The New York Knicks are still riding high after their NBA championship win back in June, with Karl-Anthony Towns and the whole squad on cloud nine. But hold up, because reality is already hitting hard for the 2026-27 season: this championship team isn’t staying together, and one move in particular has everyone, including Towns, feeling a little weird.
Championship Hangover: The Big Man Shuffle Hits NYC
Fresh off their title run, the Knicks saw two key big man backups for Towns walk in free agency: Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti. That’s a huge hole to fill, right? So, the front office quickly went out and snagged Andre Drummond to be Towns’ main backup. Here’s where it gets wild: Hukporti and Drummond basically did a swap, with Hukporti heading to the Philadelphia 76ers while Drummond landed with the Knicks. But Robinson’s destination? That’s the real shocker.
Friendship on the Hardwood, Rivalry in the Green
Mitchell Robinson, who was an impressive backup but also a long-time starter for the Knicks, signed with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have been in desperate need of a center for ages, and now Robinson is going to be their starter, playing alongside star Jayson Tatum on a team with serious championship aspirations. Think about that for a second: a former Knicks starter, fresh off a title, heading to one of their biggest rivals! Towns and Robinson have a close friendship, forged from battling it out every day in practice. They know each other’s moves, their tendencies, everything. Now they’re going to be on opposite sides.
Towns didn’t mince words about how awkward this is going to be. He told The New York Times’ The Interview that he isn’t even sure he can look at Mitch in a Celtics jersey after everything they’ve been through. “I don’t even know if I could look at Mitch with a Celtics jersey on after everything, so I’ll just have to start laughing at Mitch when we see each other. He owes me a pickup truck,” Towns said. Seriously, a pickup truck! That’s how deep this friendship runs, even with the new rivalry brewing.
This whole situation is going to be an awkward sight for both the players and the fans, no doubt. But for Robinson, it feels like a melancholy end to a lengthy Knicks tenure, joining a team where he’ll be appreciated and get another shot at being a starter. It might be weird, but hey, at least he parted ways on good terms, with strong relationships intact. The next time the Knicks face the Celtics, it’s not just a game, it’s a reunion, and Towns is waiting for his truck.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply