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Knicks Announce Injury Updates on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Oct 17, 2025 8:16 PM ET

Former New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau led the team to the doorstep of the NBA Finals last season, and now Mike Brown will try to finish the job.

The Knicks fired Thibodeau after guiding them to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000, concluding a five-year tenure that saw him transform the club from a basement-dweller to a championship contender. They not only replaced him Brown, but they also added guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Guerschon Yabusele for depth.

Brown, a two-time NBA Head Coach of the Year, revealed injury updates about center Mitchell Robinson, forward OG Anunoby (ankle), guard Josh Hart (back), and forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns (quad) ahead of New York's preseason finale against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, via SNY reporter Ian Begley.

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23).© Eric Canha-Imagn Images

"Mitch, Josh, KAT [Towns], and OG are out. Mitch is out for load management, and we're being cautious with the other three guys," he said.

"Anytime you're missing guys, it's next guy step up," he continued. "Knock on wood, we could be missing guys during the season. It's just another opportunity for guys to step up and get a chance to play. We'll go out and try to win the game with who's available tonight."

Robinson has played just 48 games over the last two regular seasons and has had battled injury issues throughout his career. The Knicks will hold the veteran out of certain games and manage his minutes as a precaution this year per SNY.

Mike Brown said Mitchell Robinson is being held out due to workload management and OG Anunoby (ankle), Josh Hart (back) and Karl-Anthony Towns (quad) are out as precautionary measure: pic.twitter.com/0Ch6AGXcOw
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 17, 2025

Knicks Have Clear Path to NBA Finals Appearance

New York had to get through a Cade Cunningham-led Detroit Pistons team and the defending-champion Boston Celtics to get to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but the picture is different now.

The Celtics and Pacers are without stars Jayson Tatum (Achilles) and Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), which will make it difficult for them to go on deep playoff runs. Therefore, the Knicks' only elite competition in the East are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who the Pacers eliminated in the second round last season.

Detroit and the Orlando Magic, who each lost in the first round, have talented young cores. However, the Knicks are more experienced, as guard Jalen Brunson, wing Mikal Bridges, and the rest of the starters have several playoff runs under their belts.

New York opens the regular season with a home game against Cleveland on Wednesday night. The contest will start at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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