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The New York Knicks’ first championship team in 53 years is now starting to look a little different.
They were able to hang on to Jose Alvarado, but the first domino to fall was defensive big man Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year deal with the Boston Celtics.
Several of Robinson’s now-former teammates, including Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby, commented on his farewell post on Instagram, but Robinson’s response to Anunoby was quite telling.
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Mitchell Robinson is seen outside City Hall at the New York Knicks ticker tape parade on June 18, 2026 in New York City. (XNY/Star Max/GC Images)
Anunoby commented with a sad emoji, and Robinson said he was “trying” to get back with the Knicks, suggesting the feeling wasn’t mutual.
“I tried my brother, I didn’t want this to happen, hopefully the truth will come out at some point. I’m going to miss you great dawn! Keep being amazing,” Robinson replied.
Team owner James Dolan said almost immediately after the Knicks won the title that he had no interest in entering the NBA’s second payroll, calling it “suicidal.”
Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks celebrates after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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That alone was enough to tell fans that a guard rebuild was on the way, especially since Brunson would eventually have to make up for the massive pay cut he took to help the Knicks win it all.
Robinson grabbed the final offensive rebound off a missed free throw that nearly clinched the Knicks’ title against the San Antonio Spurs last month.
Robinson saw both the good and the bad with the Knicks as a second-round draft pick in 2018; in his first season they were 17-65.
Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks speaks to the media after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. (Jacob Gonzalez/NBAE via Getty Images)
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But now he will go to an apparent re-tooling of the Celtics team as a champion.
