Mike Brown shared recently that Mitchell Robinson’s agent is involved in the team’s load management strategy. This initiative aims to safeguard Robinson’s long-term health, but the mystery surrounding his consistent DNPs for four years is intriguing.
Brown stated, “It’s Mitch leading the effort, along with his doctors and agent,” prior to the Knicks’ victory over the Mavericks. He continued, “I’m just relaying what Casey told Mitch, but I do my best to keep in touch with him.”
For a while, Brown has hesitated to make comments about Robinson’s playing time based on Smith’s recommendations. Bringing in Robinson’s agent adds another layer to the situation, especially considering that the 27-year-old center is on an expiring contract and will enter free agency after the current season.
Robinson’s next contract will heavily depend on his health, which makes it quite revealing that the Knicks are not pushing for an extension as he approaches the unrestricted market.
Robinson’s agency, represented by Thad Foucher and Joe Smith, has not provided any comments; Foucher is also the agent for the Knicks’ backup center, Ariel Hukporti.
Robinson, sidelined for Monday’s game due to illness, has a history of switching agents—firing five within two years—before settling on Foucher and Smith in 2020. They secured a four-year, $60 million deal for him in 2021, but his performance has been inconsistent, often reflecting his health and fitness struggles.
For instance, in May 2024, Robinson underwent ankle surgery that was deemed minor, yet he ended up missing the first four months of the following season with no clear explanation, aside from a focus on his long-term well-being.
This season, after participating in preseason activities, he was benched for the opening four regular-season games, with no acknowledgment of setbacks. Currently, he’s following a load management plan, which has recently allowed him to play over 20 minutes per game.
Despite this, he has not participated in back-to-back games and has only exceeded 20 minutes of play once leading up to Monday’s match against the Nets. During that brief playtime, he showcased strong offensive rebounding but also demonstrated his significant drawback: poor free throw shooting.
Following a critical win against Dallas, where he made two late free throws, Brown noted that Robinson isn’t always a regular fixture in the rotation. He pointed out, “He needs to make free throws. We have a rotation, and usually, he’s not part of it at the end of the game unless we really need rebounds.”
None of these developments seem promising for Robinson’s prospects of landing a lucrative contract in free agency. If his agent plays a role in his game participation, this will likely influence contract negotiations. Ultimately, as Robinson himself noted, the focus is on ensuring he’s healthy when it matters most—during the playoffs and in summer negotiations.
Robinson expressed, “At first, it was frustrating. I thought, why miss out on the playoffs? But honestly, I realize whatever is best for my future, that’s what I’ll go with.”
