Photo: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks signed Nerlens Noel in the past offseason to cover the center position despite having Mitchell Robinson in their roster.

Robinson, one of the best young centers in the league, will have to fight for his place in the starting spot. However, the young prospect doesn’t mind coming off the bench, if that’s what his team needs.

(via Marc Berman of NY Post):

“It is what it is,” Robinson said Sunday after the Knicks’ morning shootaround in Detroit. “I’m going to go out there and play hard. I really don’t mind starting or don’t mind not starting. I don’t have hurt feelings. I’m just going to go out there and just be the best me.”

When pressed on how much he cares about it, Robinson stated, “Not really. As long as I can go out there and help my teammates I really don’t care if I start or not. It’s early. I’m not going to sit down and pout about it. I’m not going to make a problem or whatever. As long as I get to play, I’m fine with that.”

Tom Thibodeau, who was appointed as the head coach of the Knicks a few months back, is known for his reluctance to use first or second-year players in big usage roles.

Noel never showed that he is a starting-caliber center in the NBA until now. However, Robinson has also a long way to go and Thibodeau may feel Noel is more ‘NBA-ready’ after seven seasons in the league.