New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson recently underwent surgery after breaking his right pinky finger. The team hopes he can make a comeback for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, scheduled for Wednesday, according to sources from The Athletic.
The injury’s origin remains uncertain. The announcement of Robinson’s broken finger followed New York’s triumph in the Eastern Conference finals, where they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers. It marks the Knicks’ first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Whether their opponent will be the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs remains to be seen, as these teams are heading into a Game 7.
Facing either team without Robinson poses a challenge. The Spurs feature two 7-footers, Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet, while the Thunder have Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Robinson is the Knicks’ longest-serving player and made significant contributions this season, ranking fourth in the NBA with 4.2 offensive rebounds per game. He also led the league with a 20.1 offensive rebounding percentage.
Robinson has faced frequent injuries. He played only 31 games in the 2023-24 season and 17 games in 2024-25 due to an ankle injury. Despite missing significant time in past seasons, Robinson was crucial in New York’s previous playoff run. This year, management limited his back-to-back game appearances to keep him fresh.
Throughout this postseason, Robinson missed only one game. However, his free-throw difficulties have led to reduced playing time. He currently holds a 30.2 percent success rate at the free-throw line, prompting teams to foul him and disrupt the Knicks’ offensive flow.
In Robinson’s potential absence, New York relies on Ariel Hukporti, a second-year center with limited playing time, who served as the third-string center during the regular season.