The Celtics gave Knicks fans a fresh reason to smile on Tuesday, and it came in the form of Mitchell Robinson.
Boston’s official account posted a highlight reel of Robinson, but every clip in the video came against the Celtics. The sequence featured alley-oop finishes, disruptive defense that turned into steals, and even a sprint out to the 3-point line to swat a shot. The caption attached to the post read, “Enter the paint at your own risk,” even though the video didn’t actually show Robinson protecting the rim on defense.
For Knicks fans, it was the kind of post that practically invites a pile-on.
Robinson had been the longest-tenured player on New York’s roster, the only team he played for after the Knicks took him 36th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. That run ended earlier this month when he signed with Boston, leaving New York after eight years and, as the source of the move points to, the second apron played a role.
The deal was a three-year, $47.4 million contract, and it landed with a thud for plenty of Knicks supporters. Robinson was a fan favorite, and he was the only rotational piece from the championship team to leave New York this offseason, with Ariel Hukporti also departing to sign with the 76ers.
Not every Knicks fan sees Robinson as a traitor, though. A lot of them still remember the growth he showed over those eight years, along with the big moments that made him so popular in the first place. That includes a posterizing dunk over Joel Embiid and a crucial offensive rebound late in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
The Celtics’ post also reopened an old wound from a few weeks ago, when a Boston sports account commented on an Instagram post and wrote, "he [Robinson] better be great..." Robinson answered by reminding the account that the Knicks sent the Celtics home in the playoffs two seasons ago.
And while Boston now has Robinson on its side, that doesn’t guarantee an easy embrace. The piece notes that Celtics fans are still upset about their team trading Jaylen Brown, which could make Robinson’s arrival a little less straightforward than it might seem on paper.
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