The Knicks continue to watch their season slip away with their sixth loss in seven games on Monday night, but Mitchell Robinson's stock continues to rise.
The 23-year-old center scored 19 points while grabbing a career-high 21 rebounds in a loss to the Jazz, while 10 of those boards came off the offensive glass, also a career best.
"Amazing," Julius Randle said. "He's a monster. Really just shows how he works. He's challenging himself…he's getting in better shape. He's been elite. I'm proud of him."
Robinson has continued his ascent as he says he approaches his top physical shape, as he has averaged 11.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over the last 13 games, shooting 78.5 percent from the field in that span. He has logged double-digit rebounds in five of his last six games, and just last week put up a monster performance against Memphis, where he recorded eight blocks, six on Grizzlies star Ja Morant, while scoring 14 points to go along with his 11 rebounds.
"He's a really big part of our team," RJ Barrett said. "When we have Mitch playing well - he's a big man, he sets screens, he does all the dirty work, rebounds, defends, helps us out all the time - when he can get going, it's great. Just try to encourage him."
Before Monday's game, Robinson was asked about his future with the team, which is still in question as Robinson has not been offered a contract extension. The longest-tenured Knick, Robinson is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but is keeping his focus on the court as he continues to set himself up for a nice payday, whether it be from the Knicks or elsewhere.
"Whatever happens, happens,'' Robinson said before Monday's loss. "I'm just here to play basketball. That's the main thing. It's still in the season. You're not worried about the offseason or the break.''
If Robinson continues to play at this level, he will command a much bigger contract than the four-year, $5.8 million deal New York signed him to after drafting him in the second round. He has overcome multiple injuries from last season, including foot surgery, and has kept his focus on getting healthy and in shape to put up the numbers he is currently producing. But big decisions do loom in the near future.
"I'm just going to continue to play hard, see what happens,'' Robinson said, via the New York Post. "I don't think about it that much. I just want to hoop. That's what I've got an agent for. He handles that so I can focus on basketball. "
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