New York Knicks Stefan Bondy Mitchell Robinson was a shocking success story — and he’ll be a Knick forever By Stefan Bondy Published July 1, 2026, 3:57 p.m. ET From left: Steve Mills, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson and Scott Perry during a press conference introducing the Knicks draft picks in 2018. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Mitchell Robinson looked like he never left the house. It was his introductory press conference, way back in 2018, and Robinson’s blazer — worn with jeans — was too big. His answers were short, muted, uncertain. Scott Perry, the GM at the time, interjected to elaborate on the many things Robinson missed.
It was such a startlingly awkward introduction that team president Steve Mills walked into the media room to tell reporters, essentially, that Robinson isn’t comfortable yet. He skipped college. He’s from the country south. He wasn’t ready to speak publicly. He needs time, Mills pleaded.
As it turned out, Robinson got eight years with the Knicks. He outlasted Perry and Mills. He outlasted three coaches. He outlasted lottery picks Kristaps Porzingis, Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina. He participated in a 65-loss season and an NBA championship. He had the longest New York career of any Knicks draft pick since Charlie Ward.
And on Tuesday, Robinson’s roller-coaster stint ended. He agreed to sign with the Celtics for three years, $47.4 million, a deal the Knicks were never going to match because of their desire to stay below the second apron. Robinson was a cost-cutting casualty or a victim of the CBA, depending on how James Dolan’s reluctance to spend into the second apron is explained.
