New York Knicks: 3 Important storylines to follow in training camp

New York Knicks: Does Nerlens Noel start at center?

Throughout the offseason, fans assumed that Mitchell Robinson would return to his role as starting center despite suffering a foot fracture that ended his 2021 campaign. He averaged a respectable 8.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while finally controlling his foul issues.

However, his season came to an abrupt end when he suffered a foot fracture that caused him to miss the team’s final 31 games, including the playoffs. Robinson has spent the offseason rehabbing, and the Knicks front office revealed that he still has a ways to go.

The 23-year old hasn’t experienced NBA-level basketball since March, so it makes sense that the coaching staff wants to ease him back instead of overplaying him in meaningless preseason games.

He’s not expected to miss any regular-season action, but the team may continue to be patient with Robinson and give Nerlens Noel the temporary starting spot for the team’s first few contests.

The Knicks took a similar approach when Robinson fractured his hand in the middle of the season, having him come off the bench for a couple of games before reinserting him into the starting lineup. The rest of the team’s starters appear to be set in stone, but the Robinson-Noel battle should be a fun training camp competition to watch.