The New York Knicks have put their trust in building a roster around hanging their hat on a tough, gritty defense and let’s be honest, Mitchell Robinson is a big part of that. Swatting shots and grabbing boards like his life depended on is the guy, an absolute force in the paint. The Knicks’ defense is different when he is on the floor. For the most part, the big talking points of late aren’t exactly about what he does on the court anymore — it’s his contract, career earnings, and when he’s going to return from injury.
So far, Robinson hasn’t played a single game this season thanks to a stress fracture in his left ankle, and it’s been way more complicated than anyone expected. He first got hurt during last year’s playoff series against the Sixers, had surgery, and was supposed to be good to go near the start of training camp. But here we are, well into the season, and he’s still working his way back. The good news? The wait is almost over. The Knicks are finally closing in on getting their defensive anchor back.
What is Mitchell Robinson’s salary with the New York Knicks?
In 2022, Mitchell Robinson secured his bag with his $60 million, 4 year deal with the Knicks. Fully guaranteed. No funny business. That makes him a key piece of their frontcourt for the foreseeable future. For the upcoming 2024-25 season, he’s putting in a cool $14.3 million and he’s making an average of $15 million a year overall. Same cap hit, and the same dead cap value.
What’s interesting about his deal is that it actually decreases over time. By the 2025-26 season, his salary drops to $12.9 million, which gives the Knicks some extra breathing room as they continue to build around Jalen Brunson. It’s a smart setup—Robinson gets his money, the team keeps flexibility, and everybody wins.
But what about the long-term outlook? That’s where things get tricky. If Robinson stays healthy and keeps dominating on defense, the Knicks might want to lock him in again before his contract expires in 2026. But let’s be honest—the NBA is unpredictable. If New York wants to chase a superstar, they’ll need to be careful with their cap space. So while Robinson is a huge part of this team right now, nothing is ever set in stone.
How much has Mitchell Robinson earned over the years in the NBA?
Mitchell Robinson wasn’t some hyped lottery pick—he was a second-rounder in the 2018 draft, which meant his first contract wasn’t anything crazy. But he bet on himself, played his role to perfection, and climbed the financial ladder.
His rookie deal was light, but once he secured that extension, his paychecks started getting serious. Last season, he took home $15.7 million—slightly more than he’ll make in 2024-25. The year before that? $17 million, making him the highest-paid center on the Knicks at the time.
Now, if you go even further back, the numbers look tiny compared to today. In 2021-22, he made just $1.8 million. In 2020-21? $1.66 million. His first two years? Barely over $1.5 million combined. That’s wild considering how much he means to the Knicks’ defense now.
But here’s the crazy part—if he stays on his current contract path, he’s gonna clear $100 million in career earnings before he even hits free agency again. And if he keeps proving he’s one of the best defensive big men in the league? That next contract could be even bigger. Of course, that all depends on one thing: his health.
When is Mitchell Robinson returning from his injury?
Knicks fans have been waiting all season for Mitchell Robinson to suit up again and we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. His stress fracture in his left ankle? He’s healed in ways longer than expected but now, he’s close.
Josh Hart, never one to hold back, gave a pretty simple update: “He’ll be back soon.” And that’s exactly what Knicks fans want to hear. Robinson has already progressed to full five-on-five practices, which is huge because it means he’s almost game-ready. Considering how dominant he is on the glass and as a shot-blocker, his return could be a game-changer for the Knicks’ playoff push.
“Overall, he moved pretty well.”
Tom Thibodeau talks about how Mitchell Robinson looked in practice: pic.twitter.com/mpK8XiMNL4
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 19, 2025
Tom Thibodeau, of course, isn’t just throwing him back in there blindly. He said Robinson looks good in practice but still needs to get his timing back. And Robinson himself? He’s learned from past mistakes. “I’ve just been taking my time. I want to make sure it’s 100%… Usually, I’d be young and dumb to go out there and try to get back as fast as I can. I can’t do that no more,” he admitted. Smart move. No one wants to see him rush back and reinjure himself.
The Robinson-Towns duo could be nasty. Rebounding, shot-blocking, interior dominance – it’s a type of frontcourt that could have opposing teams crying sleepless nights. Now that the Knicks’ season is winding down, it might be Robinson’s return that gives the team the chance to really make a run at something special.
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