The Knicks are about to celebrate their first championship banner in 53 years, and when the rings go out Tuesday at Madison Square Garden against the 76ers, the second unit will look familiar - with one notable exception.
That change sits at center. Mitchell Robinson is gone, replaced by Andre Drummond, and Ian Begley said on SNY’s The Putback that the overall bench picture hasn’t shifted much beyond that swap.
“They pretty much brought everybody back except for Mitchell Robinson. You replace him with Andre Drummond... So I think the depth is pretty much the same,” Begley said.
Even so, Robinson’s absence leaves a very specific type of void. Begley made clear that what Robinson brings is hard to duplicate.
“Mitchell Robinson, when healthy, is a very unique talent and you can’t replace him with any backup center. And that’s not a slight to Andre Drummond,” Begley added.
He also said the Knicks’ front office believes this group has already shown what it can do.
“Those guys proved it last year. They feel like they can do it again this year. So I don’t think that on paper there’s been a big drop off,” he said.
The contracts reinforce that view. Robinson left on a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics, while Drummond arrived on a one-year, $3.9 million contract.
Drummond brings rebounding and a different kind of usability around the rim. He isn’t Robinson as a shot blocker, but he did shoot 63.1% from the free-throw line last season, compared with Robinson’s 40%, which makes him harder to exploit late in games.
The guard rotation also largely stayed intact. Landry Shamet returned on a four-year, $24 million deal, Jose Alvarado signed for three years, and Jordan Clarkson is back on a minimum contract.
There is one backcourt situation worth watching: Miles McBride is in the final year of his deal and has no extension, which means he could become a free agent next summer.
For now, though, this bench looks a lot like the one that just won it all. And if Drummond can absorb Robinson’s minutes, the Knicks appear positioned to make another run.
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Coach Mike Brown does not believe the ankle will keep Hart from being ready for the opener, but the bigger picture is still unsettled. Harts status for the first game is being monitored in the days leading up to it, and the finger situation gives the Knicks a real reason to be cautious. For a team that leans heavily on Harts all-around impact, this is the kind of early-season concern that cant be brushed aside, even before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
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Three Former Knicks From The Title Team Face A Sudden Reality
As the regular season draws closer, three familiar names from New Yorks championship run are suddenly on the outside looking in. Trey Jemison III, Dillon Jones and Jeremy Sochan, all part of the Knicks 2025-26 title roster, are currently without NBA homes after each was waived this offseason by a different team.
It is a reminder of how quickly life can change for players who were peripheral pieces on a winning club. Jemison was let go by Toronto, Jones by Philadelphia and Sochan by Portland, and with all three having played limited roles during that title season, their next steps now hinge on finding another opportunity before the leagues roster picture settles. [Read more 🡒]