76ers Rival Knicks Lose Key Player for Extended Period

The New York Knicks find themselves in a tough spot early on in the 2023-2024 NBA season as their starting big man, Mitchell Robinson, will be sidelined for an extended period of time.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ division rivals found out that Robinson’s recent setback will require surgery on Monday. According to a report from ESPN, Robinson suffered a stress fracture. As a result, he won’t be re-evaluated until eight to ten weeks from the time of the procedure.

The loss of Robinson is a tough blow for the Knicks, especially on the defensive end of the floor.

Through 21 games, Mitchell averaged nearly 30 minutes on the floor, starting in all of his appearances. Offensively, Mitchell averaged six points. Defensively, he accounted for ten rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game.

This season, the Sixers and the Knicks have yet to battle it out against one another. Their first head-to-head outing will take place on January 5 at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly. Considering Robinson’s eight-to-ten-week timeline, he won’t be available for New York in that matchup, which is a tough blow for the Knicks, who have a history of struggling against the big man, Joel Embiid.

Throughout his career, Embiid has averaged 25 points and 11 assists in 18 games against New York. Last season, Embiid scored over 30 points in every matchup versus the Knicks, notching double-doubles in two out of three matchups. The Sixers were 2-1 over New York for the 2021-2022 season.

The Knicks still possess enough star talent to make up for the loss of their reliable big man, but they will be tested in the paint over the next couple of months. At this point in the year, the Knicks rank sixth in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Sixers by two spots.