Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson’s Request For More Alley-oops Hasn’t Gone Unnoticed

Mitchell Robinson dunks the ball during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mitchell Robinson asked, and his Knicks teammates listened.

It has been noticeable that, in recent games, they are looking to find him more when he’s rolling to the basket after setting a screen. It has mostly resulted in alley-oops.

“I tell them when we’re watching film, ‘Look here, I’m wide open. Throw it to me. I do a little dirty work so reward me,’ ” Robinson said after the Knicks’ 112-109 win over the 76ers on Saturday in Philadelphia. “That’s kinda how that is.”

Mitchell Robinson dunks the ball during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

In Year 8, Robinson has yet to develop a polished offensive game. That allows his defender to help off him aggressively when he sets a screen — often for Jalen Brunson.

But if he can be a threat as a roller, it changes that dynamic.

“Whoever’s guarding Mitch is aggressive,” coach Mike Brown said. “So if teams keep stepping up and trying to be aggressive on the ball screens, Mitch has to get out quick and he’s gotta look for it at the rim.”

After a bit of a lull for a few games, Robinson is also back to his best on defense and the offensive glass. He neutralized Joel Embiid — particularly in the third quarter, when he held him scoreless — Saturday and grabbed six offensive rebounds.

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“Our defensive player was Mitch,” Brown said. “Mitch was phenomenal on the offensive glass, but he was really, really good for us defensively. Four deflections. Couple of 50-50 balls. Rebounding the ball really well. Couple of blocks. Big, big night from Mitch, especially on the defensive end of the floor.”

Mitchell Robinson dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets on January 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NBAE via Getty Images

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After losing nine of 11 games, the Knicks have won two straight for the first time since late December.

Josh Hart isn’t putting too much stock into it.

“It is good, but also it’s January,” Hart said. “You can’t get too high or too low. I think that’s the biggest thing. I think that’s where y’all can write whatever y’all want to write. Three games ago we were turning into a lottery team, and now you guys are like, ‘Oh, they’re battling the East.’ So that’s for y’all to do. Us, we’re trying to stay levelheaded and not get too high or too low.”