“I Didn’t Want This To Happen”: Mitchell Robinson Makes Surprising Revelation After Exit From Knicks

After spending eight years with the New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson is no longer part of the team. The Knicks opted not to sign Robinson during free agency due to financial concerns. According to previous reports, the NBA's second apron rule got in the way. New York is currently committed to a total of $211 million worth of salaries for 11 players, giving them no room to sign Robinson.

Apparently, Robinson wasn't keen on the idea of parting ways with the Knicks. Robinson recently uploaded a video of his highlights in New York, matched with a heartfelt message to Knicks fans. One of his former teammates, OG Anunoby, commented with a sad emoji, which led to Mitch revealing that he didn't want to leave.

"I tried to bother; I didn't want this to happen. Hopefully, the truth comes out at some point," Robinson replied to Anunoby on Instagram. "I'm going to miss you, big dawg! Keep being great."

Clearly, Robinson loved the city of New York. After eight years of representing the Knicks, it's understandable why he would get emotional about his exit.

"New York Knicks fans and the whole Knicks organization, the past 8 years have been the highlight of my life. I can’t thank you guys enough for the journey and opportunities. I know it’s a lot of emotions going around; trust me, I feel it myself, but I will always have love for where it all started! I love you and will miss you! Once a Knick, always a Knick," Robinson wrote as his caption.

Thankfully, it didn't take too long for Robinson to find a new home. The former Knicks big man quickly agreed to a three-year deal worth $47.4 million with the Boston Celtics. He will soon be joining the new duo of Jayson Tatum and Paul George.

Knicks Celebrity Super Fan Thanks Mitchell Robinson

It's no secret that New Yorkers are some of the most passionate sports fans in the USA. In fact, their passion would sometimes turn into rowdiness, which resulted in numerous arrests during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. While it could easily be seen in a negative light, there are still those who express their emotions purely for the love of the game.

One of those fans includes Hollywood legend Ben Stiller. Spike Lee is often considered the most iconic New York Knicks fan; however, Stiller is a close second. After Mitchell Robinson made his unwanted exit from New York to join the Boston Celtics, Ben went on social media to give a heartfelt message to the big man.

"Thank you, Mitchell Robinson, for being one of one. I loved your singular style and watching you move so fast for a person so big on defense and rebounding like no other. You bled for your team and gave us something to cheer for. You lived through the rough times and built us into a championship team. This is how I’ll choose to remember you. Feel lucky to have witnessed it all," Stiller wrote on X.

With a new chapter ahead of him and championship experience now under his belt, it'll be interesting to see what kind of value Robinson can provide for the Celtics next season.