Oft-injured Knicks reserve center Mitchell Robinson is slated to return to the hardwood in January, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
The 7-footer is still recuperating from a pair of ankle procedures he has dealt with in the past year. He had a December ankle surgery, and then incurred another foot/ankle ailment during the playoffs. Charania notes that the Knicks will replace him with Jericho Sims as a back-up.
The Western Kentucky product, 26, suited up for just 31 contests last year, averaging 5.6 points on 57.5% from the field and 40.9% shooting from the foul line. He also pulled down 8.5 boards, swiped 1.2 steals and blocked 1.1 shots.
There’s more out of New York:
- New Knicks backup point guard Cameron Payne, whose Sixers were vanquished in a chippy first round series by New York last spring, is acclimating to his new environs, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “It’s all love,” Payne said of his adjustment to the Knicks.
- The Knicks’ defensive ferocity was already well on display during the club’s Wednesday win over the Wizards, writes Ian Begley of SNY.tv. “I think we’re just learning each other some more,” new All-Defensive Team addition Mikal Bridges said. “Defensively, I think we can be really good. Just need time and being around each other more, and having practices and playing these preseason games is gonna help a lot.”
- All-NBA Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson believes he should have earned a spot on the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s basketball team this summer, per Sam Schube of GQ. The 6’2″ All-Star broke his hand during New York’s Game 7 semifinal defeat to the Pacers and would have been unable to play as he recuperated, but he noted that he didn’t make the cut even before that happened. “The team was chosen before I broke my hand,” Brunson said. “The way I played last year, I thought I was deserving. I thought I could have fit in. I’ve played many roles throughout my career; I could play another. But obviously, it just wasn’t in the cards at that time.”