After recovering from ankle surgery and missing a major chunk of the season, Mitchel Robinson made a notable return with the Knicks, and there’s one statistic that truly stood out: his +11 performance.
In his comeback game, where he spent 12 minutes on the court under a minutes restriction, the Knicks managed to outpace the Pelicans by 11 points during his presence. This figure was the highest on the team in their nail-biting 114-113 victory.
Robinson contributed six points and grabbed five rebounds, but his influence went beyond numbers. His defensive presence in the paint, ability to roll, and offensive rebounding made the team function more cohesively. It was a reassuring start for him.
Since the season began, discussions around the Knicks’ defense, currently ranked 20th, often met with a retort from fans: “Wait until Mitchell Robinson is back.” His return after such a long hiatus is just the beginning, but it showed promise. Despite his impact, the reality is that Robinson alone won’t bridge the gap between the Knicks and powerhouses like Cleveland or Boston. The main challenge remains with their All-Stars, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Their defensive vulnerabilities make them targets in serious matchups, but Coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t have the luxury of benching them.
Nevertheless, Robinson’s presence is a significant boost, and as the Knicks eye the playoffs, he’ll undoubtedly be a critical asset.
