The New York Knicks are one win away from ending a 53-year championship drought, and they’re doing it with a backup center who can barely grip the ball the way he used to.
Mitchell Robinson suffered a fractured metacarpal in his right hand during the week off before the NBA Finals, yet he hasn’t missed a single minute of action against the San Antonio Spurs. That choice — to keep playing through a broken finger — has become one of the quieter but more telling subplots of this series.
A Broken Hand, a Steady Presence
Robinson has been wearing a protective wrap over his shooting hand since Game 1, but he’s logged 11.8 minutes per game off the bench, mostly matched up against Victor Wembanyama. That assignment alone would test any big man, let alone one playing with a fractured digit. Still, Robinson has held his own, mixing in rim protection and hustle plays while the Knicks lean heavily on Karl-Anthony Towns in the starting lineup.
When asked Friday about the status of his finger as the series shifts to a potential close-out game in San Antonio, Robinson was blunt.
“It’s straight,” he said during the Knicks’ media availability. “It’s alright. I’ve got an appointment in the morning. It’s alright. Looks well. I’m not worried about it.”
The Knicks have not confirmed any specific timeline for Robinson’s recovery, but his willingness to gut it out has not gone unnoticed in the locker room or among fans online, who have praised his toughness during a series that’s been defined by physical play in the paint.
The Numbers Tell Two Stories
Robinson’s stat line through four games — 4.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks — won’t jump off the page. But the plus-minus data is harder to ignore. According to NBA Advanced Stats, the Knicks have been outscored by 41 points in the 47 minutes Robinson has been on the floor this series. That’s a staggering figure for a player averaging just under 12 minutes a night, and it raises a fair question: Is Robinson’s grit helping or hurting New York’s chances in the minutes Towns sits?
The coaching staff has largely stuck with him as the primary backup big, trusting that his length and energy disrupt Wembanyama enough to justify the minutes. Whether that holds true in a close-out game remains to be seen.
Game 5: The Close-Out
The Knicks lead the series 3-1 after splitting the first two games in San Antonio and winning both contests at Madison Square Garden. A win Saturday night would deliver the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973. That backdrop makes every decision — including how many minutes Robinson plays — feel magnified.
Game 5 tips off at 8:30 PM EST on ABC from the AT&T Center. The Knicks have not announced any change to Robinson’s status.
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