Knicks Held Me Back, Says Ex-Center Robinson

Mitchell Robinson, formerly of the New York Knicks, has suggested that his previous team’s cautious approach to his health was a limiting factor in his game. Since signing with the Boston Celtics this summer after an eight-year tenure with the Knicks, Robinson anticipates greater freedom on the court.

Robinson voiced his anticipation for playing in back-to-back games, a privilege he felt was restricted during his final seasons with the Knicks. He stated his excitement for a chance to play basketball with a "free mind" without constant health concerns. This shift comes after multiple ankle procedures and significant absences during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, prompting the Knicks to limit his minutes in consecutive games.

Despite the Knicks' strategy of preserving him for the playoffs, which resulted in his availability during their championship run, Robinson appears ready to move past that arrangement. The Celtics have signed him to a three-year, $47.4 million contract. However, Boston inherits his well-known weakness: a career 50.8% free-throw shooting percentage, a strategy opponents, including the Celtics under Joe Mazzulla, have previously exploited with "Hack-a-Mitch" tactics. Robinson claims he has improved his free-throw approach ahead of his expected preseason debut.