The New York Knicks received some encouraging news Thursday as forward Josh Hart was upgraded to questionable for Friday’s marquee home game against the 2024 champion Boston Celtics, the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
Hart missed the Knicks’ 119–111 season-opening win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, but the latest NBA injury report signaled progress in his recovery from the lower back injury that had sidelined him since the preseason.
Big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who played through a Grade 2 right quadriceps strain, was also listed as questionable, while Mitchell Robinson remains out for “left ankle injury management.”
The possible return of Hart comes at a critical time as the Knicks prepare for a grueling stretch against playoff-caliber opponents — the Celtics, the Miami Heat (Oct. 26) and the Milwaukee Bucks (Oct. 28) — to close out the month.
Josh Hart Showing Progress After Hard Fall
Hart has been slowly ramping up his activity since suffering a hard fall in the team’s first preseason game in Abu Dhabi, where he hurt his lower back diving for a loose ball.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Hart has resumed running and light on-court workouts, though he has yet to participate in full-contact scrimmages.
“Like with Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks’ medical team is taking a cautious approach with Hart,” Begley said on Tusday. “If Hart’s back continues to progress, the team will gradually increase his workload. For now, the Knicks will be down two rotation players to start the season — not ideal for a team trying to gel under a new head coach.”
Hart is also managing a finger injury that required offseason surgery. He plans to play the entire 2025–26 season with a splint on his right hand, having re-aggravated the injury — initially sustained in last year’s playoffs — during training camp.
The 29-year-old wing is coming off the best year of his career, averaging 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He also set a franchise record with nine triple-doubles, embodying the Knicks’ signature grit and hustle under former coach Tom Thibodeau.
Rotation Questions Loom Under Mike Brown
When Hart returns, it’s unclear whether he will reclaim his starting role. Against the Cavaliers, the Knicks opened with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Towns, and Ariel Hukporti, a double-big lineup that reflected new head coach Mike Brown’s system emphasizing size, rebounding, and defense.
Brown has already shown a willingness to experiment, especially as the team transitions from Thibodeau’s more rigid approach. With Hart’s health improving and Robinson still sidelined, the Knicks could rely on their bench depth — a key factor in their early-season success.
Mitchell Robinson’s Uncertain Status Raises Questions
Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesMitchell Robinson remains out for the New York Knicks.
While Hart’s recovery is trending upward, Mitchell Robinson’s status remains more complicated.
“Obviously he’s not 100% healthy,” Begley said on The Putback. “He was healthy enough to play in the preseason, so something is amiss here.”
The 27-year-old center dominated early in the preseason — grabbing 16 rebounds in just 18 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers in Abu Dhabi — before being limited to partial play and eventually shut down for the remainder of exhibition games.
Robinson has struggled with lower-body injuries for much of his career, appearing in only 48 games over the past two seasons due to recurring foot and ankle issues.
Last season, Robinson returned in time for the Knicks’ Eastern Conference Finals run, averaging 4.7 points and 7.8 rebounds over 18 playoff games while anchoring the team’s defense.
Contract Extension Looms as Uncertainty Persists
Robinson’s murky health situation comes as he enters a pivotal contract year. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Knicks have initiated extension talks with Robinson’s representatives, but “there hasn’t yet been traction toward a deal.”
Robinson, who will earn $13 million this season, becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer if no extension is finalized by June 30, 2026, per ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks.
The Knicks view Robinson as a crucial part of their defensive identity, but his durability — and Towns’ ability to stay healthy — could determine how far this retooled roster goes under Brown.
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