The New York Knicks had hoped to get monetary relief following the Mitchell Robinson ankle injury. But it seems like that is not in the books for them. The NBA denied them the Disabled Player Exception on account of something that could be a blessing in disguise. Robinson is the franchise’s primary center. And his loss was a hard blow for them.
While Isaiah Hartenstein, who replaced him in the starting five, has been putting up his personal best, it still wasn’t enough. But now, the league is optimistic that Mitchell Robinson might suit up late in the regular season after sufficient rest from the surgery. And that is the reason the NBA is denying the Knicks the $7.8 million relief.
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Wojnarowski reported the breaking news update, and suffice it to say, everyone was shocked. While it is great news that the Knicks may get their elite defender back, there is still an ‘if’ in there. There is a risk factor involved in athletes with stress fractures. While surgical intervention speeds up the recovery process and they can get back to on-court activities, the kind of impact they had before takes time to return.
Since stress fractures develop over time, a complete recovery also would need time. Having said that, each person is different as well as their recovery process. Ultimately, it depends on the medical team to provide the final word. Right now, everything looks good on the Knicks’ end.
It would also seem like Mitchell Robinson is determined to make a strong comeback – physically and mentally.
Mitchell Robinson focused on mental health alongside physical recovery
Prior to this, Robinson himself had provided an update that suggested he is equally determined to return stronger. A Snapchat regular, Robinson revealed that his mental health has been giving him “hell the past week.” And so, the Florida native announced his intention to stay away from social media until he was back to his usual self.
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Wishing the best for Mitchell Robinson pic.twitter.com/8c8FtpF3LL
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) January 9, 2024
Drafted by New York in 2018, he is the longest-tenured player on the team. The All-Rookie Second Teamer had been on the path to making himself eligible for the All-Defensive team when yet another injury came a-knocking. Averaging 6.2 points, a team-high 10.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, it should have been a stellar season for the 7-foot big man.
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The Knicks managed to employ Jericho Sims and Taj Gibson in Robinson’s absence for a short time, and they had stepped up well. The latest acquisition of OG Anunoby also provided them with relief, as Precious Achiuwa has proven to be a reliable backup. Now, it’s a waiting game. Hopefully, the ‘Empire State’ won’t be disappointed.
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