The New York Knicks switched up their starting lineup on Friday against the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks added Mitchell Robinson to their starting lineup, putting him alongside Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges.

Robinson was the Knicks starter in 58 of 59 games in 2022-23, but started only 21 of 31 games the following season, and only three of 17 games in 2024-25. Friday not only marked Robinson's return to the starting lineup, but it will also be his first game of the season for the Knicks.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown has had a rotating cast as the fifth starter alongside Brunson, Towns, OG, and Bridges to open the season.

Ariel Hukporti has started two games, while Miles McBride and Landry Shamet each got one start between them.

Shamet drew the start in the Knicks latest game against the Bucks, playing 29 minutes and contributing 16 points, going 5-11 from the field and 4-9 from three.

In his 17 games last season, Robinson scored five points to go along with five rebounds. He averaged just 17 minutes per game. In his three games as a starter he averaged 9.6 points and 8.6 rebounds.

In the playoffs, Robinson appeared in 18 games during the Knicks run to the Eastern Conference Finals, starting in four contests. He averaged 4.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.

The 26-year-old was drafted by the Knicks in the second round in 2018.

New York Knicks Look To Rebound After Two Straight Losses

The Knicks are off to a 2-2 start, defeating the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first two games. They dropped their next two, losing to the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks.

Brunson leads the Knicks in scoring, averaging 31 points on the season. Bridges is second in scoring with 18 points, and Towns is at 17 points, thanks in part to a slow start shooting the ball from beyond the arc, knocking down just 33% of his threes, a career low.

Friday's contest against the Bulls marks the start of NBA Cup group play for the Knicks. They are grouped with the Bulls, Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Bucks.

New York will get familiar with the Bulls in the coming days, not only facing them on Friday night, but seeing them in a rematch on Sunday. They'll return to Madison Square Garden for Sunday's outing.