Bill Simmons’s old man is losing his mind. And honestly, he’s got a good reason.
The Boston Celtics just signed Mitchell Robinson to a three-year, $47.4 million deal. And for a lifelong Celtics fan like Simmons’s dad — a guy who apparently has a thing for centers who love rebounding — this is basically Christmas in July.
Simmons posted on X that his father is “delirious” over the pickup. “My dad loves centers who love rebounding, and he’s deliriously happy thanks for asking,” Simmons wrote. He didn’t tag his dad. He didn’t need to. The man’s joy is basically public record now.
Robinson spent the last eight seasons with the New York Knicks, which makes him the longest-tenured player on a team that just ended a 53-year title drought. He’s the kind of big man who does the dirty work without needing the ball. Last season he averaged 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in under 24 minutes a night. That’s efficient. That’s the kind of stat line that makes front offices and fathers alike go a little giddy.
The Injury That Almost Cost Him the Finals
Robinson broke his right pinky finger in the gap between the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. He gutted it out though. In Game 5, he logged 20 minutes and finished with 2 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists. Not flashy. But the Knicks don’t win that title without him.
And now he’s going to Boston, a team that knows exactly what it needs. The Celtics finished 56-26 last season, then got bounced in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. Their interior defense was a problem. Robinson is a walking eraser around the rim. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has been tracking him for a while. Brad Stevens made him a priority heading into free agency.
Boston isn’t blowing things up. They’re adding pieces. They also signed 20-year veteran Mike Conley Jr. to a one-year deal. This is a team trying to push a contender over the top, not start from scratch.
Some Knicks fans are salty about losing Robinson, and they have every right to be. He’s been a fan favorite in New York. But the league moves fast. One day you’re celebrating a title. The next day your center is signing with a rival.
Robinson gives the Celtics something they’ve lacked since Robert Williams was healthy — a legit rim protector who makes opponents think twice about driving. And somewhere in the Simmons family group chat, a father is still smiling.
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