Mitchell Robinson to Play Finals After Hand Surgery
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- Mitchell Robinson will play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with a hand brace after surgery on his broken right pinkie finger, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
- Mike Brown confirmed the surgery and said the injury did not occur during Game 4 or practice, but the Knicks withheld further details.
- Robinson appeared in the Eastern Conference finals, grabbing his right hand after a rebound attempt by teammate Mikal Bridges and playing intermittently until the final minutes as New York swept Cleveland.
- Robinson averages 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 14.2 minutes per game in the playoffs, serving as a bench player who can relieve Karl‑Anthony Towns when he’s in foul trouble, and he shoots 13‑for‑43 (30.2%) from the free‑throw line.
- Robinson posted 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 19.6 minutes per game during the regular season.
Why it matters: The Knicks gain a healthy big man for Game 1, bolstering bench depth and giving coach Mike Brown flexibility when Karl‑Anthony Towns is in foul trouble, though Robinson’s 30% free‑throw shooting could limit scoring efficiency.
