Knicks Rumors: Mitchell Robinson Undergoes Surgery on Ankle Injury; Out for Playoffs

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson underwent surgery on his left ankle, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Monday.

Robinson was already ruled out for the playoffs on May 7, as the team announced that he sustained a stress injury to his ankle and would be evaluated in 6-8 weeks. While the surgery was not known at the time, it was decided he needed the procedure after consultation with doctors.

The 26-year-old appeared in six contests during the Knicks' current playoff run, averaging 19.2 minutes per game.

Robinson dealt with ankle issues throughout the season, appearing in just 31 games after he underwent a previous surgery on a stress fracture following a game on Dec. 8.

Although he was able to return before the start of the playoffs, he re-injured his ankle in Game 3 of the Knicks' first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. After missing Game 4, Robinson returned for three more postseason appearances before he left New York's series-opening clash with the Indiana Pacers.

The former second-round pick has proven to be an important piece of a Knicks team that focuses on defense and rebounding, two areas in which he excels at. Robinson holds a career average of 1.9 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game, while his 4.6 offensive rebounds each night in 2023 were tied for the highest mark in the association (via NBA.com).

New York has dealt with several injuries during the team's current postseason run. The Knicks announced that All-Star forward Julius Randle would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery on April 4.

Forward Bojan Bogdanović underwent season-ending surgeries to repair foot and wrist injuries after Game 4 against the 76ers, while defensive-minded wing OG Anunoby has missed the Knicks' past two games due to a hamstring issue. Anunoby was also ruled out of New York's upcoming game against the Pacers on Tuesday (via Ian Begley of SNY).

With Robinson out, head coach Tom Thibodeau will continue to give backup center minutes to Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims.