Mitchell Robinson’s Injury and Impact on the Knicks

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson injured his right pinky finger just before the NBA Finals. He underwent surgery to address the issue, and the team hopes he will recover in time for Game 1 on Wednesday. The exact cause of the injury isn’t yet known according to league sources.

The injury announcement followed New York’s entry into the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to secure their place. Robinson’s absence in the Finals would be significant, as they might face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs, both having formidable big men. The Spurs feature Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet, while the Thunder include Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Robinson is the longest-tenured player currently on the Knicks team. He was fourth in the NBA for offensive rebounds per game with an average of 4.2 and led with a 20.1 offensive rebounding percentage during the regular season.

Unfortunately, Robinson has had multiple injuries throughout his career, significantly limiting his game time over the past seasons. He only played 31 games in the 2023-24 season and 17 in the 2024-25 season due to ankle issues. However, he was key in New York’s playoff success last year with his rebounding and defensive skills. In the current season, Robinson participated in 60 games, the most since 2021-22. The Knicks managed his usage to keep him fit for the playoffs.

This postseason, Robinson missed only one game, although his playing time has declined. His struggles with free throws, shooting only 30.2 percent, have led to opposing teams exploiting him to disrupt the Knicks’ offensive flow.

The Knicks have Ariel Hukporti, a second-year player, as their third-string center. Hukporti played limited minutes during the regular season, totaling 498.