The New York Knicks just reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. They swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Knicks fans were absolutely buzzing to face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs, until a recent injury update.
Mitchell Robinson Ruled Out For the 2026 NBA Finals?
The news broke on Thursday, just days after the Knicks closed out Cleveland in Game 4. Robinson suffered a broken right pinky finger at some point this week. The exact circumstances remain unclear. But with Game 1 of the NBA Finals set for Wednesday, June 3, the timing could not be worse.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has suffered a broken right pinky finger and there is no timetable on his return, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2026
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, there is no timetable for his return. The Athletic’s Fred Katz and James Edwards III confirmed the same, adding that it remains unclear how Robinson broke the finger. The door is not officially closed on his return for the Finals. The series runs from June 3 to June 19.
If it goes seven games, Robinson has three weeks to recover. Whether that is enough time is the question that everyone is asking right now.
New York has six days until Game 1. Robinson is already one of the most injury-plagued players of his generation. He managed 60 regular-season appearances this year, his most since 2021-22. That kind of durability felt like a breakthrough. Now another setback has arrived at the worst possible moment.
The impact on the Knicks depends entirely on who they face. If New York draws the San Antonio Spurs, Robinson would likely be needed against Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet. If OKC advances, the Knicks would rely heavily on his size against Chet Holmgren and former Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein.
During the Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland, Robinson averaged 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game across 13.3 minutes coming off the bench. The numbers suggest he didn’t have a massive impact, but Knicks fans know how important Robinson’s presence in the paint has been.
A two-big lineup with Karl-Anthony Towns and Robinson gave opponents. Without him, head coach Mike Brown will lean more heavily on Towns. He has been averaging 16.9 points and 10.6 rebounds on 57.2% shooting so far this postseason, and Towns will certainly be a star to watch out for in this year’s finals.
