Knicks Manage to Avoid Another Robinson Disaster
The New York Knicks can exhale — Mitchell Robinson’s latest ankle injury isn’t serious.
During Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bulls, Robinson exited early in the third quarter after appearing to tweak his right ankle. Though he later returned to the game, his absence from the following matchup against the Washington Wizards raised eyebrows, given his long history with lower-body injuries.
Fortunately, the Knicks dodged another disaster.
“For Mitchell Robinson, the idea that he got back to the court, got back to the game, tells you all you need to know,” reported SNY’s Ian Begley. “Not a serious injury.”
That’s a massive relief for New York — especially considering Robinson’s track record.
Mitchell Robinson back to locker room after bad landing pic.twitter.com/h8hnyaQnt1
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 3, 2025
Robinson’s Injury History Keeps Knicks on Edge
Robinson missed most of last season recovering from left ankle surgery, and he also sat out the start of this year while managing related ankle soreness. The thought of a new issue on his other leg was understandably alarming.
Even when healthy, Robinson remains on a minutes restriction, part of the Knicks’ cautious approach to protect his long-term availability. Given how often he’s missed time in recent seasons, every ankle tweak sparks legitimate concern within the organization.
Why the Knicks Can’t Afford to Lose Robinson
On paper, the Knicks appear to have enough frontcourt depth to survive a short-term absence from Robinson. But his presence — particularly on defense and the glass — is irreplaceable.
Karl-Anthony Towns continues to battle a quad strain and remains inconsistent, while Guerschon Yabusele has struggled to stay healthy or find rhythm in his new role. Behind them, young bigs Ariel Hukporti and Trey Jemison III aren’t ready for major minutes yet.
Robinson’s availability also affects the Knicks’ ability to evaluate his fit with Towns. In limited action, New York is +11 through 12 minutes when both share the floor. Another injury setback would severely limit Mike Brown’s opportunity to test the duo’s chemistry.
Knicks Must Continue Managing Robinson Carefully
Even with the latest update confirming the injury isn’t serious, the Knicks can’t let their guard down. Robinson’s career has been marked by recurring availability concerns, and the team has already accepted that he likely won’t play both ends of back-to-backs this season.
It’s a prudent approach for a player who has missed roughly half of New York’s games over the past five years. Still, it underscores a harsh reality: while the Knicks’ frontcourt is talented, it remains fragile.
Robinson’s health may once again determine how high this team’s ceiling really is.
