Mitchell Robinson’s Injury Timely Concern for Knicks Ahead of NBA Finals

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has undergone surgery to repair a broken right pinky finger. The injury occurred just before the NBA Finals. The team hopes Robinson can participate in Game 1 on Wednesday, according to league sources.

The injury’s origin is still unknown. News of Robinson’s condition emerged shortly after New York’s sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. This victory marks the Knicks’ first finals appearance since 1999.

If Robinson is absent, it could significantly impact the Knicks. Their potential finals opponents are either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs feature two tall players, Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet. The Thunder roster includes Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Robinson, the longest-serving player on the team, was fourth in the NBA for offensive rebounds per game, with an average of 4.2. He also led the league with a 20.1 offensive rebounding percentage. His career has been marred by injuries, and he previously missed major parts of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons due to an ankle issue.

Recently, Robinson played 60 games, the most since the 2021-22 season. The Knicks followed an injury management plan, not using him in consecutive games to keep him ready for the playoffs. Although he missed just one game postseason, his playing time has decreased. This reduction is largely due to his free-throw shooting, where he has a 30.2 percent success rate. His struggles have led to intentional fouling by opposing teams to disrupt the Knicks’ offense.

Backup player Ariel Hukporti, a second-year center, is New York’s alternative if Robinson is unavailable. Hukporti played limited minutes this regular season, logging just 498 minutes in total.