The Knicks’ long-awaited return to the NBA Finals just got a harsh plot twist. Mitchell Robinson, New York’s seven-footer and the club’s top offensive-glass specialist, has suffered a broken right pinky and currently has no timetable for a return, casting a shadow over the team’s preparations for its first Finals appearance since 1999.
League sources told The New York Times that Robinson broke the finger, and the Knicks have yet to announce how long he might be sidelined. As The Associated Press noted, New York has already clinched the Eastern Conference and is waiting on the Western Conference winner to set the Finals matchup.
Robinson appeared in 60 regular-season games and averaged 19.6 minutes, 5.7 points and 8.8 rebounds, with roughly four offensive boards per game, according to season summaries. Those totals are tracked at CBS Sports, and his work on the offensive glass has been cited as a defining piece of New York’s identity this season, per analysis from Sports Illustrated.
What a Broken Pinky Could Cost the Knicks
For a center who lives around the rim, even a fractured finger can be a problem. Catches, tip-ins and finishing through contact all depend on having a strong grip and clean touch, so a compromised hand risks chipping away at the very things that make Robinson effective in close.
Opponents have at times leaned on intentional fouling to target his free throw struggles, a tactic highlighted in recent coverage, and his season percentage at the stripe has been well below the league average, according to reporting and stat pages. Yahoo Sports has detailed how teams have tried to force him to the line, and basic season splits are listed at ESPN.
Who Could Step Into the Rotation
If Robinson is limited or unavailable, New York may have to lean harder on Ariel Hukporti and other depth options to soak up minutes in the paint. Hukporti logged 498 regular-season minutes and spot starts this year, according to his season log at Basketball-Reference, and the Knicks can mix him into shorter, defense-first lineups to help preserve their rim protection.
The team is expected to get a clearer read on Robinson’s status as practices and pregame evaluations ramp up ahead of Game 1. The NBA has scheduled the Finals opener for June 3 on its official calendar, and NBA.com lists the full Finals schedule. The league and the Knicks are expected to provide further injury updates in the days leading up to tipoff.
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