The new NBA season already hit the New York Knicks hard, fresh off a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Banner Night at Madison Square Garden. But things are about to get even weirder for Knicks fans, because their former longest-tenured player, Mitchell Robinson, is now rocking a Boston Celtics uniform. He was introduced as a Celtic on October 14, 2026, and Friday night in Boston, the “Blockness Monster” will face his old team. That’s got to be a gut punch, seeing him 200 miles north, playing for one of New York’s biggest rivals.
The “Blockness Monster” Goes Green
Mitchell Robinson’s move to Boston is a big deal, not just for the rivalry, but for what he means to the Knicks’ past. Knicks fans, you know who I’m talking about. Seeing Robinson, number 4, in that green and white has got to feel strange. The Celtics dropped a cool $48 million on him at the end of free agency, a serious investment. You can bet Robinson is going to come out with something to prove tonight. He’ll want to show his former team exactly what they’re missing, putting in extra effort on the glass. Maybe we even get a glimpse of an expanded “bag,” as they say, from Mitch. He’s looking to justify that $48 million to the Land of the Leprechauns.
Boston’s Bombs Away Attack and Early Stumbles
Speaking of the Celtics, their season opener wasn’t exactly a masterpiece. They lost to Detroit, despite holding a 22-point lead four minutes into the third quarter and still being up by 10 with eight minutes left in the fourth. Sound familiar? It’s classic Celtics. Mitchell Robinson didn’t exactly make a great first impression on the C’s fanbase in that game either. Outside of Paul George, few players in green and white really shined. This team hasn’t changed much from their incredibly entertaining playoff series with the Knicks 17 months ago in terms of style. Personnel is different, sure, but it’s still “bombs away” in Beantown. Boston’s barrage of threes can absolutely overwhelm an opponent, just like it did against the Pistons for roughly three quarters when they chucked up 42 shots from downtown. That shooting creates so much space and puts serious stress on opposing defenses. It can flip a game in an instant. The flip side? The Celtics just keep shooting, whether they’re up by 20 or down by 20. Sometimes, they shoot themselves right in the foot, as they certainly did in Detroit.
So, when the Knicks roll into Boston, both teams are looking to bounce back early in the season. Will Robinson’s revenge game deliver on the hype? Can the Celtics’ three-point heavy offense finally close out a game, or will they shoot themselves in the foot against their bitter rivals? It’s going to be a fascinating matchup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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