Mitchell Robinson made his long-awaited return from offseason ankle surgery on Friday in Memphis — but notably, he never shared the floor with Karl-Anthony Towns, the star center the Knicks acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves over the summer.
That projects to change, and fast, for a team that needs to test its best lineups around Robinson against NBA competition — not against itself in practice.
Towns and Robinson headline one of several lineups the Knicks must explore down the stretch as they gear up for the postseason.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has already made it clear that Robinson is viewed as the team’s starting center. That means rotations are in flux, roles are shifting, and the Knicks need a complete picture of how Robinson fits into a roster they hope can elevate them into the championship conversation.
Here are three lineups New York must deploy with Robinson on the floor to maximize its title chances.
Lineup 1: Robinson + Towns + Anunoby + Bridges + Brunson
This one’s all about the two-man game, and no, not the one between the KAT and the Cap.
The Knicks need to see Robinson and Towns in live action because their season may ultimately hinge on their ability to coexist.
Minnesota cracked the code by pairing Towns, an elite scoring big, with Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year. The Timberwolves went from a +0.6 net rating in Towns-Gobert minutes in Year 1 to a +8.6 net rating in Year 2 — coinciding with their rise to the NBA’s No. 1 defensive rating (108.4 points allowed per 100 possessions).
The Knicks have their own version of the Gobert-Towns setup with Robinson and Towns, plus a pair of aggressive perimeter defenders in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
Can Robinson replicate Gobert’s defensive impact after a pair of ankle surgeries? That remains to be seen, but early returns were promising — New York posted a +11 net rating in Robinson’s 12 minutes on the floor in Memphis.
If this lineup clicks, it becomes the Knicks’ best shot at contending with the NBA’s elite.
LINEUP 2: Robinson + Achiuwa + Anunoby + Bridges + Brunson
Towns will get into foul trouble. That’s inevitable. The Knicks need to be prepared for it — especially against bigger teams.
This was the exact scenario in Memphis. Towns picked up two quick fouls, forcing Robinson to check in against 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr. Next time, it could be Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Or Cleveland’s duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Even the Pacers have Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam, plus the reigning champion Celtics have Jayson Tatum at the four.
Enter this defensive fortress: Robinson at the five, Achiuwa at the four, Anunoby and Bridges locking down the perimeter, with Brunson orchestrating the offense.
Yes, spacing takes a hit with two non-shooters on the floor, but Brunson’s ability to get into the lane at will keeps this lineup viable.
More importantly, good luck scoring against it. With Robinson in drop coverage and Achiuwa, Anunoby and Bridges switching screens, the Knicks will have their bases covered, plus all four can serve as a back stop in case Brunson gets beat on defense.
3. Robinson + Anunoby + Hart + McBride + Payne
If Thibodeau reinserts Robinson into the starting five, someone has to move to the bench. Josh Hart is the likeliest candidate. He even floated the idea during the preseason.
That scenario raises an important question: What happens when Robinson checks out?
Hart, in a sixth-man role, would likely be the first player off the bench — initially subbing in for Robinson before eventually sharing the floor with him when Towns takes a breather.
This is where Thibodeau’s rotations become critical.
In Memphis, Thibodeau’s first sub after inserting Robinson was taking out Anunoby for McBride, creating a lineup of Robinson, Bridges, Hart, McBride, and Brunson. That unit struggled on the offensive glass, suggesting that another big like Achiuwa might be needed — but deploying two non-shooters together is a risk.
Notably, Robinson and Achiuwa didn’t share the floor in Memphis.
Thibodeau played Robinson alongside the non-Towns starters nearly four minutes into the first quarter. Then he went with Deuce in for Anunoby before Robinson went to the bench. Robinson returned with the starters for the final two minutes of the first half when Towns picked up his third foul. And he checked back in at the 4:12 mark of the third quarter alongside Anunoby, Bridges, McBride and Brunson.
On the final possession of the third quarter, Thibodeau turned to Robinson alongside Anunoby, Bridges, McrBride and Cam Payne. And he used Robinson with Anunoby, Bridges, Hart and McBride when the Knicks needed a stop on the game’s last play.
It’s clear Thibodeau will prioritize spacing around his defensive anchor.This lineup is all about balancing size, defense, and spacing without sacrificing too much offensive versatility.