The beginning middle has returned — however now the backup is out.
The Knicks upgraded middle Mitchell Robinson to questionable to play on Friday in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies, marking the closest the rim-protecting massive man has come to creating his season debut.
In addition they discovered the unlucky fact concerning backup massive man Ariel Hukporti, who suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in Wednesday’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and is anticipated to be out four-to-six weeks.
The Knicks chosen Hukporti 58th general within the 2024 NBA Draft, transformed his two-way contract into a normal NBA deal, then traded Jericho Sims to the Milwaukee Bucks for a wing participant in Delon Wright — solely after Hukporti proved himself worthy of minutes on the backup 5.
The rookie had eight factors, two rebounds and a block previous to his harm within the third quarter on Thursday.
“I said this way before but I’m proud of the way he comes into the game and impacts the game and what he does,” mentioned Knicks captain Jalen Brunson. “He’s retained a lot in a very short amount of time, so nothing but proud of the way he’s been playing.”
Treasured Achiuwa mentioned the rookie got here as much as him for phrases of encouragement forward of his first profession begin.
“I believed he was nice. He got here as much as me and was like, ‘Hey man, I need some advice,’” Achiuwa said. “I told him just go out there, make sure you talk, overcommunicate, talk to the guys and show your body when the offensive player is coming off the screen. I thought he played really great today.”
Now, Hukporti is expected to be sidelined for a month and a half.
It’s a brutal improvement contemplating the fragility of Robinson’s return to play.
In spite of everything, glass-cleaning seven-footer hasn’t seen the courtroom since sustaining a stress fracture to his left ankle in a Might 6 playoff recreation in opposition to the Indiana Pacers.
Thursday marked the primary time the Knicks listed him as questionable this season. New York’s hope is the pairing of Robinson and Cities can save its struggles on protection and replicate the success the Minnesota Timberwolves loved with Cities and four-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months Rudy Gobert.
Hukporti’s harm, nevertheless, complicates issues for a Knicks crew as soon as once more skinny within the entrance courtroom.
Cities is battling knee soreness and a thumb sprain and must monitor each for the rest of the season. Plus Robinson will face a strict minutes restriction after his second surgical procedure to the identical ankle, although Thibodeau was unsure of what number of minutes his middle can be restricted to when requested forward of tipoff in opposition to the 76ers on Wednesday.
Thibodeau may even lean on Achiuwa at middle, and he has proven a willingness to go small with OG Anunoby on the 5, too.
