Mitchell Robinson suffered a broken right pinky finger and is status is in question for Game 1 of the NBA Finals which start on Wednesday, June 3rd.
The news, which broke Thursday evening, came as a complete shock. The New York Knicks last played on Monday - a blowout win against the Cleveland Cavaliers to complete a sweep.
According to Fred Katz, a writer for The Athletic, Robinson did not suffer the injury in a basketball related event. When head coach Mike Brown was asked about how it was injured, Knicks media relations stepped in and stated they "didn't were not going to get into specifics."
Robinson has been a key contributor for a Knicks team that decimated the Eastern Conference en route to their first Finals appearance since 1999.
His main skill is his sheer size. Standing at 7'0, 240 pounds, he's a terrific rebounder and shot blocker that every team is looking for from their backup big man.
He's averaged 14.2 minutes per game in the playoffs, grabbing 5.5 blocks and scoring 5.3 points per game in his limited action. Against Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs, or the twin tower duo of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein on OKC, Robinson will play a key role in the series, no matter the opponent.
Will Mitchell Robinson Play in Game 1 of the Finals?
Shams Charania reported Friday morning that Robinson has undergone surgery and "fully plans to play" in Game 1. He'll wear a brace on his right hand.
The brace could be an issue that affects his confidence when grabbing rebounds, but it shouldn't affect him much on offense considering the only time he shoots the ball (outside of layups and dunks) is at the free throw line.
This article will be updated once further information is revealed.
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