Robinson is right: it still is very early in the preseason. Thibodeau is still evaluating his team to find his best starting five. And he’s also mentioned during pressers that players on the roster will likely find themselves in the starting lineup at some point during the season anyway.
Also, Robinson knows that whether it’s him or Noel in the game, it’s basically the same threat down low.
“You got two of the same people basically,” Robinson explained. “It kind, it really don’t change. “He blocks shots, I block shots. He runs the floor, I run the floor. It’s like we can keep that wave going through the whole season. It’s pretty cool.”
That explanation is why Robinson didn’t have any qualms when he heard the Knicks signed Noel, saying “I really didn’t have no reaction.”
In the Knicks’ win on Friday night, Noel had a solid 10 points and eight rebounds, while Robinson totaled just two points, seven boards and one assist.
Robinson does have a 2021 club option coming up for next season, so he would obviously love to perform well to have the Knicks pick that up. Making the starting lineup consistently this season would likely make that happen.
Does that matter at least to Robinson?
“It might, it might not. I really don’t, when the time comes, I really don’t think about it that much. But it’s something that you just can’t control. However it comes is just how it comes. I really don’t be thinking of it like that. I just go out there and play.”
