Mitchell Robinson Calls Out Knicks After Troubling Trend

Mitchell Robinson delivered a blunt message following the New York Knicks’ 93-92 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, calling on his team to address a growing issue — slow starts.

Despite extending their winning streak to five games, the Knicks once again opened sluggishly, scoring a season-low 14 points in the first quarter and trailing by double digits in the first half before rallying.

The trend has become increasingly concerning. Over their last 10 games, New York has posted a -17.9 net rating in first quarters while allowing 120.7 points per 100 possessions — numbers that reflect a team often forced to play from behind.

“[The Nets] brought the fight to us,” Robinson said, via New York Daily News. “They came out. They wanted to prove a point, obviously, so our approach has to be better.”

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Robinson Calls Out Knicks’ Mindset

Robinson pointed to the team’s mentality as a central issue, particularly against opponents with losing records.

“We can’t just look at their record and just say, ‘Alright, we’re gonna whip their ass,’” Robinson said. “We’ve just gotta be better all together, and until we figure that part out, it’s gonna be a long road.”

The Nets entered the matchup with one of the worst records in the league, yet dictated the tempo early with physical play that Robinson said the Knicks were not ready for.

“We’ve played them how many times this year? Three or four? This is probably the most physical they’ve gotten with us,” he said. “So we can’t just take their record and say this is an easy one. They’re grown men just like us.”

Robinson emphasized that preparation — both mentally and physically — must improve before tipoff.

“Our approach in shootaround, the way we come to the game. We’ve gotta be ready to go,” he said.

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Physical Play Sparks Tension on the Court

The physical tone of the game led to a tense moment in the second quarter involving Robinson.

He was assessed a technical foul after standing over Nets rookie Nolan Traore following a hard fall on an alley-oop attempt. Several players from both teams gathered before officials stepped in to separate the situation.

Robinson declined to elaborate on the incident afterward.

“Y’all saw that,” he said. “It ain’t even a need to speak on it right now. It is what it is. I don’t even wanna talk about that.”

The sequence reflected the intensity of a matchup that, despite the disparity in records, played with playoff-like physicality.

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Knicks Rally but Concerns Remain

After the slow start, the Knicks responded by outscoring the Nets 61-43 across the second and third quarters, regaining control with increased physicality and energy.

“We had to get physical back,” Robinson said. “That’s how it’s gonna be. Gotta stand on business about that.”

New York ultimately held on for a one-point victory after nearly surrendering a late lead. The Nets had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Ben Saraf’s 45-foot attempt fell short.

The Knicks’ ability to recover from early deficits has helped them string together wins, but Robinson made it clear that the current pattern is not sustainable.

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First-Quarter Issues Loom as Playoffs Approach

The Knicks’ repeated slow starts have forced them into a reactive style of play, relying on second-half surges rather than controlling games from the outset.

Robinson warned that such habits could become costly, particularly against stronger opponents later in the season.

“We’ve just gotta be better,” he said.

For a team with championship aspirations, addressing those first-quarter struggles may be critical. While New York continues to find ways to win, Robinson’s message highlighted a growing concern — one that could define how far the Knicks can go when the stakes rise.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo