After eight seasons and an NBA championship with the New York Knicks, center Mitchell Robinson is heading to the Boston Celtics on a three-year, $47.4 million deal that includes a player option in the third year, a person with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press.
The move marks a significant shift in the Eastern Conference landscape. Robinson, a 7-foot rim protector who spent his entire career in New York since being drafted in the second round in 2018, will now bolster a Celtics team that finished with 56 wins and the No. 2 seed in the East but was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Robinson played a key role in the Knicks' championship run, averaging 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game during the postseason. In the regular season, he posted 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks across 60 appearances as a backup to Karl-Anthony Towns.
The signing came amid a startling personal revelation from the 28-year-old. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Robinson disclosed that the hand injury that cast doubt on his availability for Game 1 of the NBA Finals did not happen on the court — it resulted from him punching a truck in distress after learning his younger brother had been seriously injured in a car crash.
"Upon returning to New York, I received an unexpected phone call, and my family members contacted me, informing me that my youngest brother had been involved in a car accident," Robinson wrote. "As the eldest sibling, I felt a deep sense of concern, and I immediately went into panic mode. I began returning calls and texts, and when I FaceTimed my brother, I thought he was deceased. He was wearing a neck brace, unresponsive, and not speaking. I broke down in tears, feeling like a failure for not being able to protect my siblings. Being 910 miles away, I felt helpless. In a moment of frustration, I banged my hand on my truck."
The injury was originally reported as a broken bone in his hand, with Knicks coach Mike Brown saying it did not occur during a game. Robinson clarified that it was actually a knuckle injury from the incident.
Despite the setback, Robinson played through the Finals and helped the Knicks capture their first championship in 53 years. His truck was even part of the team's championship parade.
Now, the veteran center takes his talents to Boston, where the Celtics are prioritizing frontcourt depth. It remains unclear whether Robinson will start alongside Neemias Queta or come off the bench, but his arrival signals Boston's intent to address interior defense after a disappointing early playoff exit.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-9939c056256740c725756f1b9f99ae9c
- https://apnews.com/article/celtics-free-agency-mitchell-robinson-d74a7eda931901e061f9cc545b3bc9b9
