Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau provided key injury updates after practice on Friday, shedding light on the status of two crucial players as New York enters a pivotal stretch before the All-Star break.
Starting forward OG Anunoby, who has been out since spraining his right foot in a Feb. 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, participated in “parts of practice” but did not absorb much contact. His limited workload suggests his return remains in question as the Knicks approach the Feb. 13-19 NBA All-Star break in San Francisco.
Thibodeau described Anunoby’s controlled contact as “precautionary” and noted that the versatile defender is moving well. However, it’s clear he’s not yet ready for game action.
With only three games remaining before the break — Saturday against the Boston Celtics, followed by a Monday-Tuesday back-to-back at Indiana and home against Atlanta — it appears unlikely Anunoby will return before late February.
“Just take it day by day,” Thibodeau said after practice at the team’s Tarrytown training facility. “Obviously, we’re hopeful he will be back, but if he’s not, next guy get in there and get the job done. We have good quality depth, but obviously OG is a huge part of our team.”
ROBINSON PROGRESSING, BUT NO TIMETABLE
Thibodeau also provided an update on Mitchell Robinson, who is ramping up his rehab following a second surgery-inducing stress fracture to his left ankle last May.
The Knicks’ rim protector participated in “quite a bit of practice” on Friday, marking a significant step forward. While he has yet to engage in full five-on-five drills, Robinson has attacked his rehab with intensity, keeping his weight down and conditioning up.
Thibodeau noted that Robinson was among the first players to arrive at the facility on Friday morning, completing individual work before team practice. He said his conditioning is “pretty good,” considering Robinson has not played since Game 1 of last season’s second-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.
Robinson’s return could feel like a midseason acquisition, providing the Knicks with a dominant defensive presence in the paint. The Cleveland Cavaliers, currently sitting atop the Eastern Conference, bolstered their own roster at the trade deadline by acquiring De’Andre Hunter from Atlanta in exchange for Caris LeVert — adding size, physicality, and three-point shooting to their depth chart.
The Knicks are banking on Robinson’s return to provide a similar boost. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s premier rim protectors and offensive rebounders, a perfect complement to Karl-Anthony Towns, who has shouldered the bulk of New York’s center minutes.
Towns, who spent two seasons alongside four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, expressed excitement about pairing up with another elite defensive anchor.
“Just a tall lineup. It’s gonna be exciting to kind of explore that,” Towns said Friday. “I have some familiarity with it with Rudy, so it’ll be something that I’ll tap into that kind of potential well.”
Towns said Robinson is bringing energy both to the locker room and the practice floor now that he’s back in the fold.
“Seeing Mitch is great. Being around him since I got here, it’s been awesome to be able to get to know him more on the friend side instead of just being his competitor,” said the All-Star center. “I respect him tremendously for what he does for this team. So it’s been great to be able to build a bond with him.”
Team captain Jalen Brunson also said Robinson and Towns could be a strong four-five punch but emphasized patience for the spry big man’s recovery.
“They have the potential to be very good,” Brunson said. “I just want Mitch to come back fully healthy and ready to go. That’s my main focus — just making sure he’s 100 percent.”
DELON WRIGHT JOINS PRACTICE
New Knicks guard Delon Wright practiced with the team on Friday, giving Thibodeau an extra option in case of injuries or backcourt absences.
“Just a good solid veteran. He’s been around,” Thibodeau said. “Gives us insurance at that position. Can guard multiple positions. So, we felt it was good for us.”
The Knicks acquired Wright, a strong perimeter defender, in the deal that sent embattled center Jericho Sims to the Milwaukee Bucks. The veteran guard has consistently ranked among the league leaders in deflections.
While his defensive instincts could prove valuable, he is unlikely to crack the regular rotation over the three-guard second unit of Miles McBride, Cam Payne, and Landry Shamet.
“[Deflections have] been his strength,” Thibodeau said. “We like his size at the position, so we’ll just see how it goes. We have good quality depth there. It gives us a little more insurance.”
THIBS ON CAVALIERS’ TRADE
The top-seeded Cavaliers strengthened their roster by acquiring Hunter, a versatile two-way forward who should bolster Cleveland’s defensive schemes while adding outside shooting.
“They were a good team before. They are a good team now,” Thibodeau said. “I think players change teams, and then you have to understand who they are with their new players and how that changes them. So, we will deal with them when we play them.
“There are a lot of good teams in the league. The important thing for us is to focus on ourselves. [We have to focus on what we] have to do to prepare to play Boston tomorrow.”
THIBS ON TRADE DEADLINE FRENZY
The NBA saw a flurry of movement before Thursday’s trade deadline, headlined by the stunning blockbuster deal sending Luka Dončić from Dallas to Los Angeles.
Thibodeau acknowledged the league’s growing interest in trade drama and how it fuels engagement with the sport.
“It shows you the popularity of the league and social media and everything. It’s great for the league and business,” he said. “You feel for the players that are involved. It’s not just them — it’s their families. There’s a lot going on.
“I personally preferred when the deadline was over [the All-Star] break.”