The champion pivot leaves Manhattan after eight seasons of loyalty, signing with the Celtics for $47.4 million over three years and fueling the New York-Boston war.
4 million contract. The pivot, an emblematic defensive figure of New York, formalized his departure to Boston after eight seasons spent in the orange and blue uniform. Robinson, 26, won the NBA title with the last June, ending a 53-year drought for the franchise.
His arrival in Boston strengthens a team already in search of a back-to-back, in an Eastern Conference where the title race promises to be tighter than ever. 4 million over three years, an amount that reflects his status as a key cog in New York's defense. His departure leaves an immediate void in the identity of the Knicks, where he embodied resilience and physical commitment.
In Boston, he replaces Al Horford, who left in 2023, and brings an intimidating presence near the rim, while providing valuable playoff experience. His profile perfectly matches the needs of the Celtics, who are banking on players capable of dominating the rackets in defense. This transfer is part of a broader dynamic of restructuring franchises in the East.
The Knicks, despite their title, must now deal with the departure of several executives, including Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, while the Celtics consolidate their core with complementary profiles. Robinson, by signing with Boston, becomes the last link in a chain of champions aiming to retain the crown, a mission which goes beyond the simple sporting framework to touch on the collective psychology of the teams. This departure also marks a turning point in talent management in the NBA.
The Knicks, despite their 2024 title, failed to retain their pillars, revealing flaws in their loyalty strategy. Conversely, the Celtics, by capitalizing on Robinson's experience and defensive profile, are showing a more aggressive approach to locking in their dominance. This contrast illustrates a growing trend: franchises that align both results and stability attract talent, while others become stepping stones.
For the Knicks, the loss of Robinson is all the more painful as it comes after that of Brunson and Anunoby, both of whom left for destinations where the title prospects seem more immediate. This hemorrhage of talent exposes a stark reality: New York, despite its title, is struggling to position itself as a sustainable destination for stars. Conversely, Boston, by banking on experienced and complementary profiles, positions itself as a title machine, where players know that they will have their place in history.
In a message posted on his social networks, Robinson praised his journey to New York, speaking of a “family” and a “chapter that turns”. » A sentence that resonates like a definitive farewell, despite the nostalgia. His departure marks the end of an era in New York, where he had become a symbol of loyalty and defensive rigor.
Reactions in New York oscillate between disappointment and incomprehension. Knicks fans, still in shock from the loss of the title, see their hero switch to the opposing camp. In Boston, the welcome is more measured: we celebrate the arrival of a champion, but we also measure the psychological impact of such a transfer on the historic rivalry between the two franchises.
The New York media, often critical of management decisions, see this as further proof of the inability to retain talent, despite the title. What's next: The 2024-25 season promises to be electric in the East, with Boston favorite for a new title and New York forced to rebuild without its defensive wall. The Knicks will need to find a successor to Robinson, while the Celtics are banking on his leadership to retain their crown.
The first clash between the two teams is already scheduled for October 20 in Boston, a match which promises to be loaded with emotion and symbols. The issues go beyond the sporting framework. For the Knicks, the challenge is twofold: filling a sporting void and soothing a collective injury.
For the Celtics, the challenge is to transform this transfer into a motivational lever, by making Robinson a key element in their quest for repetition. The Knicks-Celtics rivalry, already one of the most intense in the NBA, is gaining intensity, with immediate repercussions on the ambitions of both teams and on the landscape of the Eastern Conference. Read at BasketSession
This transfer redraws the balance of the Eastern Conference. Robinson, champion and elite defender, leaves a franchise in search of stability to join a title contender. His departure creates an emotional divide in New York and fills a structural need in Boston. The Knicks-Celtics rivalry, already electric, is gaining intensity, with immediate repercussions on the ambitions of both teams. It also crystallizes the tensions between loyalty and ambition, while the Eastern franchises are engaged in an unprecedented war for talent, where each signing counts in shaping the future. This movement illustrates a broader trend: teams capable of offering both an ambitious sporting project and financial stability attract talent, while others become temporary stops.
BasketSessionbasketsession.comBy Arthur MaraisJul 2, 7:16 AMfr-FR
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