Mitchell Robinson's Plan for NBA Finals After Suffering Pinky Injury
For the first time since 1999, the New York Knicks are Eastern Conference champions and will be playing in the NBA Finals.
The Knicks have done it convincingly, beating the Atlanta Hawks in six games, and then the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers in four games each to rattle off 11 straight wins to get to the NBA Finals.
The last time the Knicks won the NBA Finals was in 1973, so they are trying to snap their 50-plus-year drought and are awaiting to see whether they will face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder or Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
On Thursday, however, the Knicks got crushing news as star center Mitchell Robinson underwent surgery on his broken right pinkie finger.
On Friday, the Knicks got a small sigh of relief as it was reported that Robinson will push to play despite the injury, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
"There is still no definitive timetable on Mitchell Robinson's return but there is hope within Knicks that he can be back for NBA Finals, per league sources. NBA Finals start on Wednesday. As noted earlier, Robinson will push hard to return to play in time for Finals," Begley wrote.
There is still no definitive timetable on Mitchell Robinson's return but there is hope within Knicks that he can be back for NBA Finals, per league sources. NBA Finals start on Wednesday. As noted earlier, Robinson will push hard to return to play in time for Finals. https://t.co/cpl9kKEWB3
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) May 29, 2026
ESPN's Shams Charania added that Robinson will wear a brace on his hand in order to play, but the expectation is that the Knicks star center will do whatever he can to be out there for Game 1 on Wednesday.
What the Knicks Will Do if Robinson Can't Play
Robinson is averaging just 5.7 points with 8.8 rebounds this postseason, but he had 8 points and 10 rebounds in the Knicks' Game 4 blowout win over the Cavaliers.
Robinson has not played more than 20 minutes in a single game this postseason, but when he is out there, he is a key piece, especially down low.
If Robinson isn't able to play for some reason, the backup center looks to be Ariel Hukporti, who has played in just 8 games this postseason, mainly in mop-up duty.
As of now, all signs point to Robinson being able to be on the court, although it remains to be seen how effective he will be due to the injury.
Related: Knicks' Took Bizarre, Decades-Long Journey Back to Finals
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 6:57 AM.