If this were the start of the NBA season, reinserting Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup alongside Karl-Anthony Towns would be a no-brainer.
But it’s not October. The Knicks just played their 58th game of the season, and throwing Robinson into the deep end after nearly 10 months away from the court would be reckless.
This isn’t about talent — it’s about caution.
Robinson has not played since May 6, when he suffered a second stress fracture in his left ankle, an injury that required a second surgery in the same season. The Knicks have been patient in his recovery, pushing his expected return from December to January, then from January into late February. That same patience needs to apply now.
Starting him immediately would be a mistake.
The Knicks need to ease their lone rim protector back into the flow — not just in terms of minutes, but also in terms of responsibility. He should reintroduce himself to game speed against second units, where the physical demands are lower and the margin for error is wider.
Had he been healthy at training camp, he’d be jumping at center court on opening night. But circumstances have changed, and so should the approach.
“Well, going into the season, that’s what it was [Mitch starting at center],” head coach Tom Thibodeau said ahead of tip-off on Wednesday. “At this point, we don’t know what it is. We don’t know what his conditioning is like. We don’t know what the minutes restrictions will be. There’s a lot of variables with that. Anything he can give us will be a big plus.”
The temptation to start him right away is understandable: The Knicks’ defense has collapsed in his absence.
Opponents are waltzing into the paint with little resistance, forcing New York’s defense into scramble mode and generating clean three-point looks. The Knicks already struggle to defend the perimeter — ranking dead-last in opponent three-point percentage — and the lack of a true paint presence is only amplifying that weakness.
Robinson’s return is the easiest fix for that.
When the paint is protected, teams don’t get as many open threes. But his return could also address another glaring issue: fatigue.
Even if he comes off the bench, having Robinson and Towns together allows the Knicks to better stagger their rotation.
Right now, the starters are shouldering an unsustainable load.
Entering Wednesday’s game against the 76ers, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart ranked first and second in the NBA in minutes per game, OG Anunoby was 12th, and both Jalen Brunson and Towns cracked the top-25.
If Robinson starts down the road, Hart likely moves to the second unit — giving the Knicks’ bench a much-needed infusion of size and scoring.
“Mitch was projected to be the starting center on our team. So we’ve gone 50-something games without our starting center. Guys have done a really good job stepping in,” Thibodeau said after practice on Tuesday. “Mitch is an elite pick-and-roll defender, an elite rim protector, an elite offensive rebounder. Those are things that are critical.”
Whether he starts or comes off the bench, one thing is certain: Robinson’s return is imminent.
The progress has been undeniable. The days of him avoiding weight on his left foot are over. Pool and anti-gravity workouts are in the past, too.
Robinson is a full participant in practice with contact, and now, the Knicks are monitoring how his foot responds day-to-day. If he continues to wake up pain-free, his return is just around the corner.
“He’s doing well overall,” Thibodeau said when asked about Robinson’s recovery.
The Knicks are finally getting one of their biggest pieces back. The real challenge? Making sure he stays on the board for the rest of the season, which is best accomplished by not overloading him on Day 1 back at the office.