Jalen Brunson isn’t pretending Mitchell Robinson’s exit was easy.
With the Knicks getting ready to defend their title in 2026, Brunson addressed the loss of a key piece from last season’s championship group after Robinson moved on to the Boston Celtics. The big man mattered on both ends for New York, especially with his defense and work around the rim, and Brunson made clear the departure hit home.
“Definitely tough. That's my guy,” Brunson told reporters on Monday.
“It's definitely difficult, but you love to see someone advance their generational wealth... just getting Andre, we're excited. I think he can be a big key to this team.”
Brunson also said he knows Andre Drummond from afar and will have a better feel for him now that they’re teammates. The Knicks brought in Drummond this offseason on a one-year, $3.9 million deal, hoping he can help cover what Robinson left behind.
Robinson’s move to Boston came in July, when ESPN reported he agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Celtics. He joins Jayson Tatum and Paul George on a revamped roster.
Last season, Robinson put up 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and shot 72.3% from the field. He averaged nearly 20 minutes a night in the regular season and played 18 games during the Knicks’ championship run.
Drummond arrives with plenty of mileage and production of his own. The veteran center has been in the league for 14 seasons, spending time with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
He’s been an All-Star twice and led the NBA in rebounding four times. Last season with Philadelphia, he averaged 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and also took part in the postseason run the Knicks later swept 4-0 in the second round.
New York opens its title defense with a major night at Madison Square Garden, hosting LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the new-look 76ers on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Drummond will see his former team right away. Then Brunson and the Knicks will run into Robinson just a few days later, when they travel to Boston for a matchup with the Celtics on Friday, Oct.
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Knicks Created A Bigger Problem Than Just Replacing Mitchell Robinson
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What makes the move linger is that it is not being viewed as a one-for-one swap, either on the floor or in the bigger picture. The new setup has already fueled speculation about how New Yorks future performance might be affected, and it could even color contract talks down the line. For a team trying to stay in the mix, losing Robinson is not just about replacing a center, it is about managing the ripple effects that come with changing the structure of the roster. [Read more 🡒]