Mitchell Robinson 'Won't Be Replying to Anyone' on Social Media as Knicks Eye Playoffs
Timothy Rapp
Mar 23, 2025
Mitchell Robinson is locking in.
The New York Knicks center announced Friday on Instagram that he "won't be replying to anyone on Snapchat, Instagram, etc." as he gears up for the playoffs.
He added that he would continue to post Stories and other content, and would respond to text messages from people he knows, but wouldn't be replying to any other social media interactions "to get things in order for myself and my life."
Mitchell Robinson: "Look from here on out I won't be replying to anyone on Snap Instagram etc…I'm getting ready for playoffs…" pic.twitter.com/Z7rBjtHUAz
Robinson, 26, recently returned from left ankle surgery that cost him nearly a year in recovery time, immediately bolstering New York's defense in the process with his rim protection and rebounding. In 10 games, largely off the bench, he's averaging 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 16.3 minutes per contest.
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And now he's looking to eliminate any off-court distractions he can.
"We talked about it as a team," head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "As we're heading down the stretch now, everyone needs to be focused on the things we need to focus on."
Josh Hart Says 'I Love Thibs' After Viral Video of Heated Exchange in Knicks' Loss
Joseph Zucker
Mar 16, 2025
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart denied having any problems with head coach Tom Thibodeau after cameras picked up a tense exchange between the two during the team's 97-94 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
During a stoppage in play midway through the fourth quarter, Hart and Thibodeau got animated on the sideline. The Knicks trailed by nine points at the time, while Hart was on his way to finishing with zero points on 0-of-7 shooting.
The veteran said after the game the moment reflected his frustration with himself more than anything else.
"Yeah, I was just, you know, it was just something that just happened in the heat of the moment," he said, per the New York Post's Stefan Bondy. "I'm a competitor. Obviously, he's a competitor. So sometimes those things happen. I don't think it really—it doesn't affect our relationship. It doesn't show anything of what's going on. It's just two extremely competitive people in a fiery moment. I love Thibs. I love what he's doing. And he's putting us in the best position to be successful."
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Thibodeau was equally quick to dismiss any wider significance to his argument with Hart.
Still, you could forgive fans who watched the interaction live and wondered whether it symbolized growing fissures within the team.
The Knicks have dropped four of their last six. ESPN's Shams Charania reported star guard Jalen Brunson could miss up to two more weeks with his ankle sprain. Fellow star Mikal Bridges publicly acknowledged previous conversations with Thibodeau about how many minutes the starters are logging.
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Things aren't exactly great in the Big Apple right now.
But an NBA season is a months-long grind and there are always going to be moments when tensions between players and/or coaches boil over. They don't always have a wider significance besides releasing the pressure valve a bit.
The Knicks host the Miami Heat on Monday, and that's followed by winnable games against the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks. Should New York reel off a nice winning streak, what happened Saturday night at Chase Center will be easily forgotten.
Report: Knicks' Jalen Brunson Could Be Out Through Early April with Ankle Injury
Jack Murray
Mar 15, 2025
The New York Knicks will have to get by without Jalen Brunson for a few weeks.
During a Saturday appearance on NBA Countdown, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Knicks guard will be out through late March or early April as he deals with an ankle injury.
Reporting for ABC NBA Countdown -- Knicks' Jalen Brunson expected out through late March/early April, and fallout from Mikal Bridges and Tom Thibodeau meeting: pic.twitter.com/NtkgNMyI6R
"Sources tell me that it's more of a three-to-four week minimum return timeline for Jalen Brunson," Charania said. "That sidelines him through late March or early April. The key for the Knicks and Jalen Brunson is keeping that swelling down in that ankle, getting it lower, and increasing the mobility in that ankle."
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Brunson has not played since March 6 due to the injury. He is currently averaging 26.3 points, 7.4 assists and three rebounds in 61 games for the Knicks,
New York is currently 42-23 and sits in third in the Eastern Conference. While Brunson's absence will hurt the team, getting him healthy prior to the postseason will be very important. The Knicks also hold a five-game lead on the fourth-place Milwaukee Bucks, so Brunson's presence isn't urgently needed to keep pace.
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The Knicks have nine games remaining in March and eight in April, with the regular season wrapping up on April 13.
Mikal Bridges Reveals He Asked Tom Thibodeau to Reduce Knicks Starters' Minutes
Scott Polacek
Mar 12, 2025
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has always been known for relying on his starters and primary players for heavy minutes even during the regular season, but swingman Mikal Bridges asked him to reduce some of that playing time heading into the stretch run.
"Sometimes it's not fun on the body," Bridges said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. "You'll want that as a coach but also talked to him a little bit knowing that we've got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in and we don't need to play 48 (minutes), 47.
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"We've got a lot of good guys on this team that can take away minutes. Which helps the defense, helps the offense, helps tired bodies being out there and giving up all these points. It helps just keeping fresh bodies out there."
Bondy noted former Knicks big man Channing Frye recently blamed Thibodeau for the Knicks' injuries, which was a significant problem in last season's second-round loss to the Indiana Pacers.
New York was without Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanović at times in that series and couldn't overcome so many setbacks. Brunson is currently sidelined with a sprained ankle that he suffered in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers in which he played 41 minutes.
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This season, Bridges and Josh Hart are tied for the NBA lead at 37.8 minutes per game. Anunoby is sixth at 36.6, while Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are also in the top 25.
Bridges has played all 64 games this season and has yet to miss a contest since entering the league in 2018.
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"I think it's something you never really get used to," he said. "Your body is going to feel how it is every year. But I've been a part of it for a while, knowing how to take care of my body through those situations and just trying to do as much as I can."
While Thibodeau has been playing his starters for heavy minutes throughout a career that also includes stops as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, perhaps one of his primary players specifically asking him to dial down the playing time a bit will carry weight.
New York is the third seed in the Eastern Conference and 5.5 games behind the second-seeded Boston Celtics. It is also five games ahead of the fourth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, which means it will likely be the No. 3 seed come playoff time.
Given that fairly fixed spot in the standings, Bridges' request may inspire New York's head coach to change his approach so his players are fresher in the postseason.
NBA News: P.J. Tucker, Knicks Reportedly Agree to 10-Day Contract
Zach Bachar
Mar 8, 2025
The New York Knicks signed veteran forward P.J. Tucker to a 10-day contract on Saturday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Charania noted that Tucker held discussions with "multiple teams" throughout the "past week" before joining the Knicks.
New York was $540K below the 2nd apron before the PJ Tucker signing.
The 39-year-old opened the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers but was traded multiple times, eventually landing on the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors waived him on Feb. 28.
SNY's Ian Begley reported that the Knicks view Tucker as an "integral addition" to their locker room and wanted someone "with an enforcer mentality" as well as "championship experience."
Tucker hasn't suited up in a game this season. His last appearance came in May 2024 with Los Angeles during the first round of the playoffs.
In 31 combined games with the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers during his 2023-24 campaign, Tucker averaged 1.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game while shooting 36 percent from the field.
Tucker has shown to be a capable defender, strong veteran leader and spot-up shooter, making playoff appearances with six separate teams since the 2016-17 season.
The veteran won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
He's been particularly adept at shooting corner threes, owning a career three-point percentage of 38.4 percent from the corners (via Basketball Reference).
While Tucker likely won't have a large role in New York's rotation as it gears up for the playoffs, he could operate as a depth piece after rookie center Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn meniscus on Feb. 26.
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The Knicks currently sit at No. 3 in the Eastern Conference standings with a 40-23 record, but they've suffered three consecutive defeats. They also lost star point guard Jalen Brunson to a sprained ankle on Thursday, as he's expected to miss at least two weeks.
With New York attempting to close out the regular season on a high note, it added Tucker on a 10-day deal.
Report: Jalen Brunson's X-Rays on Ankle Negative After Injury in Knicks vs. Lakers
Adam Wells
Mar 7, 2025
The New York Knicks may have avoided a worst-case scenario with Jalen Brunson after he left Thursday's 113-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime after rolling his ankle.
Per NBA insider Chris Haynes, there's "optimism" that Brunson only sustained a sprained ankle and avoided a more serious injury.
SNY's Ian Begley later reported that Brunson's X-rays on his ankle came back negative and that the initial image "showed no broken bones."
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau didn't have an official update after the game, as Brunson was still being examined by the medical staff.
Josh Hart called the injury a "bummer" while adding they expect Brunson will "be out for a little bit."
The injury occurred late in the overtime period when Brunson's right ankle rolled when he landed awkwardly on a drive to the basket. He did stay in the game to make both of his free-throw attempts before going to the locker room.
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Losing Brunson for any length of time is going to be a huge blow to a Knicks team that is still fighting for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
New York is in a good spot to maintain that position with a three game lead in the loss column over the Milwaukee Bucks with 20 games remaining. Those two teams have one more head-to-head matchup in the regular season on March 28 in Milwaukee.
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There's also an outside shot the Knicks could catch the Boston Celtics for the No. 2 spot. They are only four games back in the loss column, but Boston has the tiebreaker with a 3-0 record in three head-to-head meetings this season.
Another big concern for the Knicks is they already struggled against the best teams in the NBA with a healthy Brunson, so losing him will only make them more vulnerable. They are a combined 0-9 against the top two seeds in both conferences (Cleveland Cavaliers, Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Lakers).
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They still have a total of three games remaining against the Celtics and Cavs.
Brunson was having a brilliant game against the Lakers prior to the injury. He finished with 39 points and 10 assists in 41 minutes. The two-time All-Star is tied for seventh in the NBA in scoring average (26.3 points per game), ranks eighth in assists (7.4) and shoots 38.4 percent from three on 6.0 attempts per game.
If Brunson has to miss time, the Knicks will likely turn to Miles McBride as their starting point guard. He's having a solid season off the bench, averaging 9.2 points on 37.2 percent three-point shooting and 2.6 assists per game in 51 appearances.
NBA Scout Explains Why Knicks Don't Have 'Enough to Beat' Celtics or Cavs in Playoffs
Julia Stumbaugh
Mar 6, 2025
One NBA scout believe the New York Knicks' 0-7 record against the top three teams in the league comes down to their lack of three-point shooting.
"At the root of it all, it's math. They're really efficient, and will win a ton of games," one Eastern Conference scout told ESPN's Chris Herring.
"But the [3-point] volume isn't enough to beat the Clevelands and the Bostons. Especially when you also factor in that the Knicks are [offensive] rebounding and getting to the line a lot less than last year's team did."
The Knicks have yet to win this season against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics or Oklahoma City Thunder.
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All three of those teams rank top 11 in the NBA in both three-point volume and three-point accuracy.
The Knicks meanwhile rank eighth with a 37.0 percent accuracy rate, but sit at 27th with 34.1 attempts per game.
Last season, New York ranked 13th in the NBA with 35.8 three-point attempts per game.
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But last season the Knicks had Donte DiVincenzo, who led the team with 8.7 shots from behind the arc per night. The departure of DiVincenzo, combined with a drop in three-point volume from Karl-Anthony Towns, has contributed to this season's decline from behind the arc.
Jalen Brunson recently said he believed the Knicks had "opportunities to where we can be aggressive, and pounce on it, and win" in their seven losses to top teams.
The Knicks could look to start increasing that aggression from behind the arc when their next opportunity to beat a top-three team comes up April 2 on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Karl-Anthony Towns Praised by Fans as Knicks Avoid Upset to Giddey, Bulls with OT Win
Paul Kasabian
Feb 20, 2025
Karl-Anthony Towns posted 32 points and 18 rebounds as the New York Knicks held on for a 113-111 overtime victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Towns shot just 2-of-15 in the first half but made 12 of his next 15 shots to finish 14-of-30. The big man also scored 16 points during a 4:36 stretch in the third quarter.
In OT, Towns was clutch again, scoring six of the Knicks' nine overtime points on a trio of buckets.
The 37-18 Knicks played shorthanded without starters OG Anunoby and Josh Hart but were still clear favorites heading into this game against the Bulls, who fell to 22-33.
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However, the Knicks had to fight tooth-and-nail against a gritty Bulls team led by Josh Giddey, who torched the Knicks for 27 points and 16 rebounds.
New York's backs were against the wall at the tail end of regulation with the score tied at 104 and the seconds winding down, but Mikal Bridges stuffed Nikola Vučević's shot at the rim before the buzzer.
In OT, the Knicks were up 113-106 thanks to a Miles McBride three and Towns' six points, but Bulls guard Coby White went on a personal 5-0 run to cut the lead to 113-111 with 51 seconds left.
The Knicks had two chances to make it a two-possession game on the other end after getting an offensive rebound but could not convert. Vučević then had a chance to tie the game, but his eight-footer fell short as time expired.
Elsewhere in the box score, McBride finished with 23 points, three blocks and three steals, while Knicks guard Jalen Brunson posted a 22-point, 12-assist double-double. For the Bulls, Vučević complemented Giddey with 21 points.
However, the story of this game ended up being Towns, who is on a three-game heater.
Towns and the Knicks don't have much time to rest, as a date at the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers now looms on Friday evening.
Knicks' Jalen Brunson Open to 2026 NBA 3-Point Contest After 'Oops' Finish in 2025
Scott Polacek
Feb 16, 2025
Jalen Brunson isn't closing the door on another three-point contest after falling short of the final in Saturday's competition.
"Maybe. I don't know," the New York Knicks guard said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. "I'll leave that door open."
It seemed like Brunson was going to cruise to the final when he made four of his first five shots and hit the first of two deep attempts worth three-points each. However, he made just two of the five attempts from his moneyball rack and struggled down the stretch.
He finished with 18 points in the opening round and fell just one point short of tying Darius Garland and Tyler Herro.
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Garland and Herro advanced to the final alongside Buddy Hield, who put on a show on his way to 31 points in the first round. However, Herro prevailed in the final.
"Started off hot. I felt great. And then. Oops," Brunson said. "I feel like I rushed the last rack. You could practice all you want, but once you get out there it's a tad different."
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While he didn't win, Brunson can at least take solace knowing he held his own against some of the best shooters in the league. He has come a long way from when he made a solid-but-unspectacular 34.8 percent of his triples as a rookie in 2018-19 and is making 39.7 percent of such attempts this season.
The Villanova product also connected on better than 40 percent of his three-pointers in three of his previous four seasons.
That ability to hit from the outside all while facilitating and getting to the basket helps open the floor for his teammates as well and is one reason the Knicks are 36-18 and on the short list of realistic contenders in the Eastern Conference.
NBA Coach Sees Jalen Brunson, KAT as Defensive Liabilities amid Knicks' Title Chase
Adam Wells
Feb 14, 2025
The New York Knicks enter the All-Star break on a hot streak that has brought them up to third in the Eastern Conference, but there's one big concern with their roster that could keep them from being a true title contender.
One assistant coach in the NBA told ESPN's Tim Bontemps that Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are enough of a liability on defense to sink the Knicks in the playoffs.
"With Mikal [Bridges], Josh [Hart] and OG [Anunoby], you have strong defenders, but you are just going to keep putting [Brunson and Towns] in actions, and you're going to go at them. Jalen has been better, but he's still someone to attack. And it's easier to hide him than Karl," the coach said.
The Knicks are being carried right now by an offense that's among the best in the league. They rank second in offensive rating, third in field-goal percentage, fourth in points per game and fifth in three-point percentage.
Brunson and Towns have combined to average 50.8 points, 16.2 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game. They're shooting 41.5 percent from three-point range (224-of-540).
By contrast, the defense is 13th in points allowed, 20th in defensive rating and last in opponent's three-point percentage.
One of the reasons it made sense for the Knicks to make the trade for Mikal Bridges during the offseason was to increase their defensive versatility, especially with Brunson's limitations on the perimeter.
Towns has never been regarded as a strong defender, but he makes it work because of his rare shooting ability for a player of his size.
If you go by rating, the worst defensive team to win an NBA championships was the 2022-23 Denver Nuggets (114.2). The Knicks are currently at 115.0.
Opposing teams will certainly look to exploit the defensive limitations of Brunson and Towns in a short postseason series. This is how the Knicks built their roster, and it's been incredibly successful so far with a 36-18 record at the break.
The Knicks might have to win several playoff games scoring at least 140 points, but they've already done that five times so far this season.
