Mitchell Robinson Undergoes Surgery on Injured Pinky Finger

Mitchell Robinson, the seasoned New York Knicks center, recently sustained an injury to his right pinky finger ahead of the NBA Finals. Following this, he underwent surgery. The team remains hopeful for his return in time for Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday, according to sources from The Athletic.

The specific circumstances of how Robinson injured his finger are not yet known. This news emerged shortly after the Knicks celebrated reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since their 1999 appearance. They had secured this achievement by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

If Robinson cannot play, it could significantly impact the Knicks, depending on whether they face the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs boast two 7-footers, Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet, and the Thunder feature Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Robinson, the longest-serving player on the Knicks roster, distinguished himself during the regular season with his prowess on the offensive glass. He ranked fourth in the NBA for offensive rebounds per game, averaging 4.2, and led the league with a 20.1 offensive rebounding percentage.

Injuries have plagued Robinson’s career. During the 2023-24 season, he only participated in 31 games, and the following season he managed just 17 games due to an ankle injury. Despite these setbacks, he played a pivotal role in New York’s Eastern Conference finals run last season with formidable rebounding and defensive contributions. The current season saw him play 60 games, the most since the 2021-22 term, under an injury management strategy which avoided back-to-back appearances to preserve him for the postseason.

This postseason, Robinson has missed a single game. However, his playing time has been reduced due to difficulty at the free-throw line, where his success rate stands at only 30.2 percent. Teams frequently foul him to interrupt the Knicks’ offensive flow.

Ariel Hukporti, a second-year player and the team’s third-string center, played 498 minutes in the regular season and might need to step up in Robinson’s potential absence.