Surprise Mitchell Robinson Injury Puts Knicks' Finals Rotation in Flux

Since their dominating 4-0 series sweep over the Cavaliers to reach the NBA Finals, Knicks fans have been on cloud nine. That was until the unexpected news of Mitchell Robinson's broken pinky.

Reports today stated that Robinson got surgery on the broken finger earlier this week. But the circumstances around the injury remain unclear. In game 4 of the Cavaliers series on Monday, Robinson was seen shaking his hand and in obvious pain on the court. Yet Knicks representatives have stated Robinson did not sustain the injury in a game or at practice.

Last week, Robinson announced he was taking a break from social media to deal with a mental health issue. Naturally, people are speculating that this injury may be a result of that. But these are unfounded, and quite frankly, unfair assumptions.

While Robinson will push to play in game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3rd, the Knicks have to prepare for a scenario in which he is not there. Karl-Anthony Towns has had an excellent postseason, where he has revolutionized his game from scorer to facilitator. However, it is imperative to the Knicks' success that he stay out of foul trouble, something that has plagued him in the past.

Next in line would be Ariel Hukporti, who received limited minutes in an earlier playoff game against the 76ers when Mitchell Robinson was out with an illness. While he had a good account for himself, Hukporti's inexperience may make the Knicks hesitate to put him in a finals game.

Another option would be putting all-defensive forward OG Anunoby at center, which would have the Knicks playing a smaller lineup overall. They could also try Jeremy Sochan, who they acquired on the buyout market late in the season.

So while it's not an ideal situation, the Knicks have options. The road to an NBA championship has never been without its obstacles, and the Knicks are no strangers to adversity. One thing is certain: after decades of heartbreak, Knicks fans aren't about to let a broken pinky stand between them and a title.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM.