Robinson says ankle ‘nothing serious at all’
One game after baiting Washington’s Markieff Morris into an ejection, Knicks rookie center Mitchell Robinson was forced to leave early Wednesday, suffering a sprained right ankle early in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 107-102 victory over the Nets at Barclays Center.
Afterward, the Knicks’ mercurial rookie said he believed he would be ready for Friday’s Garden match against New Orleans and his Louisiana workout buddy Anthony Davis. Robinson injured his ankle stepping on a Nets player’s foot while giving chase on defense.
Knicks coach David Fizdale said the injury “is not terribly bad, but I think he got a pretty good sprain.’’ Robinson differed. “It’s good — just a little tweak,’’ Robinson said. “I’m definitely going to be playing Friday. It ain’t nothing serious at all. I sprained this one before in summer league.”
Robinson said he could have re-entered the game.
“I can walk — they just want me to be safe,’’ said Robinson, who had a slight limp in the locker room.
Before the game, Fizdale defended Robinson from Morris’ verbal attack when the Wizard forward called him “a stupid-ass rookie’’ after Morris was ejected in the preseason opener Monday in Washington. Robinson was nonplussed. “He’s a grown man,’’ Robinson said. “He can say what he wants. I don’t really care. I looked at it, laughed and kept going.’’
Morris claimed Robinson said something that crossed the line when they were alongside each other while free throws were being shot. Morris went on a tirade that resulted in two technical fouls and an ejection while Robinson wore a smirk the whole time.
“He can say what he wants to say,’’ Fizdale said. “I’m always going to protect my guy. I was proud the way my guy handled it. I like the fact he didn’t back down. But I felt like he was the one who kept his composure — the one who showed the maturity. Using the word ‘stupid’ for him I don’t think was fair.”