Mitchell Robinson Injured Before NBA Finals, Latest Rumors on Status, Return Timeline for Knicks

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson reportedly "plans to play" in Game 1 of the NBA Finals after undergoing surgery on his broken right pinky finger, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Friday.

The Knicks are currently preparing for the NBA Finals after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday.

Robinson has served as New York's backup center behind Karl-Anthony Towns throughout the past two seasons.

He's been a key piece of the Knicks' rotation due to his ability to protect the rim and crash the glass. Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 19.6 minutes per game while shooting 72.3 percent from the field during his 2025-26 campaign.

The 28-year-old has also made his presence felt during New York's current playoff run, recording 5.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game across 13 postseason appearances.

It's worth noting that he finished with eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench during the Knicks' Game 4 victory over the Cavs to clinch a spot in the Finals.

Having him available for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs will be crucial.

The Knicks owned a 39.5 offensive rebounding percentage with him on the floor during the regular season compared to a 29.8 offensive rebounding percentage with him off (via NBA.com). For reference, the Houston Rockets led all teams with a 38.8 offensive rebounding percentage.

Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals is set for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.