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Tim Bontemps, ESPN
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is going to miss the beginning of the regular season after offseason ankle surgery, league sources confirmed to ESPN, leaving an already thin center spot for New York even thinner entering the regular season.
Robinson, who played 31 games last season after undergoing ankle surgery in December, again hurt his foot/ankle during New York’s first round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers and missed the final six games of the Knicks’ second round series against the Indiana Pacers.
The Knicks are targeting Robinson to return sometime in December or January, sources said, though his eventual return will be dictated by his rehabilitation process.
The center spot for New York was already set to be a significant question entering the season, in the wake of last year’s primary starter for most of the season, Isaiah Hartenstein, signing a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In addition to Robinson, New York re-signed Precious Achiuwa to a one-year, $6 million deal over the summer and also have fourth-year center Jericho Sims on their roster, too.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said in an interview with NBA.com last week that he also sees scenarios where Julius Randle, who has a $30.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season, could also slot in at center in small-ball lineup. Thibodeau has rarely been inclined to go that direction in the past not only during his stint with the Knicks, but also in prior stops as head coach with the Timberwolves and Bulls, instead preferring to have size and rim protection anchoring his defense at the pivot.
The Robinson news comes after a very busy summer in New York, one that saw the Knicks pull off one of the shock moves of the offseason in acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, marking the first trade between the two franchises in 40 years.
New York also signed Thibodeau and star guard Jalen Brunson to new contract extensions and re-signed free agent forward OG Anunoby to a five-year, $212.5 million contract.