Throughout training camp, the New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown experimented with different lineup combinations, rotating Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart in and out of the starting five.
When it came time for New York’s preseason opener on Thursday, Brown ultimately chose to pair Robinson with Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt – a decision that, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, had been “gaining momentum” in practices leading up to the game.
The move proved effective in Robinson’s limited minutes. Despite not playing in the second half, the center pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds, 11 of them on the defensive glass, as the Knicks built a double-digit halftime lead and went on to defeat their opponent 99-84.
“He was phenomenal,” Brown said afterward when asked about Robinson’s performance. “Played 18 minutes, had 16 rebounds – 11 of them defensively – but more importantly for a big, he had three deflections. So Mitch, good job. I’ll get a plaque for you, Mitch. He was the player of the game for us.”
Brown cautioned before tip-off that the decision to start Robinson wasn’t necessarily a permanent change, emphasizing that he was still evaluating rotations.
However, circumstances may force his hand in the short term. Josh Hart suffered a hard fall during the contest and is now dealing with lower back soreness.
Bondy reports that Hart is considered day-to-day, which means Robinson is likely to remain in the starting lineup when New York faces the Sixers on Saturday in Abu Dhabi for the second game of the preseason series.
The move to start Mitchell Robinson gained momentum during the Knicks’ training camp and doesn’t appear to be slowing. Details: https://t.co/7X13zmL1aa
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 4, 2025
