The already promising Knicks’ season could get even better.
The team is optimistic Mitchell Robinson will return later this season after undergoing left ankle surgery last month, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. As a result, the NBA is denying the team’s $7.8 million Disabled Player Exception request.
The team initially said Robinson would be reevaluated in 8-10 weeks, which would be sometime in February.
“It’s hard to replace a player like Mitch individually, very hard to do,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after he went down with the injury. “But collectively we can.
“We’re capable of playing great team defense. We’ve been an outstanding rebounding team the entire year, so we just have to do it more as a group, and that’s going to be our challenge.”
Since then, the Knicks traded for OG Anunoby and have gone 5-0 since his acquisition.
The Knicks are now the No. 4 seed in the East after slotting in at No. 7 before the trade.
Robinson in 2022 signed a 4-year, $60-million extension with the Knicks, and he has been their best defensive player since.
The 7-footer from New Orleans was averaging 6.2 points, a career-high 10.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game.
Without Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein has excelled as the starting center, leading the NBA in plus/minus in 2024.
But a return by Robinson approaching the playoffs would be a huge addition as a shot-blocker, rim-runner and rebounder.
Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.
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