Someway, Mitchell Robinson appeared in three preseason video games — however isn’t prepared for opening night time at Madison Sq. Backyard.
And because the Knicks ready to tip off in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there was nonetheless no timetable for when their beginning middle will make his regular-season debut.
Wednesday marked the end result of a complicated few weeks relating to Robinson’s standing. He entered coaching camp wholesome and noticeably leaner, however after taking part in simply three separate first halves of basketball, culminating with 13 minutes within the Oct. 9 preseason matchup in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was pulled — and hasn’t performed or practiced since.
Now, the 27-year-old huge man’s standing is as soon as once more wrapped in uncertainty. Knicks head coach Mike Brown has deferred to the crew’s medical workers, citing precautionary measures with Robinson’s twice-operated left ankle.
But Robinson performed in three exhibition video games, elevating questions on why he was cleared for preseason minutes within the first place if it might jeopardize his availability for opening night time.
“There may be a stretch of five games where we may sit him. There may be a stretch of two games where we may sit him,” Brown stated earlier than tipoff Wednesday. “There’s no definition of what load management is. You just go along … myself and the medical team and the front office will go along as we see fit, and we’ll decide if we want to sit him during practice or we want to sit him in a game. It’s as simple as that.”
The larger image isn’t reassuring. Robinson has appeared in simply 107 whole video games over the previous three seasons: 17 final 12 months, 31 in 2024, and 59 in 2023 as accidents have derailed his growth and compelled the Knicks to consistently patch the middle rotation.
Robinson’s contract state of affairs additional complicates issues as he’s set to hit unrestricted free company subsequent summer time. The beginning middle is a dominant rebounder, rim protector and vertical lob risk, however the flashes seen by preseason had been unavailable for opening night time.
Brown says he’s not fearful.
“To be honest I don’t think about that stuff,” he stated. “I allow our medical team to handle it and I’ll take the lead after they give me word because that’s what their job is, and for me to get into that, I’m not an expert at it.”
Robinson wasn’t the one identify lacking from the Knicks’ lineup Wednesday. Josh Hart, sidelined since struggling lower-back spasms throughout the preseason opener in Abu Dhabi, nonetheless hasn’t practiced or performed. Karl-Anthony Cities’ standing additionally fluctuated all through the day — from possible to uncertain, then again to questionable — with a lingering quad situation.
“As a head coach you want all your guys all the time,” Brown stated. “You want to be greedy in that regard.”
That luxurious must wait.
New York’s roster is deeper throughout the board, however middle stays its thinnest place. Robinson is the Knicks’ solely true rim protector, and Ariel Hukporti — a second-year prospect — is the lone seven-footer behind Cities. Hukporti bought the beginning for the load-managed Robinson, with Brown opting to remain huge in opposition to Cleveland fairly than downsize by beginning Miles McBride.
“I’m a big [proponent of] next man up, next player up. It doesn’t matter how many people are out,” Brown stated. “You’re hoping it’s not a ton, however that’s what all these guys receives a commission to do. They receives a commission to be able to play each time their quantity is named. They gotta exit and carry out — not do something exterior the field — however carry out on the highest degree, beginning with having that aggressive spirit.
“And we still expect to win no matter who’s in uniform. That’s our goal.”
