Mitchell Robinson’s recovery is on pace to begin on-court shooting soon after the All-Star break, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau revealed Tuesday in the first official update on the starting center.
Robinson has been out since undergoing ankle surgery in mid-December.
“We’re very pleased with how he’s coming along,” Thibodeau said before the Knicks’ 123-113 win over the Grizzlies at the Garden. “So that’s a positive.”
It’s a positive update considering there were fears Robinson would be out the entire season with his fractured ankle.
Still, there’s a big difference between starting on-court work and returning to actual games.
Thibodeau laid out the process, with no real timetable for each step.
“You do the rehab part, you’re in the pool, you’re on the [anti-gravity treadmill], you’re lifting, doing that sort of thing,” the coach said. “Then they’ll clear him to get on the court with form shooting, that sort of thing. Then they’ll progress to the running part, the jumping part, then you start off one-on-zero, then one-on-one, then two-on-two, so there’s a progression to it, to where you get to the five-on-five and then you’re cleared for practice.”
Robinson is still waiting for clearance to get on the court, although Thibodeau said the 25-year-old is already doing “some shooting.”
“But it’s limited,” Thibodeau said. “We have to go step by step. Just follow the medical protocol until he’s cleared to start running.”
A key with Robinson is keeping his weight down before trying to transition his body into game shape.
“And that’s why you’re putting him in the pool,” Thibodeau said. “He can get on the bike, he can do those things. But it’s very low impact.”
Robinson emerged as an All-Defense candidate in his 21 games before the injury while leading the league in offensive boards. He was replaced aptly by Isaiah Hartenstein, who entered Tuesday’s game against the Grizzlies averaging career highs in rebounds (8.8) and minutes (25.6).
The Knicks have also used Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims to compensate for Robinson’s absence. Sims missed Tuesday with an illness.
Soon after Robinson’s surgery, the Knicks applied for a Disabled Player’s Exception — an indication they were worried he’d miss the season. However, a source said the Knicks were doing their due diligence and the medical report from the NBA showed he could return this season.
Jacob Toppin, who has played just four total minutes this season, will represent the Knicks at the Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend, a source confirmed.
Toppin, who is on a two-way deal, is the brother of Obi, who won the contest as a member of the Knicks in 2022.
Obi was traded to the Pacers in the summer and Jacob has spent most of this season with the Knicks’ G-League squad in Westchester.
Thibodeau had very little to say about the injury to OG Anunoby, who missed his fifth straight game Tuesday because of inflammation in his elbow.
“Just trust medical,” the coach said. “When they clear them, they clear them.”
Thibodeau added that Anunoby hasn’t been participating in shootarounds but he doesn’t know the specific injury that’s sidelining the forward, since inflammation is only a symptom.
“Again, it’s all medical,” he said.
Does Thibodeau expect Anunoby to be out longer?
“I’m not sure.”
Anunoby, 26, hasn’t played 70 games in a season since he was a rookie in 2017-18. He has already missed 10 games this season.