Mitchell Robinson’s move to Boston was shaped by two realities the Knicks and Celtics knew all too well: New York’s financial squeeze after a title run, and Boston’s need for another big body in the frontcourt.
After eight seasons in New York, Robinson left the Knicks and signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Celtics in July. He arrived in Boston as a former playoff opponent and a player who had become one of New York’s most valuable defensive pieces, helping the Knicks win their first NBA championship since 1973.
The Knicks’ championship roster created its own problem. Keeping Robinson would have added another expensive decision for a team already staring at restrictions tied to the NBA’s second luxury-tax apron. New York had drawn its line there, and matching a similar deal for Robinson would have complicated the team’s ability to stay flexible financially.
Boston, meanwhile, had a clear opening. The Celtics were looking for frontcourt depth after getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs despite winning 56 games in the regular season. Neemias Queta had worked his way into a starting role, but the Celtics still wanted another center who could protect the rim, battle on the glass and offer a different style in the paint.
Robinson checked those boxes. His game is centered on work near the basket, screen-setting and squeezing out extra possessions with offensive rebounds.
That gives Boston another source of offense without asking him to stretch his game into areas that are not his strength. On the other end, his size and shot-contesting ability give the Celtics another answer against teams that lean on interior scoring.
He also brings value in games where rebounding and physical play matter most.
Boston’s interest in him wasn’t exactly a surprise, either. The Celtics had already seen firsthand how disruptive Robinson could be when the two teams met in the playoffs.
Now he gets his first crack at his old club in a Celtics uniform Friday at TD Garden. That matchup adds some weight to a decision that already carried plenty of significance, considering Robinson was the longest-tenured Knick before leaving in free agency and had spent his entire eight-year run in New York.
Even so, Robinson said he’s keeping his attention on the present, not the reunion angle.
"It's more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago," Robinson said Thursday about his season-opening performance in the loss to Detroit, according to The Boston Globe.
His Celtics debut was a rough one by his standards. Robinson finished with four points, three rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes against the Pistons, and he said afterward that he needed to be better.
Friday gives him a chance to reset while facing the franchise where he built his career. It also gives Boston a look at what Robinson can add to a team that clearly wanted more help up front.
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Mikal Bridges early offensive slump has only made the margin for error thinner, especially when the Knicks are already struggling to play with urgency. Boston took advantage of those empty possessions and unsteady stretches, turning New Yorks inconsistency into the kind of game that leaves the Knicks searching for answers before the season has even really begun. [Read more 🡒]
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Bostons late-game edge still showed up when it mattered most, with Jayson Tatum steadying the offense as the margin shrank. The Celtics needed those baskets to protect a lead that never felt fully safe, and the scare served as an early reminder that even a home opener against a division foe can turn into a grind before the final horn. [Read more 🡒]