The key to the serious decline of Mitchell Robinson in the New York Knicks

The New York Knicks center, Mitchell Robinson, will miss the beginning of the regular season after undergoing ankle surgery during the offseason, as confirmed by league sources to ESPN. This news leaves the Knicks in an even more delicate situation in a position that was already considered a weak point on the team. Robinson played 31 games last season before being operated on in December for ankle issues.

The player re-injured his foot and ankle during the first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers and missed the last six games of the second round against the Indiana Pacers. Although Robinson's recovery is ongoing, sources indicate that the Knicks are expecting his return between December and January, depending on the progress of his rehabilitation. The extended absence of the center raises uncertainty in a team that already lost its main starter in the position.

Isaiah Hartenstein, who was the starting center for the Knicks last season, signed a three-year, $87 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving New York with limited options in the paint. In addition to Robinson, the Knicks re-signed Precious Achiuwa for one year and six million dollars during the summer, and they have Jericho Sims, entering his fourth season in the NBA, as another option in the center rotation.

The Knicks coach, Tom Thibodeau, mentioned in an interview with NBA.com last week that he might consider playing Julius Randle as a center in "small-ball" lineups. Randle, who has a player option of $30.9 million for the 2025-26 season, has mainly played as a power forward in his career, but the lack of depth at the center position could force Thibodeau to experiment with smaller lineups. However, Thibodeau has been known for his preference for having big players and rim protectors to anchor his defense, both with the Knicks and his previous teams, the Timberwolves and Bulls.

A Painful Loss

Robinson's absence comes after a busy summer in New York. The Knicks made one of the most surprising moves of the offseason by acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, in what marked the first trade between the two franchises in 40 years. This trade adds a key piece to the team, but also means that even more pressure is on Robinson's return to balance the roster.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La clave de la grave baja de Mitchell Robinson en New York Knicks