New York Nicks Long gone star returns to practice in massive knicks…
DENVER — Out for more than three months following ankle surgery, Mitchell Robinson returned to full practice Wednesday but “has got to go through contact for a while” before returning to play, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
It was an encouraging update after 47 missed games and a long stretch of uncertainty surrounding Robinson’s injury — which included concerns he would miss the season — and Thibodeau called Wednesday “a good day” for the 25-year-old.
Robinson had previously been working on the court but was not cleared for contact
“It wasn’t an extended [practice], obviously. But he did shooting. He did offense, defense, script,” Thibodeau said.
Asked if there’s a timeline for his return to games, Thibodeau said, “He’s got to go through contact for a while. So then he’s got to get cleared by the doctor.”
Though Thibodeau wouldn’t commit to a rotation when Robinson returns, the coach indicated he would keep Isaiah Hartenstein as the starter.
Either way, Thibodeau said he would stagger the minutes so that regular starters get time on the court with Robinson.
Hartenstein has been navigating a sore Achilles and is under a minutes restriction.
With Isaiah’s minutes restriction … [Robinson is] going to play with both units,” Thibodeau said. “Again, once you get to the fourth quarter, you’re looking at, what do we need to win the game? That’s where we make our decisions.”
Twenty-one games into the season, Robinson was diagnosed with a stress fracture to his left ankle and underwent surgery in early December, the Knicks said.
