The Knicks opened their 2025-26 regular season schedule at Madison Square Garden last night a few hours before this article went to press. But prior to print, the Knicks confirmed that starting center Mitch Robinson and guard/forward Josh Hart -- one of the NBA's best reserves -- would not be available to face the Cleveland Cavaliers, the favorites to win the Eastern Conference championship, due to injuries.
Hart has been out with lumbar (back) spasms since taking a hard fall on October 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason game in Abu Dhabi. Robinson sat for what the Knicks call left ankle management.
Robinson, who was a force for the Knicks last postseason, has had two major surgeries on his left ankle. The first, in December 2023, put him down for 50 games and the second, in May 2024 during the playoffs, delayed his 2025 season debut until February 28.
In regard to Hart, head coach Mike Brown, who's in his first season at the controls, said the Knicks are taking a cautious approach.
"We're trying to figure out his back, which is a tricky situation," said Brown. "We have to be careful, we don't want to rush it."
The Knicks, listed as the second betting favorite in the East to reach the NBA Finals, did have their All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson available, as well as their two multifaceted starters, forward OG Anunoby and guard/forward Mikal Bridges. The Knicks' other All-Star, power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, was listed as questionable with a right quad strain.
The mandate for Brunson and Towns is clear: thrust the Knicks into the finals, where they haven't been since 1999. On Monday, just two days before their season opener, Towns gave a puzzling response to a reporter's question about his role in the Knicks' offense.
"Honestly, I don't know," said Towns, shaking his head and chuckling mildly. "I don't know. But we're figuring it out."
Last season was Towns' first with the Knicks after he was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a package that included Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
Playing for former Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, Towns, who turns 30 next month, averaged 24.4 points on 52.6% shooting and 12.8 rebounds per game last season. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team and selected as an All-Star for the fifth time in his career.