Mitchell Robinson knows exactly what he’s walking into now.
The former Knicks center spent the first eight years of his career in New York, helped end a 53-year championship drought, and built enough goodwill that he expects a warm reception from the MSG crowd when he comes back to Madison Square Garden - even if he’s wearing Celtics green. Robinson said he believes Knicks fans will cheer him, and he has a clear-eyed view of why the move happened in the first place.
As he put it, the switch was part of the business. Owner James Dolan’s decision to dodge the second apron pushed Robinson out, a move the source described as a pragmatic one under a punitive and restrictive collective bargaining agreement. Even so, the reaction from New York fans should be shaped by what Robinson meant to the franchise, not just the jersey he wears now.
Robinson sounded both amused and a little stunned while talking on Raised in the Stands about crossing over to the other side of the Boston-New York rivalry. After winning the Larry O'Brien Trophy in orange and blue, the 28-year-old from Pensacola, Florida laid out what it feels like to join the enemy.
"Now I'm over there, so, like, it's going to be pretty crazy," said Robinson. "But I'm like, 'Oh [expletive], what did I get myself into?' But basketball [is] not forever, so enjoy it while you can."
There’s no waiting around for the first chapter of that new reality. The Celtics host the Knicks in their home opener, while Boston’s first trip back to New York doesn’t come until Jan.
- Robinson may not need extra time to get mentally ready for that night, but the calendar has already given him plenty.
Jalen Brunson has already weighed in on the move, too. Earlier this summer, the 2025-26 NBA Finals MVP spoke candidly about seeing a former teammate head to a rival after helping him get to the top. Brunson told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post that he cares a lot about Robinson and was happy to see him land a three-year, $47.4 million contract, even if he would have preferred it not come from Boston.
The friendship is still there off the court. On it, Brunson said that relationship gets put on hold when the Celtics and Knicks meet.
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That is why several rotation names keep coming up in trade discussions, including Luka Garza, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and one other player whose role and contract could make him a useful chip if Boston needs to pivot midseason. Each brings something a contender can use, whether it is shooting, stability, or a manageable deal, and that is exactly what makes them interesting to other teams even if the Celtics would prefer to keep the rotation intact. [Read more 🡒]