Knicks' Mike Brown Confident in Mitchell Robinson Despite Playoff Gamble

Knicks coach Mike Brown unfazed by Hack-a-Mitch strategy, but Robinson's free throw struggles loom large heading into playoffs.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:56pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player in mid-jump shot, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the tension and uncertainty surrounding Mitchell Robinson's free throw woes and their impact on the Knicks' playoff aspirations.The Knicks' playoff hopes rest heavily on Mitchell Robinson's ability to overcome his free throw struggles, a high-stakes gamble that could define their postseason run.NYC Today

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown is expressing confidence in center Mitchell Robinson's ability to contribute in the playoffs, despite Robinson's history of poor free throw shooting. Robinson shot just 39.3% from the line in last year's playoffs, leading opponents to intentionally foul him to disrupt the Knicks' offense. However, Brown says the team has a plan to address the issue, and he's not backing down from the challenge.

Why it matters

Robinson's free throw struggles could be a major liability for the Knicks in the playoffs, as opponents may look to exploit his weakness at the line. The Knicks need Robinson's interior presence and rebounding, but his inability to consistently convert at the charity stripe could force Brown to carefully manage his minutes in crunch time situations.

The details

Last season, Robinson shot just 22-of-56 (39.3%) from the free throw line in the playoffs. In the second round against the Boston Celtics, coach Joe Mazzulla leaned heavily on the 'Hack-a-Mitch' strategy, intentionally fouling Robinson to disrupt the Knicks' offense. While this did not ultimately knock the Knicks out, it forced Brown to carefully monitor Robinson's minutes down the stretch. This season, Brown has kept Robinson off back-to-back games to protect his ankle, and Robinson appeared in 60 games, more than the previous two seasons. However, his free throw struggles persist, as he has attributed them to a lack of regular shooting practice, with his workouts focused more on in-game skills like layups and screens.

  • Last year, Robinson shot 22-of-56 (39.3%) from the free throw line across 18 playoff games.
  • In the Knicks' second-round series against the Boston Celtics, coach Joe Mazzulla heavily utilized the 'Hack-a-Mitch' strategy.
  • This regular season, Brown kept Robinson off back-to-backs to protect his ankle, and Robinson appeared in 60 games.

The players

Mike Brown

The head coach of the New York Knicks, who is expressing confidence in Mitchell Robinson's ability to contribute in the playoffs despite his free throw struggles.

Mitchell Robinson

The Knicks' starting center, who has a history of poor free throw shooting in the playoffs, but remains a key contributor for the team with his interior presence and rebounding.

Joe Mazzulla

The head coach of the Boston Celtics, who heavily utilized the 'Hack-a-Mitch' strategy against the Knicks in last year's playoffs.

Charles Oakley

A Knicks legend who believes Robinson needs to average 25-27 minutes per game in the playoffs due to his impact on the offensive glass.

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What they’re saying

“We've talked about it. We have different things in mind that we'll do. A lot of them will come down to time and score and feel. But we understand that's what teams may want to do, especially if our offense is clicking at that point in time.”

— Mike Brown, Knicks Head Coach

“Mitchell Robinson is the key for them off the bench, whatever they do. He needs to average 25 minutes, 27 minutes, from the first playoff game until the last one because with the offensive rebounds, nobody can block him out. He's like a Moses Malone. He gives them second shots.”

— Charles Oakley, Knicks Legend

What’s next

The Knicks will face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs, and the 'Hack-a-Mitch' strategy could come into play if Robinson struggles at the free throw line. Coach Brown says the team has a plan to address the issue, and the series will show whether his confidence in Robinson is justified.

The takeaway

Mitchell Robinson's free throw shooting woes have been a persistent issue for the Knicks, and his inability to consistently convert at the line could force coach Mike Brown to carefully manage his minutes in crucial playoff situations. However, Brown appears undeterred, expressing confidence in his team's plan to address the problem. The Knicks' first-round series against the Hawks will be a crucial test of whether Brown's faith in Robinson is well-placed or a risky playoff gamble.