The New York Knicks had a great turnout on the first day of their voluntary workouts except for the conspicuous absence of their third-year center Mitchell Robinson.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported that Robinson has exited the Knicks’ ‘Bubble’ in Westchester County due to personal reasons.
Curiously, Robinson has posted a video of a baby earlier in the day on his Instagram story and used the song “You are the reason” as the background music. It is not clear if the baby in the video has something to do with Robinson opting out of the team workouts that will continue through October 6.
Mitch Rob just recently posted this heartwarming vids of this adorable baby in his IG story with the song “You are the reason†after it was reported that he opted out of the voluntary team workouts. https://t.co/FxAFFKeu7V pic.twitter.com/YrBKWJCO2r
— alder almo (@alderalmo) September 23, 2020
Robinson was in attendance during the team’s individual workouts, which started last week. He was even seen working out with the new assistant coach and said to be a big man’s whisperer, Kenny Payne.
He’s back 💥 pic.twitter.com/nz7tl6e5H2
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) September 17, 2020
In a zoom call with Knicks reporters today, The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov said that new head coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t exactly say who was in attendance and who was missing.
“Some guys weren’t comfortable with that, so we totally understood that part of it,” Thibodeau was quoted saying.
The second phase of their OTA, which consists of practice, skills or conditioning sessions, and intra-squad scrimmages, will give Thibodeau and his staff a better look at the roster they currently have. The scrimmages will also serve as a sort of tryouts for their G-League players and those with non-guaranteed contracts (team options).
One of their two-way players, Kenny Wooten, Jr., appeared to be soaking in the experience with the new coaching staff.
Regardless of how things go. I’ll always remember days like these
— Kenny Wooten (@kennywootenjr) September 22, 2020
I see myself learning a lot from this staff
— Kenny Wooten (@kennywootenjr) September 23, 2020
Meanwhile, the Knicks have until late October to guarantee the contracts of Reggie Bullock, Taj Gibson, Wayne Ellington, Elfrid Payton, and Bobby Portis.