TITLE: Robinson unfazed by starting role question as Knicks evaluate lineup ahead of 2025-26
SLUG: robinson-starting-role-knicks-2025-26
CONTENT:
NEW YORK — Center Mitchell Robinson says he is indifferent about starting or coming off the bench as he heads into the final season of his four-year contract, which will pay just under $13 million in 2025-26.
“Nah. It don’t matter to me at all,” Robinson told reporters Thursday. “I started before. I came off the bench before. I did great in both. So it’s whatever.”
Robinson, 27, saw limited minutes after returning from ankle surgery last season, but he reclaimed a starting spot for the last four games of the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana. First-year head coach Mike Brown called the 7-0 big man “a monster on the glass” yet said he has not decided whether Robinson will open the new campaign with the first unit.
“Ideally, it would be great to have everybody’s role defined before the first game,” Brown explained. “They can change during the season, but hopefully going into Game 1 we have everything set and the players embrace it. We’re a new staff, we have a lot of guys, so if we get behind, maybe it happens after the first or second game.”
Health and contract outlook
Robinson, who added muscle and trimmed weight over the summer while launching an organic farm in Nashville, said he is unsure whether team doctors will clear him for back-to-back games to start the year. He remains one of the league’s top offensive rebounders and will be extension-eligible throughout the season. “I’m gonna come out here and play hard still regardless,” he said, adding that any contract talks will be left to his agent.
McBride adjusting to coaching change
Guard Miles McBride has surfaced in trade speculation because the Knicks reportedly want to retain veterans Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet, both on non-guaranteed training-camp deals. McBride, who spent his first four seasons under Tom Thibodeau, thanked his former coach but expressed enthusiasm for working with Brown. “Coming in with Mike, I’m excited. He’s been communicating with a lot of guys, allowing people to talk,” McBride told The Athletic.
Anunoby eyes top defensive honors
Forward OG Anunoby finished last season with the most votes among players who missed the All-Defensive Second Team. He aims higher this year. “Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Defense — those are always my goals,” he said, according to Newsday. Brown backed the aspirations: “He’s a first-team [defender] … that’s how good he is on that end of the floor.”
The Knicks open training camp next week with roles still to be finalized and several roster decisions looming.
Source: Hoops Rumors
