Knicks Rumors: Mitchell Robinson Won’t Be Ready for Start of NBA Season Due to Injury | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

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

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

According to Begley, Robinson was not expected to be ready for the start of training camp “early this month.”

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

Robinson can impact games with his rim protection and offensive rebounding when fit. He averaged 8.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for his career, along with 1.9 blocks.

Injuries have limited his career, as he has appeared in just one game in over 70 during his six NBA seasons. He has struggled with ankle issues during the 2023-24 campaign, playing in just 31 games.

It will be harder 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 can return, but head coach Tom Thibodeau has hinted at the possibility of moving three-time All-Star power forward Julius Randle down a position.

“We’ll look at some other things because we’re versatile — we could see Julius more at the 5,” Thibodeau said, according to Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. “I don’t want to do that for long periods of time, it would take a toll on him, but if he does it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well. He would create a lot of (offensive) advantages, too.”

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

The Knicks will attempt to compete with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers at the top of the Eastern Conference next season, but they will be without their starting center to do so.