bostonglobe
When Mitchell Robinson entered the NBA as a second-round pick of the Knicks in 2018-19, the experience was far from enjoyable. As a 20-year-old center, he averaged about 20 minutes per game for a New York team that endured a league-worst 17-65 season.
That made last season, which culminated in the Knicks' first championship since 1973, especially satisfying for Robinson, who was the team's longest-tenured player. He had experienced the lowest of lows and waited eight years for the highest of highs.
On Friday night, when the Knicks visit the Celtics, Robinson will face New York for the first time in his career. He will look across the court and see many of the same teammates with whom he celebrated a title just four months ago. But Robinson, who inked a three-year, $47.4 million contract with Boston in July, was not feeling nostalgic on Thursday.
“It don’t really matter that I’m playing my former team,” he said with a shrug. “It’s more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago [in the loss to the Pistons]. At the end of the day, basketball is a business and we’ve just got to play the team, just how you play the other teams.”
The Knicks’ ring and banner ceremony at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night began about an hour after Boston’s season-opening loss to the Pistons that afternoon. Robinson will receive his ring eventually, but he said he had no interest in reliving the moment by watching it on television in Detroit.
“I was still stuck in my head from last game,” Robinson said, referring to what he considered a forgettable debut. Robinson started at center for Boston but had minimal impact. He played 18 minutes and finished with 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers, and the Celtics were outscored by 8 points during his time on the floor.
Robinson admitted he got off to a bad start and was playing too fast. He believes that if he had been a more effective rim protector in the second half, the Celtics might have held onto the 22-point lead they ultimately surrendered.
“We’ve got to keep our foot on the gas,” Robinson said. “It starts with me. I’m obviously one of the best defensive bigs in the league and I didn’t show it that night. I’ve got to take ownership of that and I’ve got to do better.”
After the game, coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters that it will be important for Robinson to continue building a rhythm on offense. He thought Robinson’s defensive coverage was strong. Later, Mazzulla sent Robinson several encouraging text messages.
Of course, bad feelings from a season-opener can be exacerbated because the game stands alone. Robinson, who saw much worse during that dreadful rookie season eight years ago, knows it is important to approach these early setbacks with perspective.
“We’ve got a lot of room to grow and learn each other, but obviously, it’s better to do it sooner than later,” Robinson said. “So that’s what we’re just going to do. We’re going to get in there and talk and pick each others’ brains and just learn as much as we can.”
In the NBA, chances at redemption are always just a day or two away. Robinson is eager for his opportunity in front of the TD Garden crowd Friday night, and he insists that the familiar faces on the other side will be irrelevant to him.
“I’m just here to play basketball,” Robinson said. “Same thing I do with any other team, same thing I did with [the Knicks]. It’s just all about basketball.”
Key Analysis
Robinson’s focus on the Celtics’ rebound rather than his reunion with the Knicks underscores his professionalism and commitment to his new team. His self-critical assessment of his debut and determination to improve defensively highlight his awareness of his role in Boston’s success. With Mazzulla’s support and Robinson’s experience of overcoming adversity, the Celtics are hopeful he will quickly find his rhythm and bolster their interior defense.
* Celtics legend Paul Pierce stopped by Thursday’s practice at the Auerbach Center.
“Obviously, he did a lot for this city and the organization, so having him here is more than anything, even if you don’t talk to him, just having his presence here is felt,” forward Sam Hauser said. “And it makes you want to carry on the Celtics tradition, the legacy, when you’ve got those guys around even more.”
Originally reported by bostonglobe.