Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson to Miss Extended Time After Thumb Surgery

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson will be out at least three weeks after undergoing thumb surgery on Thursday, the team announced.

Robinson suffered the injury in Wednesday’s home loss to the Wizards. While the team said he will “be re-evaluated” in three weeks, he stands a good chance to be out considerably longer.

The Knicks are likely to use backup Isaiah Hartenstein as the starting center, though coach Tom Thibodeau has indicated power forward Julius Randle could spend some time there as well. Jericho Sims also played plenty of minutes when Mitchell went down with a knee injury in November.

“It’s just the next guy. I love the depth that we have at center,” Thibodeau said, via Peter Botte of the New York Post. “We have three guys that are more than capable.”

Robinson, 24, is 7-fot-0 and averaging 7.2 points and 8.9 rebounds, and shooting 67 percent from the field, in 38 games.

The Knicks (25-21) are currently tied with the Heat for the sixth-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Mitchell Robinson underwent successful surgery today to repair his fractured right thumb at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) January 19, 2023