Boston Celtics fans are feeling some déjà vu with Mitchell Robinson’s arrival in town.
The Celtics announced on Tuesday that the veteran center Robinson, whom they just signed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract, will be wearing the No. 4 jersey with them. Robinson previously wore No. 23 with the New York Knicks but is now making a change as he heads over to Boston.
Gonna look good in green pic.twitter.com/0dHPWGL3GM
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 7, 2026
Fans on social media had a little bit of fun over the news. Many pointed out that there was already a Robinson who wore No. 4 for the Celtics in the past — retired former NBA guard Nate Robinson.
Close enough, welcome back Nate Robinson https://t.co/7v1EgGct9u pic.twitter.com/z0BSZm04vy
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) July 7, 2026
Welcome back Nate Robinson https://t.co/v6R86PjIqU pic.twitter.com/SvbfQvFMwV
— Brett (@brettrid3r) July 7, 2026
The only Robinson 4 I know pic.twitter.com/oyi1hoxLPV
— Mike (@MAPII92) July 7, 2026
Damn, took Nate Robinson’s number…
— Quidy (@Quidy) July 7, 2026
Now 42 years old, the three-time Slam Dunk Contest champion Nate played for the Celtics for two seasons from 2010-11 and was a member of Boston’s 2010 NBA Finals team. Interestingly enough, Nate also arrived in Boston after previously playing for the New York Knicks (from 2005-10).
As for the 28-year-old Mitchell, he is just a little bit taller than Nate (7-foot vs. 5-foot-9). But now any Celtics fans who somehow kept their Nate Robinson jerseys for the last decade-and-a-half are being rewarded handsomely.
Mitchell Robinson was unable to pick his signature No. 23 because that number is retired for the Celtics in honor of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Frank Ramsay, who won seven career championships in Boston. But with Mitchell taking some public shots at the Knicks on his way out of the door, he is clearly looking forward to getting some revenge with the division rival Celtics next season.
