New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson to return, and there’s a plan in place
New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale cleared up speculation on the plan for Mitchell Robinson, and announced the rookie center is good to go for Friday’s preseason finale.
In the second preseason game, against the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Knicks lost Mitchell Robinson to a sprained right ankle. It took him out of matchups versus the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards.
According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, Robinson will return for Friday’s preseason finale against the Nets. It’s a home game at 7:30 p.m. ET on MSG and YES.
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) will play in the Knicks’ preseason finale on Friday.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 10, 2018
The regular season starts Wednesday, Oct. 17, and until there’s a roster announcement, Robinson will be with the opening night group. However, as Begley also noted, head coach David Fizdale confirmed the rookie center’s likely trip to the G League, sans when that will happen:
David Fizdale says Mitchell Robinson will spend some time in the G League this season, in part, because he hasn’t played a lot of basketball. But Fizdale makes it clear that Robinson will also be playing games/practicing with the Knicks in his rookie season. https://t.co/Qfn56q29LE
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 10, 2018
Fizdale added how inexperienced Robinson still is, but also praised his ability to learn:
David Fizdale on Mitchell Robinson: “He’s so raw. Every day is new to him. He absorbs stuff pretty quickly. I would say every day he does something different that makes the whole gym go, ‘oh.’ .... He’s very diligent about his work.”
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 10, 2018
Robinson-to-the-G-League comes without surprise, as he didn’t play in college to prep for the 2018 NBA Draft. That puts his last full season at the high school level, so reps against professional basketball players, especially in regular minutes, should help the former Western Kentucky commit grow.
On New York’s roster, Robinson could back up Enes Kanter, the likely starter at center. In potentially just 10-15 minutes per game, though, it’s not what he will receive with Westchester, who can give him the full-time job at center and prep for this eventual role in the NBA.
This will also happen in Knicks practices and games, so it’s not an extensive G-League stint for Robinson, whenever they send him. If anything, given the short distance between Westchester and Manhattan, the call-ups and send-downs could become frequent.
The Knicks can place Robinson on a similar plan to Derrick White, who moved back and forth in his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs in 2017-18. He receives reps in the G League, but still garners NBA experience in the process.
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There’s no reason to rush Robinson’s development, either, so let’s see how long the organization puts him in Westchester and how frequently the call-ups and send-downs are throughout 2018-19.