Knicks Players Express Mixed Emotions About Facing Former Teammate Mitchell Robinson

For the first time since his departure, Mitchell Robinson will face his former team when the Knicks take on the Celtics in Boston on Friday night. Robinson, who spent eight seasons with the Knicks, signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics this offseason, a move that surprised many within the organization.

"It's gonna be the same thing," Knicks guard Josh Hart said of facing Robinson. "We're still gonna be battling for rebounds." Hart, accustomed to being guarded by opposing centers who focus on the weakest shooter, anticipates Robinson will be guarding him. "They crossmatch a lot, so I’m sure he’ll be guarding me," Hart added. "When I make a couple, I’m gonna let him know."

Robinson's departure leaves a significant void not only on the court but also in the locker room. "It’s definitely different [without him]," Hart noted. "Obviously, that’s someone who’s had a big presence here, big presence in the locker room. It's different. No one else listens to country [music] but me, so that’s tough in the weight room. The lack of his presence is obviously felt a little bit. That’s why it’s a new team."

Karl-Anthony Towns echoed the sentiment, describing the situation as "bittersweet." "You love Mitch. We’ve done so much historical things together here," Towns said. "To not see him in a Knicks jersey anymore, obviously, for all of us, we’re a family unit. ... But it’s gonna be amazing to be able to see our brother, to hug him, be able to show him some love and to obviously compete playing basketball, like we love to do."

Robinson himself approached the reunion with a business-first mentality. "It doesn’t matter that I’m playing my former team," Robinson stated. "It’s more so trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago. At the end of the day, it’s basketball; it’s a business. You gotta play the team just like you play any other team."

Robinson struggled in the Celtics' season opener, a loss to the Pistons, with four points and three rebounds in 18 minutes. "I played like ass," he admitted. "It’s kind of just straightforward." His focus on his performance led him to skip watching the Knicks' championship ceremony. "I was still stuck in my head from last game. I’m proud of those guys, obviously; I was a part of it. I just didn’t really want to watch it."

Robinson is expected to receive his championship ring and a tribute video when the Celtics visit Madison Square Garden on March 14. While his offensive rebounding and defensive versatility are well-known, his free-throw shooting has historically been a point of exploitation for opponents. When asked if the Knicks might employ the "Hack-a-Mitch" strategy, Head Coach Mike Brown indicated a preference for strategic use later in the season. "I think that’s more, just me personally, I’ve always leaned more to do that come playoff time or later in the [regular] season where you’re really trying to game plan and get certain games," Brown explained. "Right now, I want to see if we can defend these guys with what we do staple-wise, with what our foundation is."

Despite the past camaraderie, Brown acknowledged the competitive nature of the upcoming game. "At the end of the day," he said, "we want to kick his ass like he probably wants to kick ours."