Mitchell Robinson on Embiid: No Grudges, Just Focus

Mitchell Robinson has voiced that he doesn’t harbor any resentment towards Joel Embiid, at least not openly.

Two years ago, during the playoffs, Embiid made a controversial move by grabbing Robinson’s left leg while he was in the air, which ultimately sidelined Robinson for the rest of the postseason.

His then-teammate, Donte DiVincenzo, labeled the act as dirty.

However, when speaking about it recently, Robinson chose to take the high road. “I don’t [think he’s a dirty player]. I don’t really dwell on the past,” he said, keeping his focus on the upcoming challenge against the 76ers in Game 1 of their second-round series.

Robinson’s main goal is to help the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals by mitigating Embiid’s contributions.

His role is crucial—not just in guarding Embiid, but also as a linchpin in the overall defensive strategy of the Knicks.

In the preceding series against the Hawks, Robinson showcased his skills, averaging 6.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and one block over 14 minutes of play.

During his time on the court, the Knicks outperformed the Hawks by a substantial 20.5 points per 100 possessions.

Embiid, for his part, had a productive series of his own, putting up averages of 28 points and nine rebounds, even after missing the first three games due to an emergency appendectomy.

“He’s a fantastic player. I always enjoy the matchup,” Robinson mentioned, reflecting on playing against Embiid.

When asked about how to effectively guard him, Robinson simply noted, “Watch out for fouls.”

In a decisive Game 6, the Knicks triumphed over the Hawks, achieving a franchise playoff record with 51 points in that game.

Unfortunately for Robinson, he wasn’t part of the celebration, having been ejected in the second quarter following a dispute with Hawks guard Dyson Daniels.

In another incident, he faced a $50,000 fine for sharing a mocking social media post. The league even reached out to discuss this matter, though Robinson seemed to brush it off, saying, “To be honest, I had forgotten. I wasn’t really focused on it.”

Most importantly, Robinson will not face suspension and is set to participate in Game 1 against Embiid and the 76ers.

His presence is certainly vital.

“He’s a valuable asset. Mitch is unique, and no matter the opponent, his role will be crucial—particularly in terms of rebounding, his pick-and-roll offense, rim protection, and versatility,” Coach Mike Brown commented. “We need all those contributions from him at a high level, alongside everyone else.”