has seen its potential in apply. Now, it’s time for the most recent rendition of the new-look Knicks to take the ground.
