Rehabilitation from an injury and with no official word on his recovery timetable, Mitchell Robinson offered optimism about his progress but dismissed suggestions he should rush back.

“Did you see what happened when I rushed back? I was out again,” Robinson said in a live video on social media Thursday. “Right now, I have to make sure I’m good for life too. come on now Let’s not be selfish here. … But we will be good. We’ll be fine. we will be fine I promise we’ll be honest.”

Robinson has not spoken to the media since undergoing surgery on his left ankle in May, which was characterized as “minor” with a re-evaluation scheduled in six to eight weeks.

More than five months later, Robinson still had not resumed practice and was a DNP for Friday’s home opener against the Pacers.

A source said Robinson will return in December or January, though the situation is fluid and dependent on the center’s progress.

“Rehab is going great, I’m not going to lie,” Robinson said. “I’m very proud of the work this week and last week. Good signs. Good signs.”

It’s not clear how Robinson, whose fitness and conditioning took a while to come back from previous injuries, suffered the setback or why the recovery timeline became so messed up.

He missed 50 straight games last season after surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right ankle, an injury serious enough for the Knicks to request the NBA’s disabled player exception (they were denied).

About five weeks into his return, Robinson was the target of Joel Embiid’s dirty plays in the playoffs, left Game 3 in a boot, limped around the rest of the series and was ruled out of the playoffs after missing Game 2 of the round the second. .

The subsequent surgery was at least the fourth procedure in three years for Robinson, who fractured his right leg and right hand in 2021.

It’s a clue as to why Robinson, 26, referenced his “lifetime” health goal on the live stream.

With the uncertainty surrounding the departure of Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, the Knicks have made greater efforts to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns in a September trade that reconfigured the Knicks’ rotation and identity.

Robinson said he “didn’t really have a reaction” to the trade, but enjoyed Towns’ company.

“He’s a great guy, bro,” said Robinson, a 2018 draft pick who is now the longest-tenured Knick by three years. “When I’m in the weight room, he’s there. The vibes are great. We hit that country (music). We go at it in the weight room, just knocking out the workouts.”

With Robinson as the catalyst, the Knicks have built an identity over the past two seasons around elite value and paint protection.

Until his first ankle injury in December, Robinson had become far and away the NBA’s best offensive rebounder at 5.3 per game — which would go on to lead the East in that category in 2022-23.

The Knicks continued with that identity when Hartenstein took over. But Towns offers a different style at center, and cleaning up the glass could become a weakness with a lineup that only has one great rebounder for his position—Josh Hart.

Robinson, if healthy, would also represent the Knicks’ superior rim protector — another area of ​​concern for Towns.

But Robinson, who is often in drop-and-roll coverage, said he wants to experiment with pressing as a defender.

Depending on health and how the season shakes out, the Knicks could start Towns at power forward and Robinson at center.

“You know what I want to try this year, though? When I’m guarding someone, well, I’ll usually be a little hands on. Probably like a leg behind. I feel like I’m going to really start pushing,” Robinson said. “Because I know I’m quick enough to recover if I guard you.” …I have a little technique and it works most of the time. I really have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Robinson cannot perform these “tricks” if he is not on the court.

And the center, who has two years left on his contract, said he won’t rush that part.