Mitchell Robinson gave himself a birthday gift — and the Knicks a jolt of energy they’ve been waiting to feel again.
With Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined due to left knee soreness, Robinson returned to the starting lineup Tuesday and delivered his most impactful performance since ankle surgery derailed his season. The Knicks beat the injury-ravaged Sixers, and Robinson — on the night he turned 27 — dominated: 14 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks, and a heavy dose of what they’ve missed most since his injury last May.
“Honestly I think this [was my best birthday game]. I believe it was this one,” Robinson said, grinning at his locker. “Coming out there with high energy. We had guys out so next man up. That was the mentality.”
The Knicks sorely missed their defensive anchor, and they bided time patiently until his return.
Robinson worked his way back from two separate stress fractures in his left ankle — the second of which came in Game 1 of the Knicks’ second-round series against the Indiana Pacers last postseason. His return was cautious by design. He rejoined the rotation on Feb. 28 in Memphis and has spent every game since playing catch-up.
Tuesday was Game 14 of his season. It was the first that looked like vintage Big Mitch.
“You can see it — and as time goes on, it gets better and better,” said head coach Tom Thibodeau. “He usually has a couple guys on him and he still has the ability to get the ball, which is a credit to him. And he’s a big multiple-effort guy, so we need that pressure. Those extra possessions are huge for us.”
The most telling sign? Seven offensive rebounds — a season-high — and the timing that had been missing since his return.
Robinson says his conditioning is improving. But he’s not where he wants to be. Neither is his timing.
“Somewhat. I still have a lot of work to do, but as of right now, it’s heading in the right direction,” he said, later cracking a joke. “I need to be able to play like seven minutes straight. But I’ve been working on the conditioning stuff still. So we rolling.”
That lack of conditioning isn’t a surprise. Game speed is only earned through game reps — and Robinson spent the better part of a year watching from the sideline.
“[My] legs heavy. [The] conditioning not there,” he admitted. “You know, missing 10 months is a loooong time, but I feel like with all the practices we done had, the shootarounds, it’s starting to catch up. That helps a lot.”
What’s changed, he says, is how his body feels — not just conditioning-wise, but physically.
He’s lighter. Leaner. And it’s showing on the court.
“Last year, way heavier coming back to play versus now. Way lighter now,” he said. “So that was pretty much like a big difference. All that extra weight I was carrying last year and the year before that was keeping me down. Now I’m lighter and feel better.”
The transformation wasn’t just for function — it was personal.
“I ain’t like how I looked. You saw me with my shirt off,” he laughed. “Them abs was poppin’. It was the diet. It was a lot of stuff, but I’m not finna speak on it.”
He doesn’t have to. Since Robinson rejoined the rotation, the Knicks have posted the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA, behind only Oklahoma City, Toronto, and Orlando. His return has reset the ceiling on what New York can be defensively — especially with Towns healthy and Julius Randle still ramping ...
