Celtics sign Mitchell Robinson to anchor frontcourt

Mitchell Robinson’s – Boston added a center with a three-year, $47 million deal with Mitchell Robinson—one of the NBA’s elite rebounders—bringing size (7-foot, 240 pounds) and interior finishing, while also leaning into known free-throw struggles.

For the Boston Celtics, the offseason didn’t start with a debate—it started with a need.

They went searching for a center after a glaring hole at the position, and on July 2, 2026, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens moved quickly, agreeing to a three-year, $47 million deal with Mitchell Robinson.

Robinson arrives as a 7-foot, 240-pound presence built for the middle. With the NBA-champion Knicks last season, he pulled down 8.8 rebounds in just 19.6 minutes per game—an efficiency that made the Celtics’ decision feel less like a gamble and more like an answer.

What comes next depends on how Boston uses him. Here are four things to know about the newest Celtic.

He’s not a strong free throw shooter, and opponents have tried to exploit it

Robinson’s free throws have been a clear weak spot. Last season he shot 40.8 percent from the line, down from his career average of 50.8. The Knicks used a version of “Hack-a-Robinson” in prior matchups—sending a perceived liability to the charity stripe to slow the offense and disrupt rhythm.

It matters because Robinson’s impact is supposed to be immediate—on the glass and around the rim. Yet every trip to the line can change the pace of a possession.

His shot profile is stronger near the basket

For everything he struggles with at the free-throw line, Robinson’s game at the rim has been highly productive. His career field goal percentage is 70.2, and he shot 72.3 percent last season. That production is tied to how he plays: finishing lobs and cleaning up offensive rebounds around the basket.

In a Celtics uniform, that kind of efficiency turns the center spot into a set of repeatable chances.

He didn’t start playing basketball until eighth grade

Robinson’s path to the NBA isn’t built on early, lifelong training. He didn’t pick up the game until eighth grade. Born in Pensacola, Fla., he began playing at Pine Forest High for two years before transferring to Chalmette High in Louisiana.

His rise was tied to a massive growth spurt, going from 6 foot 2 inches to 7 feet during high school.

From a late start to a national high school star

At Chalmette, Robinson’s numbers in his senior season were startling: 25.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game. He earned a Naismith Trophy All-American honorable mention nod and a slate of other accolades.

He was also the first player from Chalmette to be named a McDonald’s All-American. After that, he committed to play collegiately at Western Kentucky.

But he didn’t play college basketball

Robinson withdrew from Western Kentucky after committing. Instead, he decided to forgo his college career and prepare for the NBA Draft, but he did not participate in the league’s combine.

Still, the Knicks took him with the No. 36 pick in the 2018 draft. He made the NBA All-Rookie team for 2018-19.

Now, Boston is counting on the same mix of size, rebounding, and rim pressure to fill a need that had grown impossible to ignore. The free-throw line is likely to remain a storyline—but for a Celtics team trying to tighten its frontcourt, Robinson’s interior presence is the headline.

Mitchell Robinson Boston Celtics NBA free throws rebounder Knicks Brad Stevens three-year deal $47 million