Knicks Rumors: Mitchell Robinson Won’t Be Ready for Start of NBA Season Amid Injury

The New York Knicks are expected to begin the 2024-25 season without center Mitchell Robinson.

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Robinson will not be ready for the start of the regular season and is targeting a “December/January return date.” The Knicks want to ensure that the 26-year-old is “100 percent healthy” before his season debut.

Robinson wasn’t expected to be ready for the start of training camp “earlier this month,” per Begley.

The former second-round pick underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left ankle on May 13.

Robinson is able to impact games with his rim protection and offensive rebounding when healthy, owning careers averages of 8.0 points and 7.9 rebounds to go along with 1.9 blocks per game.

Injuries have limited him in his career, as he’s appeared in over 70 games just once throughout his six seasons in the NBA. He dealt with ankle issues during his 2023-24 campaign, suiting up in a mere 31 contests.

It’ll be more difficult for the Knicks to replace Robinson’s production after former center Isaiah Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency. Hartenstein started 62 games in the regular season and playoffs for New York last year.

The Knicks will likely start Precious Achiuwa at center until Robinson is able to return, but head coach Tom Thibodeau hinted at potentially moving three-time All-Star power forward Julius Randle down a position.

“We’ll look at some different things, because we have versatility — we could see Julius more at the 5,” Thibodeau said, per Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. “I don’t want to do that for long stretches, it would take its toll, but to have him do it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well. He also would create a lot of [offensive] advantages.”

New York enters the 2024-25 season with more defensive versatility after re-signing forward OG Anunoby and trading for Mikal Bridges in a blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets. This could result in Thibodeau trying out small-ball lineups featuring Randle at center, especially with Robinson’s upcoming absence.

The Knicks are attempting to compete with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers near the top of the Eastern Conference standings next season, but they’ll need to survive without their starting center in order to do so.