Knicks, Knicks injury news, Giannis trade
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Head coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks (C) talks with assistant coaches Brendan O’Connor (R) and Rick Brunson (L) during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 2026 in New York City.
The New York Knicks will be without key guard Miles McBride for a fourth consecutive game Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, and Mitchell Robinson will also sit out due to left ankle injury management. The news comes amid reports that the Knicks are no longer an aggressive suitor for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
“Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride are both out tomorrow at Washington due to left ankle injury management, Knicks say,” insider Ian Begley wrote on X. “Robinson will likely play vs DEN, the second game of back-to-back. McBride will miss his 4th straight game with ankle injury management.”
Knicks Injury News
Robinson has not played back-to-back games all season as part of a strict injury management protocol following his second left ankle surgery in May 2024. Most recently, he played against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 27, but sat out the following night against the Toronto Raptors. He similarly sat out the second night of a back-to-back against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 14 after playing the previous night.
As for McBride, the guard has already missed 14 of the Knicks’ 49 games this season with various injuries, including three straight with an ankle sprain. He missed eight games in December due to the same injury. One wonders whether McBride never truly recovered from the ankle sprain, leading the Knicks to remain cautious.
The good news for the Knicks is that they’ve managed to go on a six-game winning streak despite McBride missing the last three and Robinson’s questionable fitness.
Knicks Out of Giannis Trade Bidding?
During their six-game winning streak, the Knicks rank No. 1 in the NBA in defensive rating (95.2), No. 4 in offensive rating (119.5) and No. 1 in net rating (24.3). The recent surge may not only have saved the season — the Knicks were one of the league’s worst teams in January — but may also have ruled them out of the Giannis trade bidding war.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Knicks are “not operating” like a team that is going “all in” on a Giannis trade ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
“The Knicks believe in this team,” Windhorst told ESPN’s “Get Up” on Monday.
“They believed in this team last summer when Giannis was loosely available in those discussions. They didn’t make an aggressive offer at the time of those talks. If they want to win a bidding war now, I think it’s going to take a 3 or 4-team trade.
“That is just not happening. They are not showing that aggression to get Giannis right now, and I think that’s because they like this team.”
Windhorst’s report notwithstanding, ESPN’s Shams Charania noted Monday night that the Bucks continue to “sift through offers” from the Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat — the four most aggressive suitors for the “Greek Freak” — and could be close to a deal as early as Thursday. With the Knicks all but bowing out of the Giannis trade bidding war, the Warriors and Heat have reportedly emerged as the most likely landing spots for the two-time MVP.