Mitchell Robinson’s development may be the most fascinating and most important storyline of the 2020-21 Knicks season, whenever he comes here. In Chicago, coach Thibodeau fielded Carlos Boozer, Gibson and Joakim Noah (it’s still too early to pronounce his full name) as a rugged and formidable trio in the paint. You can feel free to return to the previous slide to review Gibson’s comments on the impact the manager has had on his career.
It’s unlikely the Knicks will have a Bulls-like frontline of the early 2010s, and that’s okay, because the league has changed significantly since then. Very few teams are playing traditional striker and center who lack three-point shooting skills, so having a large pin anchor paint will be more than satisfying.
What makes the Thibodeau-Robinson dynamic so interesting is that the former Timberwolves boss had a chance to mold Karl-Anthony Towns into an average defensive player at the very least, and it didn’t work.
Mitchell Robinson certainly looks the part physically, but the former coaching staff refused to release him completely, even when the team was out of playoff contention. David Fizdale and Mike Miller have routinely started and played Gibson in front of Robinson, and Thibs may well start the year by doing so, but the minute ratio should swing in Mitch’s favor in this campaign.