The New York Knicks witnessed the much-awaited return of one in every of their necessary figures on February 28.
Huge man Mitchell Robinson made his season debut for the New York Knicks on the street in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies. The 26-year-old was initially marked as questionable to play, however was nonetheless capable of enter the sport.
Robinson has missed the group’s 58 video games of this 2024-25 season due to his offseason surgical procedure restoration from his left ankle. There have been doubts about his return to play this 12 months which positioned him on the league’s commerce rumor mill.
However in the long run, the franchise determined to stay round with the seven-foot mild large. And so they couldn’t be extra ecstatic to see him again in motion now.
After a number of months of ready, Robinson lastly touched the NBA hardwood for the primary time because the Knicks’ second-round sequence contest from final 12 months in opposition to the Indiana Pacers.
With Karl-Anthony Cities affected by early foul troubles, Robinson earned the decision from Tom Thibodeau with round seven minutes within the first quarter.
Robinson completed the matchup with six factors and 5 rebounds throughout 12 minutes to contribute to the Knicks’ 114-113 tight win in Memphis.
“The primary sport again, for the period of time he’s been out, I assumed it was actually, actually good,” Thibodeau mentioned about Robinson. “We’ve been seeing it in follow, too. So that is the subsequent step.”
When requested to additional assess Robinson’s first sport, the Knicks coach added: “It’s his first sport again so it’s arduous to say. Clearly video games are loads completely different than practices, however he’s a vet, so I believe he understands precisely who he’s.
“Simply play to your strengths, go as arduous as you possibly can, after which it’ll be a brief stint, so his timing will come round, however the protection — anticipating that being there proper from the beginning.”
Because the longest tenured Knick, Robinson established himself as the inside id of the group for years.
Earlier than lacking important time as a result of accidents, he anchored New York’s protection together with his imposing dimension, grabbing rebounds and intimidating those that assaults the rim.
And with a extremely environment friendly profession 70.1 % taking pictures from the sector, Robinson himself gives an offensive risk in conjunction with the Knicks. His comeback is pivotal that solely strengthens Kendrick Perkins’ take about him being a companion for Cities.
“It’s big. He’s a monster on the market offensively and defensively, and because the season goes on, as he will get up to the mark, he’s gonna hold getting higher and higher,” OG Anunoby mentioned about Robinson.
“We missed him and we want him.”
With Robinson again, the Knicks have new life as they attempt to compete for the title.
