Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson Could Return This Month From Ankle Surgery

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson could return this month. 

Robinson underwent left ankle surgery in December. 

Brian Windhorst: "…Mitchell Robinson should be back before the end of the month…They're only gonna get better as long as they can get healthy…"

Kendrick Perkins: "…When you think about the NY Knicks, prepare to be in a bar fight…This defense that's coached by my boy Tom… pic.twitter.com/RBL2tqbQCX

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 20, 2024

Robinson appeared in 21 games this season before getting hurt. He averaged 6.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks while shooting 59.2% from the field and 36.8% from the free-throw line. 

Robinson went through contact practice today (3/20), a strong sign that he could play soon. The Knicks are 41-27 on the season. They are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. 

If the regular season ended today, New York would face the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.

The Knicks drafted Robinson with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Western Kentucky. The big man has career averages of 8.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.9 blocks. 

New York is currently playing without Robinson, Julius Randle and OG Anunoby. Anunoby is dealing with pain and soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow, while Randle is still out with a dislocated right shoulder.

Randle is averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks this season while shooting 47.2% from the floor, 31.1% from 3 and 78.1% from the free-throw line. He has 18 double-doubles and one triple-double. 

If Randle doesn’t return this season, the Knicks won’t compete for the 2024 championship. The lefty is one of the top players in the NBA. He has a plus-minus of +219 in 2023-24. 

According to NBA insider Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks are “optimistic” Randle will play again this season.

“I’ve heard during this period that there’s been some positive progression here during the rehab and I think that’s left people with even more reason to be optimistic that Randle will be back at some point this season,” Begley said. “I don’t know if they’re out of the woods yet, but certainly the progress that he has made over the last couple of weeks during this rehab stretch has left people excited about the possibility of him coming back.”