Mitchell Robinson wont rush his way back to Knicks as injury return timeline remains murky

Rehabbing from an injury and without an official word on his recovery timeline, Mitchell Robinson offered optimism about his progress but pushed back at suggestions he should return with haste. “You seen what happened when I rushed to come back? I was back out,” Robinson said on a livestream video Thursday on social media.“At this point, I gotta make sure I’m good for life, too.

C’mon, now.Let’s not be selfish here.

… But we’re going to be good.We’re going to be alright.

We’re going to be okay.Promise you we’re going to be straight.” Robinson hasn’t spoken to the media since undergoing left ankle surgery in May, when the procedure was characterized as “small” with a re-evaluation scheduled in six to eight weeks. Over five months later, Robinson still hasn’t resumed practicing and was a DNP for Friday’s home opener against the Pacers.

A source said Robinson is expected to return in December or January, although the situation is fluid and dependent on the center’s progress.  “Rehab is going great, I’m not going to lie,” Robinson said.“I’m very proud of the work from this week and last week.

Good signs.Good signs.”It’s unclear how Robinson, whose fitness and conditioning took a while to return after previous injuries, suffered a setback or why the recovery timeline became so messy.He missed 50 straight games last season after a surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right ankle, an injury severe enough for the Knicks to petition the NBA for a disabled player’s exception (they were denied).About five weeks after returning, Robinson was the target of dirty plays by Joel Embiid in the playoffs, left Game 3 in a walking boot, limped around the rest of the series and was ruled out of the playoffs after missing Game 2 of the second round. The subsequent surgery was at least the fourth procedure over three years for Robinson, who fractured his right foot and right hand in 2021.

It’s a clue into why Robinson...