Knicks Reportedly Will Manage Mitchell Robinson's Minutes Due to Injury History

The New York Knicks reportedly plan to take extra precautions with a key big man this season.

Per SNY's Ian Begley, center Mitchell Robinson didn't practice on Wednesday "as part of the team's plan to manage his workload." Begley added that the Knicks will manage Robinson's minutes throughout the season because of his injury history.

Injuries have unfortunately plagued Robinson through his seven-year career.

He played just 31 games during the 2020-21 campaign because of various injuries, including a fractured right hand. Over the last two seasons, he's played just 48 total games due to injury, the most significant of which was an ankle injury that required surgery.

When healthy, Robinson is a solid defender and rebounder as well as a steady presence in the paint. The Knicks, unfortunately, haven't gotten a healthy Robinson in recent years.

But managing his minutes could be the perfect solution to ensuring Robinson is on the court in the most important moments. Playing fewer minutes will also likely be easier now that Tom Thibodeau, who was notorious for keeping his starters on the floor as much as possible, is no longer coaching the team.

New York also has a versatile lineup that should allow it to manage when Robinson isn't available. The Knicks can use Karl-Anthony Towns at either the power forward or center position, and he'll likely get big minutes at the five this season when Robinson is out.

The Knicks have been on the brink of being a Finals contender over the last two seasons, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago. A handful of things have held them back, but injuries have been one of the key concerns, not just for Robinson.

If New York can go into the postseason with a mostly healthy roster, it's more than capable of coming out of the East and playing for a championship.