The Knicks is not going to enter the upcoming NBA season at full energy. Large man Mitchell Robinson is predicted to be out till a minimum of December or January as he continues to get well from ankle surgical procedure he had in Might, per Yaron Weitzman. Robinson underwent surgical procedure throughout the playoffs to restore a stress fracture in his left ankle, and was initially anticipated to be prepared for the beginning of the 2024-25 season. Nonetheless, the massive man has but to completely get well from the surgical procedure, and can miss the primary couple months of the season.
Robinson’s absence goes to be a troublesome blow for a Knicks staff that’s already relatively skinny within the frontcourt with the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein in free company this summer time. The shortage of depth at heart was the greatest query dealing with the Knicks heading into the season, and now that Robinson is predicted to overlook a while, it makes it the focus because the season nears.
Treasured Achiuwa will seemingly slide into the beginning spot, and Jericho Sims will certainly see an uptick in minutes from final season with Robinson sidelined. We may additionally see Tom Thibodeau go to small-ball rotations with Julius Randle or OG Anunoby serving as the most important participant on the courtroom for the Knicks for sure stretches of the sport.
As a lot as it’s a blow for the Knicks, it is a actually unlucky improvement for Robinson, who has had surgical procedure on the identical ankle twice within the final 12 months. Robinson initially underwent ankle surgical procedure in December 2023, and was anticipated to overlook the rest of the season. He managed to return in March, after which re-injured the ankle within the second-round playoff sequence towards the Pacers. The preliminary timeline from the Might surgical procedure was imagined to be 6-8 weeks, however it seems there’s been some setbacks in his restoration course of. It is simply the newest in what’s been a string of accidents for Robinson, who has managed to play in 70 video games simply as soon as in his six seasons within the league.
The Knicks do not need to rush Robinson again from his rehab course of, and need to guarantee he is 100% wholesome earlier than he returns. So whereas the timeline proper now’s December or January, it is clear the Knicks are protecting that free to see how his restoration goes.
