Mitchell Robinson has revealed the emotional story behind the hand injury that put his status for the NBA Finals in doubt.
The former New York Knicks center took to social media on Sunday to explain that the injury was not related to basketball, clarifying that it involved his knuckles and happened during an emotional moment after the Eastern Conference Finals.
“I received an unexpected phone call, and my family members contacted me, informing me that my youngest brother had been involved in a car accident,” Mitchell said. “I did not see the messages until I arrived home late that night.
“As the eldest sibling, I felt a deep sense of concern, and I immediately went into panic mode. I began returning calls and texts, and when I FaceTimed my brother, I thought he was deceased. He was wearing a neck brace, unresponsive, and not speaking.
“I broke down in tears, feeling like a failure for not being able to protect my siblings. Being 910 miles away, I felt helpless. In a moment of frustration, I banged my hand on my truck.”
Robinson had initially been listed with a hand issue leading into the Finals, but his latest statement explained that the injury specifically affected his knuckles and was the result of that emotional reaction rather than an on-court incident.
Despite the injury, Robinson ultimately suited up after consulting with doctors and played throughout the championship series.
New York went on to defeat 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 3.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 13.4 minutes per game while helping anchor the Knicks’ interior defense.
The veteran center was also a consistent contributor throughout the regular season, averaging 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 19.6 minutes across his appearances.
Robinson’s championship run ultimately marked the end of his time in New York. Following the title-winning season, he entered free agency and agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Boston Celtics.
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