ORLANDO — Approaching eight months since his last game, Mitchell Robinson still hasn’t started sprinting at full speed or been cleared for practice, according to Tom Thibodeau, who was nonetheless encouraged by the rehabilitation progress of his center.
“There’s still some benchmarks that he has to get through, but he’s done a terrific job,” Thibodeau said. “He’s light, he’s lean, he’s worked extremely hard. So we just want to make sure we’re patient and let him work his way through it.”
“Light and lean” are important characteristics for Robinson, who needs to keep the pressure off his surgically repaired feet/ankles and struggled with conditioning while recovering from previous injuries.
Thibodeau said the “next phase” for Robinson is full-speed running.
“Once we get through that part, then we do the contact and then probably be cleared for practice,” Thibodeau said.
There’s no timeline for Robinson to jump those hurdles, however, and the team has avoided official updates.
The 26-year-old last played in May during the first-round series against the Sixers, when he was involved in a physical battle with Joel Embiid and left a game in a walking boot.
Robinson’s subsequent ankle procedure was initially described as minor and the expectation was he’d return near the start of training camp.
That didn’t happen and Robinson, who traveled with the Knicks to Orlando for Friday’s game against the Magic, hasn’t spoken to the media since last season.
If healthy, New York could certainly use his rim-protecting presence since its only current backup center is Jericho Sims.
Robinson’s availability could very well dictate the Knicks’ posture at the trade deadline.
Depending on his health, he could either be their key acquisition or their reason for finding another frontcourt contributor.
If it’s the former option, Robinson has to practice first.
“He’s getting closer to that,” Thibodeau said. “But when that is, I’m not quite sure.”
Thibodeau, who has been fired twice, called Mike Brown’s dismissal from the Kings “unfortunate.”
“It’s part of you know what we go through,” Thibodeau said. “He’s a terrific person, great coach.”
Brown was canned Friday with the Kings (13-18) on a five-game losing streak.
He was the Coach of the Year with Sacramento in 2023.
Landry Shamet, who re-signed with the Knicks after rehabbing from a separated shoulder, was out of the rotation his first two games heading into Friday.
Against the Spurs on Christmas, Thibodeau used eight players with Miles McBride, Precious Achiuwa and Cam Payne as the only reserves.
“We’re still working through it [with Shamet],” Thibodeau. “He just got back and we’ll work our way through it.”