New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson completed his first full, contact practice on Wednesday, head coach Tom Thibodeau disclosed.
It is the first time that the 25-year-old has participated in such a capacity since suffering an ankle injury on Dec. 8 against the Boston Celtics that ultimately required surgery.
Initially, it was forecasted that Robinson would miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season but positive steps of a well-documented rehab and the NBA’s decision to deny the Knicks a disabled player exception suggested otherwise.
Robinson was having the finest season of his six-year NBA career, averaging 6.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He was especially dominant on the offensive glass, leading the NBA with 112 offensive rebounds in just 21 games before the injury.
Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Robinson has been a starting staple in the Knicks’ lineup. Of the 183 games he has appeared in, he started 170. But that might not be the case when he gets back on the floor this season.
On an Instagram post by the fan page, Knicks Movement, which was fantasizing about Robinson being a part of a starting five that also includes Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, and the currently injured OG Anunoby and Julius Randle, the center commented “I’d rather come off the bench. Maybe I can show more.”
Thibodeau also hinted at such a prospect, per The Athletic’s Fred Katz.
Coming off the bench would allow New York to ease Robinson into the intensity that is the stretch run or the playoffs, depending on when he gets the green light to come back. That would keep Isaiah Hartenstein at the starting 5 after performing admirably in Robinson’s absence.
In 62 games this season, he is averaging seven points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
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