The New York Knicks faced significant struggles last season due to Mitchell Robinson’s injury.
The center suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for almost the entire campaign, appearing in only 17 games.
Without Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks’ defense became more vulnerable to rim attacks. While their overall defensive rating remained solid through coaching and personnel adjustments, Robinson’s paint presence had made them a top-tier defensive unit.
The absence became more glaring since Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t known for defensive ability, a weakness exposed during playoff games.
The Knicks attempted to address their center depth but were rejected by a key target.
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty ImagesTheis chose playing time over backup role with the Knicks
Daniel Theis, the former Boston Celtics center who played for New Orleans last season, rejected the Knicks despite a personal call from former coach Tom Thibodeau. Instead, he signed with AS Monaco in Europe.
Theis explained his reasoning centered around playing time and future NBA opportunities rather than serving as injury insurance for Robinson.
“I could have gone to the Knicks, for example, but it was more for insurance that Mitchell Robinson came back from a long injury. And then I talked to Tom Thibodeau and he said, ‘Yeah, you will be like insurance in case he can’t play and this and that.’ It’s like what I did with P.J. Tucker,” Theis revealed.
The veteran center wanted to avoid a situation where limited minutes could hurt his future NBA prospects.
“For me, it was like, ‘Okay, if I sit for the rest of the year, what are my chances in the summer?’ So if I’m like, ‘Okay, I go overseas to Europe and play, play great, I might have a better chance.’ That was my whole intention and thought behind it, just consider Europe and see what it is,” he added.
Photo by Griffin Quinn/Getty ImagesTheis offered proven NBA backup production that could be beneficial for the Knicks
Throughout his NBA career, Theis established himself as a reliable backup center. Last season with the Pelicans, he averaged 4.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while providing steady contributions.
Theis is recognized for his high basketball IQ and ability to operate within defensive schemes. His addition could have benefited the Knicks’ rim protection issues significantly.
However, the situational role didn’t appeal to him compared to European opportunities offering more substantial playing time.
The decision proved logical from Theis’s perspective, as he has played more than 15 minutes per game in Europe while registering double-digit scoring performances.
His choice shows the challenge NBA teams face when offering backup roles to vets who can still contribute in other ways.
The rejection also forced New York to explore other options for big depth, as they signed Guerschon Yabusele this summer, while hoping Robinson would return fully healthy.