Mitchell Robinson reveals the emotional story behind the hand injury that has put his status in the NBA Finals into question.
The former New York Knicks center took to social media on Sunday to explain that the injury had nothing to do with basketball, clarifying that the injury involved his knuckles and occurred at an emotional moment after the Eastern Conference Finals.
“I got an unexpected call from my family who contacted me and told me that my youngest brother had been in a car accident,” Mitchell said. “I didn’t see the messages until I got home late that night.
“As the oldest sibling, I felt deeply concerned and I immediately went into panic mode. I started returning phone calls and text messages, and when I contacted my brother via FaceTime, I thought he had passed away. He was wearing a neck brace, unresponsive, and not talking.
“I burst into tears, feeling defeated for not being able to protect my brothers and sisters. 910 miles away, I felt helpless. In a moment of frustration, I slammed my hand into the truck.”
Robinson initially entered the Finals with hand issues, but his latest statement explains that the injury specifically affected his knuckles and was the result of an emotional reaction rather than an on-field incident.
Despite the injury, Robinson eventually suited up after consulting a doctor and played the entire Championship Series.
New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to capture the NBA title, with Robinson providing valuable minutes off the bench. During the Finals, he averaged 13.4 minutes per game, scoring 3.6 points and 5.6 rebounds, while helping the Knicks solidify their interior defense.
The veteran center also made steady contributions throughout the regular season, averaging 5.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.
Robinson’s championship run ultimately marked the end of his era in New York. After the championship season, he entered free agency and signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Boston Celtics.
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