MEMPHIS — Mitchell Robinson is back.
After roughly 10 months on the shelf, the longest-tenured Knick was active as a reserve for Friday night’s game against the Grizzlies.
His return arrived with the Knicks in desperate need of frontcourt and defensive help, with just one other natural center on the roster — Karl-Anthony Towns — and injuries starting to pile up as the season approaches the final quarter pole.
The expectation is Robinson operates under a tight minutes restriction with the hope of staying healthy and peaking for the playoffs.
He’s got less than two months to develop chemistry with new teammates, regain his defensive rhythm and, perhaps most importantly given Robinson’s history, reach a conditioning level that will keep him on the court and promote health.
“It’ll be short stints for a while,” Tom Thibodeau said.
What does the coach expect from Robinson?
“First game back so it’s hard to say, games are different than practices,” he said.
Robinson, who has undergone multiple surgeries to both his feet areas, represents the Knicks’ top rim protector and offensive rebounder — two areas that have fallen off a cliff for the team this season.
His ability to play alongside Towns — much like the Timberwolves did with Rudy Gobert — could unlock a much higher defensive ceiling, attaching greater anticipation and expectations for his return.
The Knicks entered Friday ranked No. 21 in defense and No. 22 in offensive rebounds per game.
They were top-four in offensive rebounds per game in the last three seasons.
The front office also banked on Robinson’s big impact by standing pat at the trade deadline, believing Robinson was better than what was available as frontcourt depth pieces in the market.
Robinson’s availability became more pressing after news Friday that rookie center Ariel Hukporti is out for the season with a torn meniscus.
“[Robinson] brings a ton defensively,” Miles McBride said. “Overall, the whole team, whether he’s playing with the bench or starters. Rebounding, the effort he brings is unmatched.”
There could be another benefit to Robinson’s return, according to Jalen Brunson, who called the center’s locker-room presence “underrated.”
Robinson, a self-described country boy from Louisiana, tends to lighten the mood with teasing.
The Knicks lost some of their locker-room uniters from last season in Isaiah Hartenstein and Donte DiVincenzo.
“Doesn’t take everything serious off the court,” McBride said. “Once he gets on the court, he’s a whole different animal. So it’s good to have a guy in the locker room that’s a little bit more upbeat.”
Robinson hadn’t played previously since May, when he underwent a second surgery on his left ankle.
The initial word was that the 26-year-old would likely return for training camp.
He then missed nearly three-quarters of the season.
“I’ve just been taking my time. I want to make sure it’s 100 percent, I ain’t trying to keep having these sit-outs and setbacks and stuff like that,” Robinson said before the All-Star break. “This time, I’m just going to play it smart. Usually, I’d be young and dumb to go out there and try to get back as fast as I can. I can’t do that no more.”
