Mitchell Robinson’s been having a rough go with injuries lately, and Knicks fan𒉰s are definitely feeling his absence on the court.
After multipl꧋e surgeries and being out for most of last season, everyon👍e’s wondering when he’ll return.
Well, good news: he’s aiming for a December or Januar♕y retur🍒n.
But how’s the team holding up without him, and what’s the plan when he comes bac🐽k?
Let’s find out.
- Mitchell Robinson plans to return in December or January after recovering from two ankle surgeries last year.
- The Knicks traded for Karl-Anthony Towns to cover Robinson’s absence, alongside Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa filling in at center.
- The Knicks want Robinson to fully recover before he returns, and they have no set date for his return.
Mitchell Robinson’s Expected Return
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has ൲had a tough time with ankle injuries over 🐼the last year.
He had two surgeries on his left ankle—one in December 2023 and another in May 2🍌024.
Now, he’s aiming to get back on the ꦿcourt between Decembe꧒r and January.
But as you can ꧋expect, the team is being very careful with his recovery and 💝wants him to be fully healthy before he plays again.
During 𝄹the 2023-24 season, Robinson only played in 31 games be꧂cause of his injuries.
Consequently🦂, his absence affected the Knicks, especially in the playoffs.
He got re-injured in the first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. As a result, he missed the final ✤six games of the second-round series against the Indiana ☂Pacers.
With Robinson sidelined, his defensive presence was missed, and the Knicks struggled to maintain consiste💝ncy at the ce✤nter position.
How the Knicks Are Handling Robinson’s Absence
With Rob☂inson’s recovery taking longerꦦ, the Knicks made some changes to strengthen the center position.
The most significant move was trading for Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Towns, ꧑a four-time All-Star, will handle most of the cen𝕴ter minutes while Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa provide additional support.
The need for this trade became clear after Isaiah Hartenstein, who played 🦹as Robinson’s backup and started 49 games in his place, left the Knicks.
During the offseason, Hart🦄enstein signed a three-year, $87 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
And losing Hartenstein left the Knicks short on options at the center spot, so adding Towns was a m♏ajor move to fill that gap.
In addition to Towns, Jericho Sims and Precꦦious Achiuwa will provide extra support 𓆏and depth at the center position.
With the Knicks’ preseason underway, having started with a game against the Charlotte Hornets, their regular se⭕ason will begin oꦡn October 22 against the Boston Celtics.
And without Robinson, the focus𒆙 will be on integrating Towns into the team and building chemistry while awaiting Robinson♎’s return.
Robinson’s Role When He Returns
When Robinson is ready to return, the Knicks plan to bring him back slowly by starting h𝓡im off the bench.
Head Coach Tom Thibodeau emphasized that they’re in no rush, saying, “We want to make sure he’s completely healthy before we move forward… We’re going to be patient.”
The Knicks cl꧅early✨ value Robinson, their longest-tenured player, who is known for his strong defense and shot-blocking.
They recognize that even though Towns will start, Ro🍨binson will still be an important player once he’s healthy enough to play again.
