N'Faly Dante is no longer listed as out with a right knee injury, cleared on the Thursday injury report. The center is available again as the Knicks prepare to open their season at the 76ers on Monday.
What happened
N'Faly Dante was cleared on the Thursday, Oct. 1 injury report, filed at 12:09 a.m. ET. The center had been listed as out since Monday, Sept. 28, when the report cited a right knee injury. No further detail on the injury accompanied either report, and no comment was included. The clearance removes Dante from the injury list entirely, three days before the Knicks' season opener.
What it means for the Knicks
Dante's clearance comes three days before New York opens its season at the 76ers on Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV. He played sparingly last season, appearing in four games at 3.9 minutes, 0.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. At center, Karl-Anthony Towns logged 31.0 minutes and 20.1 points per game, with Mitchell Robinson adding 19.6 minutes and 5.7 points, the two most likely to absorb frontcourt minutes. The Knicks are 0-0, with the 2026-27 season not yet underway, so there is no record to measure with or without him.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Dante's cleared status holds through the week. No return timeline was given, since he is now listed as cleared rather than out. His next test comes Monday, Oct. 5, when the Knicks open their season on the road against the 76ers.
Is N'Faly Dante playing at the 76ers?
Dante was cleared on the Thursday, Oct. 1 injury report, after being out with a right knee injury since Sept. 28. He is in line to be available when the Knicks open their season at the 76ers on Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. ET.
When will N'Faly Dante be back?
He has already been cleared, as of the Thursday, Oct. 1 injury report. No additional return timeline was given, since he is no longer listed as out.