The NBA Finals trophy is still fresh in New York’s hands, but for one Knicks veteran, the real win might come this summer when he signs his next contract. Mitchell Robinson, the team’s backup center and impending free agent, just played the most leverage-heavy postseason of his career.
Robinson’s defining moment came in Game 5 — a ferocious offensive rebound over San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama that essentially iced the championship for New York. The play quickly went viral, with fans and analysts calling it one of the grittiest hustle plays in Finals history. Robinson didn’t just out-position the 7-foot-4 rookie; he physically overpowered him in a moment that screamed ‘I’m getting paid this summer.’
After the game, Robinson reflected on how far he and the franchise have come. “Dreams come true. I’ve been here when we won 17 games and then we won 60 games, and to finally be able to get it done in 2026, after all of the journey that I’ve been on with the team and stuff like that, it has just been amazing,” Robinson told SNY Knicks. “This is an amazing feeling. I’m pretty sure every basketball player wants to feel like this and we got it.”
From $60 Million Man to Something Bigger
Robinson first hit free agency after the 2021-22 season and re-signed with New York for four years and roughly $60 million. That deal now looks like a bargain. Coming out of this championship run, Robinson is widely expected to command a significant raise, with league insiders projecting offers well north of $70 million over four years for a player entering his prime at age 28.
During the Knicks’ playoff march, Robinson averaged 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 67.3 percent from the field. The box score, however, doesn’t capture his impact. Knicks head coach Mike Brown repeatedly credited Robinson’s defense against Wembanyama as a series-altering factor — specifically his ability to body the rookie off his spots and disrupt San Antonio’s offensive rhythm.
Free Agency Interest Expected to Be Heavy
Robinson has spent his entire eight-year career in a Knicks uniform, developing from a raw second-round pick into a reliable two-way big. The front office has said it wants to keep the core intact, but multiple teams — including rebuilding clubs with cap space — are expected to pursue Robinson aggressively, according to league sources familiar with the situation.
For now, Robinson is savoring the title. But the clock is ticking toward July, and every team that watched him bully Wembanyama under the rim knows exactly what he’s worth.
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