Mitchell Robinson remains one of the most fascinating players on the New York Knicks roster. The longest-tenured Knick is entering the final season of a four-year, $60 million contract signed before the 2022-23 campaign. While his rim protection and rebounding have made him one of the league’s most impactful interior presences when healthy, his career has been marred by injuries that have limited his role and raised questions about his long-term future in New York.

Robinson Speaks on His Future

Now on an expiring deal, Robinson was asked earlier this week about his future with the franchise.

“I’m going to come out here and play hard regardless—whether it’s my last, my first, just come out here and play hard. I’m also going to let my agent handle that part of it. I’m going to play basketball.”

His comments underline his focus on on-court performance, leaving the contract negotiations to his representatives.

The Injury History That Clouds His Value

Robinson appeared in just 17 regular season games last year (three starts), averaging 5.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Across the past two seasons, recurring injuries have disrupted his rhythm, forcing the Knicks to adjust his minutes and role multiple times. While his defensive presence remains a game-changer when available, durability has become the central concern in evaluating whether to re-sign him beyond this season.

How Mike Brown Could Redefine His Role

With Mike Brown now taking over the Knicks, Robinson’s role could undergo another shift. Brown has spoken about versatility and ball movement, but a healthy Robinson still offers elite rim protection and offensive rebounding—skills that perfectly complement offensive stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Whether Brown integrates Robinson as a starter alongside Towns or leverages him as a high-impact rotational piece, his value hinges on health and consistency.

A Crucial Season for Robinson and the Knicks

The Knicks are chasing their first championship since 1973, and Robinson, despite the uncertainty, remains an important factor in that pursuit. His ability to anchor the paint defensively and create second-chance opportunities could prove vital in New York’s quest to end a 52-year drought. For Robinson personally, the 2025-26 season may determine whether his next chapter will still be in blue and orange—or elsewhere.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ arrival in New York last summer immediately sparked debate: an offensive superstar but not always flawless as a rim protector. After a year as an All-Star and All-NBA selection, averaging 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, KAT has cemented himself as a core piece of the Knicks’ project. Now, though, the context shifts: with Mike Brown replacing Tom Thibodeau, his role could be redefined once again.

The Weak Spot and the Robinson Proposal

Critics of Towns have consistently highlighted his lack of rim protection, with many suggesting pairing him alongside Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup. That combination could provide defensive balance in the paint while still preserving Towns’ elite offensive firepower.

Mike Brown’s Vision: “Not Just a 5”

In his first official comments, Brown was clear about his plan:

“KAT, we’re going to move him around a lot. He’s not just going to play the 5. He’ll be all over the floor—his ability to shoot will show because we’re going to move him around.”

These words signal a tactical shift: Towns as a multifunctional big man, stretching the floor, attacking from the perimeter, and becoming a fluid weapon in a more dynamic offense.

Why Towns Could Be the Championship Key

After last year’s Eastern Conference Finals run—the first since 2000—the Knicks are determined to end a 52-year drought. Towns’ contribution will be decisive in:

1. Stretching the floor with his three-point shooting.
2. Creating mismatches by alternating inside and outside play.
3. Balancing the lineup when paired with a pure rim protector.

The 2025-26 season could be Towns’ ultimate stage: if he fully embraces Brown’s system, New York will finally have the weapons to chase the championship that has eluded them since 1973.

New York’s title dreams start at a crossroads: Tom Thibodeau’s era is over, and Mike Brown has arrived. After falling to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals and moving on from Thibs, the Knicks entrusted the bench to the two-time Coach of the Year with one mission—take the final step toward a championship.

From Thibodeau’s System to Brown’s Horizon

Under Thibodeau, Jalen Brunson exploded into an All-Star and back-to-back All-NBA selection, solidifying himself as the face of the franchise. Now, the context shifts: Brown has made it clear he wants to push the pace and leverage Brunson’s versatility to “play in many different ways.” Translation: more transition, more spacing, and more off-ball opportunities for Brunson to generate easy looks.

Brunson’s Words: “It’s a Process, but Hopefully a Fast One”

Ahead of the season, Brunson was careful not to overpromise:

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take me, hopefully relatively fast. I’ll just keep improving… it’s going to be a process.”

A message of pragmatism and leadership: learning a new system takes time, but the goal is to become more fluent in Brown’s principles.

What Will Really Change for Brunson (and the Knicks)

• More pace, more possessions: Brown has emphasized tempo. For Brunson, that means quicker decisions, earlier attacks, and more chances against unsettled defenses.
• Higher volume of “good” threes: The Knicks want to approach 40 three-point attempts per game—but generated through penetration, ball movement, and spacing, not desperation.
• Greater off-ball usage: Brown has already mentioned putting Brunson in more “catch-and-shoot” and “spray three” scenarios. This conserves his energy for crunch time and makes the offense less predictable.
• Structured creativity: Brunson remains the hub, but expect more handoffs, ghost screens, and flares to use him as both shooter and cutter in addition to the classic pick-and-roll.

Why Adapting Could Raise the Team’s Ceiling

The “Brown version” of the Knicks aims to:

1. Broaden the rotation, limiting fatigue on starters.
2. Maximize spacing, opening lanes for Brunson.
3. Improve shot quality, especially corner threes and rim attempts over static isolations.

With an All-NBA star already in place, an upgraded context could turn New York from “serious contender” into a legitimate Finals 2026 team.

The Metrics to Watch in 2025-26

• Team 3PA & 3PAr (volume and proportion of threes)
• Pace and Assist Ratio (tempo tied to ball movement)
• Brunson’s Catch-and-Shoot 3P% (off-ball efficiency)
• Turnover% (the stress test of faster play)
• Lineup data: combinations with two floor-spacing bigs to maximize Brunson’s driving lanes.

Conclusion

Brunson doesn’t need to “reinvent” himself—he needs to evolve: same killer instinct, but with more off-ball solutions and a quicker, perimeter-driven system. If the Brunson–Brown partnership clicks as expected, the Knicks could finally arrive in June as true title contenders—this time, with no excuses.