Jan 15, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) stands for the National Anthem before the start of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons
NEW YORK — Mitchell Robinson will undergo left ankle surgery this week and be re-evaluated in 8-10 weeks, according to NY Knicks PR.
The operation will take place at New York’s Hospital . Robinson was set to miss Monday, but now will be sidelined at minimum through the All Star Break.
The Knicks center suffered the injury in Friday’s loss to the Celtics.
“Been battling stuff my whole life; some days I feel like I take 10 steps ahead, and others feel like I took 20 steps back; even when I do what I’m supposed to god throws these battles at me that feel like they’re unbeatable no matter what I do,” Robinson wrote on Snapchat.
“I know I shouldn’t be letting this stuff get to my mental but over time it just takes over.
It’s a devastating blow for the Knicks, as Robinson was in the running for Defensive Player of the Year. The 25-year-old is averaging 6.2 points on 59.2 percent shooting with a team-high 10.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 21 games (all starts) this season.
Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims should pick up the majority of Robinson’s minutes as they did last season when he was sidelined for a month.
Sims started every game in that span but averaged just 4.0 points across 25.1 minutes. Hartenstein logged 23.7 minutes per game but proved to be the better option averaging 5.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.
