Memphis – Mitchell Robinson is back.
About ten months on the shelf, Nick, the longest-expanded, was active as a reserve for a Friday night match against the Grizzlies.
His return arrived with the Knicks in desperate need of a frontcourt and defensive help. One other natural center (the town of Karl Anthony) and injuries began to pile up as the season approached Paul in the final quarter.
The expectation is that Robinson is operating under close minutes of restrictions, hoping to stay healthy and reach peak for the playoffs.
He has under two months to develop chemistry with his new teammates, regaining his defensive rhythm and, perhaps most importantly, given Robinson's history, to reach a conditioning level that will keep him in court and promote health.
“It's going to be a short stint for a while,” Tom Thibodeau said.
What does the coach expect from Robinson?
“It's the first game, so the game is different from practice,” he said.
Robinson, who has undergone multiple surgeries in both foot areas, represents the Knicks' top rim protector and an aggressive rebounder.
His ability to play alongside town, as the Timberwolves did with Rudy Gobert, allowed him to unlock the ceiling on much higher defensiveness and attach greater hopes and expectations for his return.
Entering Friday, the Knicks ranked 21st and 22nd in offensive rebounds per game.
They have been in the top four with offensive rebounds per game over the past three seasons.
The front office also relied on the bank for Robinson's greatest impact, believing that Robinson was on trade deadlines and was better than what could be used as a depth piece of the market frontcourt.
After Friday's news, Robinson's availability has become more pressing after news that rookie centre Ariel Fuk Porti is heading for a season that was broken in Meniscus.
“[Robinson] Miles McBride said. “Overall, the whole team is playing on the bench, or they're playing on the starters. The rebounds, the effort he brings is unparalleled.”
According to Jalen Brunson, who called the center's locker room presence “underestimated,” Robinson's return may have another advantage.
Robinson, a self-proclaimed country boy from Louisiana, tends to cheer up his mood by teasing.
The Knicks lost some of the locker room uniters at Isaiah Haltenstein and Donte Divinsenzo last season.
“We haven't made everything serious off the court,” McBride said. “When he gets to court, he's a completely different animal. So it's good to have someone a little brighter in the locker room.”
Robinson had not played previously since May, who had his second surgery on his left ankle.
The first comment was that the 26-year-old would likely return to training camp.
He then missed nearly three-quarters of the season.
“I'm just taking my time. I want to make sure it's 100%, but I'm not trying to keep these sit-ins or set-offs, stuff like that,” Robinson said before the All-Star break. “This time I'm going to play smartly. Usually I'm young and stupid and try to get back as fast as possible. I can't do anything anymore.”
