Mitchell Robinson has finally addressed his decision to leave the New York Knicks for the Boston Celtics after winning the 2026 NBA Championship.
The Knicks failed to ensure their crucial backup big man stays with the franchise, with Robinson joining their divisional rivals in Boston being an added blow.
As Knicks fans mournfully watch their oldest-tenured player leave for their bitter rivals, Robinson has made it clear to his former teammates and fans that this wasn’t a decision he wanted to make.
Mitchell Robinson never wanted to leave the Knicks
Replying to former teammate OG Anunoby’s comment on a farewell post, Robinson made it clear that this decision had factors he couldn’t control while hoping that the truth sees the light soon.
“I tried, brother. I didn’t want this to happen. Hopefully, the truth comes out at some point.”
Robinson had been with the franchise since being selected in the 2018 NBA Draft, averaging 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 397 games.
He signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Celtics, a figure the Knicks simply couldn’t have matched with their concerns regarding the salary cap.
Since New York’s cap issues were well-known, it’ll be interesting to see if the truth Robinson refers to is in relation to that or something else entirely.
Knicks owner James Dolan made it impossible to re-sign Mitchell Robinson
Just a few weeks after becoming an NBA Champion, Knicks owner James Dolan made it clear in an interview that the Knicks wouldn’t go into the second apron to retain their championship core.
They brought back Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado on team-friendly contracts, but Robinson was bound to get a bigger offer after his impactful stints as a title-winning backup center for the Knicks.
If the Knicks matched the contract Robinson received from the Celtics, they would balloon past the second apron and face a massive luxury tax penalty while also losing key roster mechanisms.
Robinson averaged a low 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in the Playoffs on 13.9 minutes per game, but the minutes he does play lead to huge analytical wins, such as increased rim pressure, offensive rebounding rate, and rim protection.
These are premium commodities in the modern NBA, even with a non-shooter like Robinson. The Celtics get to enjoy those benefits next season while the Knicks scramble to find a replacement.
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