New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson will undergo left ankle surgery this week and will be out for at least two months. The procedure follows an injury Robinson sustained during Friday's game against the Boston Celtics.

X-rays initially appeared normal, but further testing revealed a stress fracture. This is a significant blow to the Knicks, who rely heavily on Robinson's rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. He leads the NBA in offensive rebounds (5.3 per game) and has been a key contributor to their strong defensive performance.

While Robinson is out, the Knicks will likely lean on the duo of Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims. Hartenstein, Robinson's backup, grabbed 16 rebounds in the previous game and provides a different skillset with his outside shooting ability. Sims offers more athleticism and resembles Robinson's playing style.

Coach Tom Thibodeau is confident in the team's ability to adjust without Robinson. "It's hard to replace a player like Mitch individually," Thibodeau said. "But collectively we can. We're capable of playing great team defense, we've been an outstanding rebounding team the entire year, so we just have to do it more as a group and that's going to be our challenge."

Robinson's absence will be a major test for the Knicks, who are looking to build on their strong start to the season. His rebounding and defensive presence will be sorely missed, but the team will need to find a way to compensate for his absence if they want to continue their success.