As he enters the final year of his contract, which will pay him a little under $13MM, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson says he doesn’t care if he starts or not in 2025/26, writes Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News.
“Nah. It don’t matter to me at all,” Robinson said on Thursday. “I started before. I came off the bench before. I did great in both. So it’s whatever.”
As Winfield notes, Robinson saw his role reduced after finally returning from ankle surgery last season, but then was moved back into the starting lineup for the last four games of the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana. New head coach Mike Brown called Robinson a “monster on the glass” but said he has yet to decide if the 7’0″ big man will start or come off the bench.
“Ideally, it would be great to have everybody’s role defined before the first game,” Brown said. “Now, they can change throughout the course of the season, but hopefully going into Game 1, we as coaches — and (new assistant) Billy Lange — get to a point where we have everybody’s role defined. And not only that, but they embrace it so that everybody knows specifically what they need to do.
“We’ve got a lot of guys and we’re a new staff. So if we get a little behind, maybe it doesn’t happen until after the first or second game. I don’t know. But ideally, I’d like to have all that done before game one.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Robinson, who said he added muscle and lost weight over the offseason after starting an organic farm in Nashville, isn’t sure if he’ll be cleared to play back-to-backs to open the season, according to Winfield. One of the NBA’s premier offensive rebounders, Robinson added that he isn’t concerned about potentially being involved in trade rumors ahead of 2026 free agency — he will remain extension-eligible throughout the season. “I’m gonna come out here and play hard still regardless, whether it’s my last (year) or my first (year), just come out here and play hard,” Robinson said. “But at the same time I’m gonna let my agent handle that part of it. I’m just gonna play basketball.”
- Guard Miles McBride has been floated as a possible trade candidate because New York reportedly wants to keep Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet, both of whom are signed to non-guaranteed training camp deals. McBride expressed appreciation for former coach Tom Thibodeau but is looking forward to playing under Brown, tweets James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. “Honestly it was crazy. It was unexpected. All my four years were with Thibs. He did a great job with me and team,” McBride said. “… Coming in with Mike, I’m excited. … He’s been communicating with a lot of guys, allowing people to talk.”
- Forward OG Anunoby just missed out on making the All-Defensive Second Team last season, finishing with the most votes among players who didn’t make the cut. He has loftier goals for ’25/26, as Steve Popper of Newsday writes (subscription required). “For sure, defense, that’s what wins games, championships,” Anunoby said. “So it’s very important to me. Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Defense, those are always my goals.” Brown praised Anunoby’s defensive work, Popper adds. “First-team All-Defense,” Brown said. “He is more than capable. Really it’s up to him. That’s how good he is on that end of the floor. He’s a first-team — and I’ve been around those guys. Bruce Bowen. Tim Duncan. I’ve been around a few of them, and he’s right there.”
Knicks are not starting Mitch with Towns. It’s a bad idea in today’s NBA. Mitch can start with a star PF like AD or Jackson. Towns is not a 4. He is a 5 that can play some 4. Not the same thing. Towns is the starting East all star center. So get off the Mitch can start. Why do you think Minny traded Towns.
I love how so called knowledgeable basketball writers. Say things like “Robinson saw his mins reduced when he came back”
Really ???? what did you expect. To sit the East all star starter for him. Thibs played Hart cause we didn’t have a 4 he trusted. And most teams will play three or four wings with centers. Or no centers at all like Warriors. Robinson can start for a team. I just wouldn’t play him more than 30 mins. Not with his history.
Robinson will probably be dealt later. You don’t need him with Hukporti here. He is ready to backup Towns. Mitch and McBride are trade chips. Knicks can use to strengthen team. that would be for much later. I don’t see Brogdon beating out McBride. McBride is a true PG. Who was asked to play SG cause Knicks had no bench. He will backup Brunson this year. He is a better defender than Brogdon.
There are two things that need to happen this year. Towns and Brunson team D has to improve. And Bridges offense must be consistent at 22 a gm.
Mitch should start. KAT should typically finish at the 5 because of foul shooting but having him “protecting” the rim at the start of games just lets the other team get going. Two straight coaches have discovered that KAT is best at the 4 next to an old school 5.
“Why do you think Minny traded Towns.”
His contract, for the umpteenth time.
Trading McBride to keep Brogdon and Shamet would be stupid. He’s the only one of the 3 who’s going to get better, and he’s underpaid.
McBride has hit his ceiling. He is a 3 & d player who can’t create. Al, the only thing I don’t agree with you is that towns can play the four. We saw it when he played with Rudy gobert and they made it to the Western conference finals. The only reason why they lost is cuz Ant-Man disappeared and couldn’t carry like last year as well. Had Curry not going down that Twolves team would have lost. Ant didn’t play that good vs LA or GS.
Now I wouldn’t go with a lineup of towns and for long periods of time, but I think that’s a good starting lineup and then rotate the rest of the team in there. There’s actually no need for McBride anymore. If he can’t play the point guard position. We don’t need him as a two guard who can shoot Landry shamet can do that and Clarkston with Brogdon gives you a pretty flexible lineup. Plus you have to understand with a legit backup for it. Moves heart to a small forward position where you can bring back Bridges who’s going to play a lot of two guard and OG who can also play a lot of the 3 position. Mcbride literally got exposed in the indie series when he couldn’t contain TJ McConnell. You’re expected to at least be able to do that and knock down threes. I just really don’t see the point of him on the team. The only big draw he has is his contract. I’ll wait his production.
I say all that to say that McBride is actually a pretty good player and he would be great on any other team but with brunson being so small The lack of playmaking ability makes it so that he can’t really share the floor with Bronson that much.
Thibs didn’t use McBride as a PG. Browns offense will. He was a top PG in college. Always handled the ball and offense. We should see that this year. Towns is a center. So is Mitch. Hukporti can backup Towns no problem eventually. Knicks imo will trade Mitch this year. This team has only been together one year. And Mitch wasn’t even a part of that. He is more valuable as a trade chip. Knicks need a defensive stud at the 4. That’s what I hope to see with a Mitch trade. Brown has to see this team play. He is new here. They got no answers now.
Al McBride is not a point guard. He has not handle or playmaking ability. If he did he would be a NBA starter/ borderline All-Star. He’s pretty much good at playing defense, knocking down jump shots and can get in the lane and throw a floater or two. But he’s not that great of finishing around the rim. He needs to come off ball screens a little bit better. And the huge part that’s hurting him the most is his ability to not run the pick and roll. I can link clips and as I said I love McBride. He’s definitely an NBA role player. I just think what he brings is not what the Knicks need because of Bronson and Bridges. The problem is his contract is dirt cheap So you’re getting more value than his contract is which is rare for a lot of guys.
I have watched him since college. You don’t watch the Knicks if you don’t understand McBride. He was drafted as a PG.
He didn’t play much point for Knicks. Cause Thibs didn’t use him that way. You will see his PG skills now. His handle is just as good as Jalens. He doesn’t have his smarts. I agree he has to convince people like you. Who have never seen him run point.
Thats cause he had Quickley ahead of him. And the way he got mins from Thibs was to play D. He has been used as a complimentary player. Cause he is willing to play D. Just like Grimes was. More up tempo game should help him to show more of his game. McBride has the skills to be a starting PG imo. 2way players are not easy to find. You will see.
Same AL, unless he learned a new skill ball handling and playmaking is not his strength. We will see however I don’t see him as the backup point guard. Good news is we have 5 days until we find out. Hopefully you are right
Knicks are better with Mitch at the 5. Defensive rating through the roof in comparison to Kat at the 5. Mitch is very swithable defensively. Offensive end kat can spread the floor and Mitch can crash the boards. NY more than likely losing Mitch unless trading another piece.
Mitch played 17 games last year and avg 17 mins. There is no room for him with Towns here. That simple. Knicks can’t afford both of them. Hukporti will help make it easier to move Mitch. Towns plays 34 mins a gm. You can’t pay a backup 20 mill.
The decision on whether or not Mitch starts is only peripherally about Mitch. It’s principally about what identity the team wants to establish going forward. A team relying on KAT to anchor its defense can only have an offensive identity, one relying on finesse over physicality. I’m not sure any team can win a title with that identity, but I’m fairly certain that this NYK team can’t.
As things stand, I have little faith in Brown, and only negative faith in the Collaborators. But I’ll have even less if the team goes in that direction. It doesn’t matter if the decision made was truly Brown’s or more that of the Collaborators. They all have to own it.