Knicks' Mitchell Robinson Heartbroken Over 'Another Disappointment'
Mitchell Robinson might've sealed his fate on Thursday afternoon, as a somber post to his Snapchat story appears to confirm his absence for the rest of the 2023-24 season.
Robinson, the longest-tenured Knick in his sixth season, has missed the team's last six games due to an ankle injury that was originally said to keep him out for 8-to-10 weeks. But Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Knicks were in the process of applying for a Disabled Player Exception, which can only be obtained if the player in question is out for the season.
The center's social media post doesn't confirm his season-long departure, but it certainly doesn't hint at returning any time soon.
Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS
“I just don’t get it, Robinson declared. "I do everything I’m asked when it comes to my body and this (expletive) still happens like wtf. Another year another disappointment.”
Robinson, 25, was in the midst of his finest professional season to date: even though he missed the last six, he's still one of two rebounders with at least 100 on the offensive end, the other being Atlanta's Clint Capela. He was pulling in at least 10 total rebounds a game for the first time in his career and was at the forefront of a defensive effort that was allowing an Eastern Conference-low 105.4 points a game entering December.
But Robinson took to Snapchat to vent some frustration, and it's easy to see where he's coming from: he went into his sixth year in New York with a goal of contributing more to the Knicks' offense after venting some frustration last season. While he wasn't scoring more (career-low 6.2 points a game), it was clear he was a vital difference-maker for this year's group.
Defensively, the Knicks (16-11) gave up over 128 points a game in Robinson's first four absences, but have since somewhat stabilized over the last couple, allowing 109 and 102 respectively in consecutive wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets.
With Robinson out and Jericho Sims battling ankle issues, the Knicks' paint duties are currently bestowed to Isaiah Hartenstein and Taj Gibson, though the team will probably look for help from abroad, be it on a trade or free agency front or even from the G League group in Westchester. In the meantime, New York faces a Christmas weekend doubleheader against the Milwaukee Bucks that begins on Saturday afternoon (12:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
