Report: Knicks C Mitchell Robinson to play with broken pinky
May 19, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) reacts to missing a free throw against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter of game one of the eastern conference finals during the 2026 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson plans to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with a broken right pinky finger, ESPN reported Friday.
Robinson, 28, has undergone surgery to repair the fracture and will wear a brace on his hand, per the report.
Video from Monday's Eastern Conference finals-clinching win at Cleveland shows Robinson grabbing his right hand following a rebound attempt with 5:35 left in the third quarter. He continued to play until midway through the fourth quarter of the 130-93 Game 4 rout of the Cavaliers.
Game 1 of the Knicks' first Finals appearance since 1999 will be Wednesday night against the winner of Saturday's Game 7 between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals.
Robinson tallied eight points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes Monday as the Knicks completed their sweep and won their 11th consecutive game.
The backup to six-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, Robinson is averaging 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 14.2 minutes per game while shooting a league-leading 73.7% from the field (28 of 38) in 13 playoff games as a reserve. He has made only 13 of 43 free-throw attempts (30.2%).
During the regular season, Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 19.6 minutes in 60 games (16 starts) and finished eighth in voting for NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
For his career, Robinson has averaged 7.5 points, 8.0 boards, 1.7 blocks and 23.4 minutes in 397 regular-season games (215 starts) with New York. The Knicks' longest-tenured Knicks player was selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft out of Western Kentucky.
--Field Level Media
3 Most Overrated Teams in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll
WNBA Picks Today: Best Bets for Tuesday, August 18
4 NBA Teams That Have Had a Rough 2026 Offseason
5 Fights the UFC Should Make After UFC 330
- MLB Best Bets: 3 Picks to Target on Sunday’s Full Slate
- MLB Betting Picks Today: Two Best Bets for Saturday, August 15
- UFC 330 Betting Guide: Best Bets for Makhachev vs. Machado Garry
- UFC 330 Picks: Top Plus-Money Underdog Prediction
- UFC 330 Odds Movement: Edson Barboza, Vicente Luque See Major Line Swings
- UFC 330 Betting: Where Is the Sharp Money Landing This Weekend?
- Diamondbacks vs. Braves Prediction: Best Bets for Friday Aug. 14

