Knicks, Thibodeau will keep circling Robinson-Noel platoon
There’s redundancy with the Knicks two centers and Mitchell Robinson noticed it when his team signed Nerlens Noel.
“It was just like, ‘Oh well, I mean, now we’ve got like two players who do the same thing,” Robinson said. “Got to live with it, keep working.”
Despite the hype over Robinson and the expectation of a big leap in Year 3, the 22-year-old was again a reserve in the preseason opener Thursday. Noel, 26, started and was highly effective, scoring 10 points with eight boards on 5-of-7 shooting in 25 minutes.
Robinson had just two points and four fouls in 22 minutes, but also collected four steals and two blocks. He denied that his pregame “No loyalty” Instagram post was about being benched.
“As long as I can go out there and help my teammates, I really don’t care if I start or not. It’s early, it is what it is,” Robinson said. “I’m not going to sit down and pout about it, I’m not going to make a problem or whatever. I just want to get out there and I want to play.”
Coach Tom Thibodeau is known for playing his starters heavy minutes and declared that the center battle is still up for grabs between Robinson and Noel. Stylistically, they can’t be played together and the Knicks have earmarked frontcourt minutes for Julius Randle and Obi Toppin. With the two centers, it’s a one-or-the-other scenario.
In his first two seasons, Robinson played behind Enes Kanter, DeAndre Jordan and Taj Gibson. He was labeled a good fit for the defensive-minded Thibodeau as a rim protector, but left voluntary minicamp in the summer and wasn’t in great shape when the regular training camp opened. Thibodeau referenced “discipline” and “professionalism” when emphasizing Robinson’s areas for growth.
By the time Noel was named the starter for preseason Game 1, it wasn’t a surprise.
“The rim protection is elite (with Noel),” Thibodeau said. ”And then the finishing at the basket. I’ve been very pleased with Mitchell as well. When you have two bigs that are like that, it’s a big bonus. And they’re very similar. I’m not sure who I’m going to start, but I like both of those guys, and I’m going to need them to play well to play well as a team.”
Robinson said he’s embracing a twin towers rotation.
“You got two of the same people basically. It kind of, it really don’t change (when we replace each other on the floor),” Robinson said. “He blocks shots. I block shots. He runs the floor. I run the floor. It’s like we can keep that wave going throughout the whole sea
son. It’s pretty cool.”
Still, it’s worth noting that Robinson is now eligible for a contract extension and could become a free agent after the season. Backup centers tend to garner less money.
“It might (affect my contract), it might not,” Robinson said. “I really don’t know. When the time comes I really don’t think about it that much. But it’s something that you just can’t control. However, it comes is just how it comes. I really don’t be thinking of it like that, I just go out there and play.”
Much of Robinson’s uncertainty and inconsistency is related to foul problems, which was again an issue Thursday. He committed four in his first 16 minutes, and Noel received the closing minutes of the victory. Robinson also took just one field-goal attempt.
He’s hoping for the opportunity to show off much more.
“Really on the offensive side. I’ve been working on so much stuff this past summer,” he said. “I just gotta get that chance to show what I can do. That’s basically what I’m waiting on.”