Mitchell Robinson won’t rush his way back to Knicks as injury return timeline remains murky

Rehabbing from an injury and without an official word on his recovery timeline, Mitchell Robinson offered optimism about his progress but pushed back at suggestions he should return with haste. 

“You seen what happened when I rushed to come back? I was back out,” Robinson said on a livestream video Thursday on social media. “At this point, I gotta make sure I’m good for life, too. C’mon, now. Let’s not be selfish here. … But we’re going to be good. We’re going to be alright. We’re going to be okay. Promise you we’re going to be straight.” 

Robinson hasn’t spoken to the media since undergoing left ankle surgery in May, when the procedure was characterized as “small” with a re-evaluation scheduled in six to eight weeks. 

Over five months later, Robinson still hasn’t resumed practicing and was a DNP for Friday’s home opener against the Pacers.

A source said Robinson is expected to return in December or January, although the situation is fluid and dependent on the center’s progress.  

“Rehab is going great, I’m not going to lie,” Robinson said. “I’m very proud of the work from this week and last week. Good signs. Good signs.”

It’s unclear how Robinson, whose fitness and conditioning took a while to return after previous injuries, suffered a setback or why the recovery timeline became so messy.

He missed 50 straight games last season after a surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right ankle, an injury severe enough for the Knicks to petition the NBA for a disabled player’s exception (they were denied).

About five weeks after returning, Robinson was the target of dirty plays by Joel Embiid in the playoffs, left Game 3 in a walking boot, limped around the rest of the series and was ruled out of the playoffs after missing Game 2 of the second round. 

The subsequent surgery was at least the fourth procedure over three years for Robinson, who fractured his right foot and right hand in 2021.

It’s a clue into why Robinson, 26, referenced his goal of health “for life” in the livestream.

Given the uncertainty around Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure in free agency, the Knicks pushed harder to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns in a September trade that reconfigured the Knicks’ rotation and identity. 

 Robinson said he “really didn’t have a reaction” to the trade but has enjoyed Towns’ company. 

“He’s a great guy, bro,” said Robinson, a 2018 draft pick who is now the longest-tenured Knick by three years. “When I’m in the weight room, he’s in there. Vibes are great. We’re bumping that country (music). We’re going at it in the weight room just knocking our workouts out.”

With Robinson as the catalyst, the Knicks built an identity the previous two seasons around their elite rebounding and paint protection.

Until his first ankle injury in December, Robinson had become the NBA’s top offensive rebounder, by far, at 5.3 per game – which followed him leading the East in that category in 2022-23.

The Knicks continued with that identity when Hartenstein took over. But Towns offers a different style at center and cleaning the glass could become a weakness with a lineup that features just one great rebounder for his position – Josh Hart.

Robinson, if healthy, would also represent the Knicks’ top rim protector – another area of concern for Towns.

But Robinson, who is often in drop coverage on pick-and-rolls, said he wants to experiment with pressing as a defender. 

Dependent on health and how the season shakes out, the Knicks could start Towns at power forward and Robinson at center.  

“You do know what I want to try this year, though? When I’m guarding somebody, right, usually I’ll be like an arm’s reach a little bit. Probably like a foot back. I feel like I’m really going to start pressing,” Robinson said. “Because I know I’m quick enough to recover if I’m guarding you. …I got a little technique and most of the time it works. I really got some tricks up my sleeve.” 

Robinson can’t flash these “tricks” if he’s not on the court. 

And the center, who has two years left on his deal, said he’s not going to rush that part.