New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson hasn't played a game this season as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery, but he may be finally getting closer to getting on the floor and back out there with his teammates.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau said Friday that Robinson is doing individual work on the court, signaling his return to practice could be soon. However, Robinson still has not been cleared for contact, which is a major hurdle to climb for him to return.
"Just working individually right now. So he hasn't been cleared. There will be a progression and it starts with 1 on 0, which is really where he is right now," Thibodeau said, via Peter Botte of the New York Post. "He hasn't been cleared for contact yet. So that will be the next phase."
Robinson has also begun his conditioning to get back in game shape quicker. He posted a video to his Instagram story showing that he now weighs 268.8 pounds, a great indicator that he is staying in shape during his rehab.
The Knicks have badly been missing Robinson's interior presence this season. Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims have seen time at the backup center position behind Karl-Anthony Towns, but they haven't been able to provide the same impact that Robinson provides on the glass.
Robinson's injury troubles over the past few seasons have sparked trade rumors surrounding him. He missed 51 regular season games last season and will once again have missed over half of a season this year. The Knicks desperately need bench help and it is becoming troublesome for them to bank on Robinson staying healthy.
As of now, Robinson is still with the Knicks, and they will welcome his services back instantly. Thibodeau will have the flexibility of having Robinson come off the bench behind Towns while also being able to play the two together, similar to when Towns played the power forward position alongside Rudy Gobert with the Timberwolves.
The next step for Robinson will be returning to practice, where he could hopefully return to game action not much longer afterward.