The worrying stat behind Mitchell Robinson’s playoff performances could cost Knicks big time

Mitchell Robinson has never been known for his scoring, and he’s not about to change now. In his seventh NBA season, the Knicks center is once again putting up modest offensive numbers. But one stat in particular is raising eyebrows: his free throw percentage has dropped from 68% in the regular season to just 39% in the 2025 playoffs.

What’s happened to Robinson’s free throws?

That’s a huge dip, especially considering he’s getting to the line nearly twice as often – 1.5 attempts per game in the postseason, compared to 0.8 during the regular season. And with every possession mattering more in the playoffs, those missed points could haunt the Knicks.

Yet here’s the paradox: Robinson has been one of New York’s most impactful players this postseason, despite averaging just 4.2 points and 6.8 rebounds over 12 playoff games. His Sofascore rating has slipped (from 6.77 to 6.39), but his impact can’t be measured by box scores alone.

Robinson rocked against Celtics

Against Boston in the second round, Robinson was a +46 over six games, anchoring the defense and dominating the offensive glass. His 23 offensive rebounds in 124 minutes disrupted the champions’ rhythm and opened up extra chances for teammates. When he’s on the court, New York grabs over 40% of its own misses, a number that would lead the NBA.

And now, with Indiana looming in the Eastern Conference Finals, Robinson becomes even more important. The Pacers struggle with defensive rebounding and thrive in transition. If Robinson controls the glass, he can slow Indiana down and tilt the possession battle in New York’s favor.

But to stay on the floor deep into games, he needs to do better than 39% at the line. Otherwise, defenses might turn to hack tactics – and the Knicks could find themselves chasing a Finals berth without their defensive anchor.

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