Mitchell Robinson and the Knicks’ Summer Dilemma: Can You Bet on a Big Man Who Can’t Stay on the Floor?
Mitchell Robinson is inching closer to unrestricted free agency, and for the New York Knicks, that means a franchise-defining decision is looming. The big man has been a fan favorite and a defensive anchor when healthy-but that’s the catch. When healthy.
New York has enjoyed the benefits of Robinson’s current team-friendly deal, which was frontloaded and allowed the Knicks to build around him without breaking the bank. But that bargain is about to expire, and the front office now faces a high-stakes question: How much is too much to invest in a player who changes games when he’s on the floor but has struggled to stay there?
A Unique Defensive Force
There’s no doubt about Robinson’s impact when he’s available. He’s one of the league’s premier interior defenders, thanks to a rare combination of length, mobility, and timing.
He covers ground like few bigs can, alters shots at the rim, and can even switch onto smaller players in a pinch. Add in his dominance on the offensive glass, and you’ve got a player who creates second-chance opportunities at an elite rate.
This season, despite limited minutes, Robinson is putting up numbers that jump off the page: 4.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.9 of them offensive, 1.0 assist, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals in just 19.2 minutes per game. Stretch that out per 36 minutes, and you’re looking at a monster stat line-9.0 points, 16.9 rebounds (9.1 offensive), 1.9 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.6 steals.
Those are impact numbers, plain and simple. And the eye test backs them up. When Robinson is on the floor, the Knicks’ defense tightens, their rebounding becomes relentless, and the offense benefits from his ability to extend possessions.
OG Anunoby put it best: “He’s a special player… no one like him in the league. His impact is felt every night in many different ways.”
That kind of endorsement doesn’t come lightly, especially from a fellow starter who understands how much easier life is with Robinson patrolling the paint.
The Elephant in the Room: Availability
But here's the flip side-Robinson has missed a staggering amount of time. Between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, he sat out 116 games.
This year, he’s already missed 13 of the Knicks’ first 45 contests. That’s not just a red flag-it’s a flashing warning light on the dashboard.
And this isn’t a new issue. Over the past five seasons, Robinson has played 31 or fewer games in three of them. That’s a trend that’s hard to ignore, especially for a team with championship aspirations and limited financial flexibility.
The Knicks are no longer a team just trying to make noise-they’re in the mix. They’ve won 50-plus games in back-to-back seasons and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024-25.
Every roster spot, every dollar, and every decision now carries weight. This isn’t about potential anymore-it’s about production and reliability.
So what do you do with a player like Robinson? Letting him walk would mean losing a truly unique defensive presence, the kind of player who can swing a playoff series with his rebounding and rim protection.
But re-signing him comes with serious risk. If his injury history continues, the Knicks could be tying up valuable cap space in a player who can’t consistently suit up.
The Contract Conundrum
Robinson is tracking to play in 58 games this season-his most since logging 59 in 2022-23. That’s encouraging, but still not exactly ironman numbers. And with the Knicks’ salary sheet already crowded, handing out a multi-year deal to a player with this kind of availability track record could be a tough sell internally.
A short-term contract with a team option might make sense-something that gives Robinson a chance to prove he can stay healthy while protecting the team from long-term risk. But that kind of deal might not be enough to keep him in New York. Other teams with more cap space and fewer immediate title expectations might be willing to roll the dice on his upside.
And that’s where things get tricky. The Knicks are stuck between two difficult truths: Mitchell Robinson is too valuable to lose for nothing, but too unreliable to commit to without hesitation.
What Matters More: Talent or Trust?
This summer, the Knicks will have to decide what they value more-Robinson’s undeniable talent or the trust that he’ll be available when it matters most. It’s not just a question about one player. It’s a referendum on how the franchise sees itself in the championship race.
Do you gamble on upside and continuity? Or do you pivot toward stability, even if it means parting ways with a player who gives you something no one else on the roster can?
There’s no easy answer. But one thing’s for sure: whatever choice the Knicks make, it’s going to say a lot about where they believe their window for contention truly lies.