While the Spurs and Thunder continue their Western Conference battle, the Knicks are already preparing for the Finals. However, their anticipation was significantly dampened on Thursday.
The New York Knicks’ preparation for their first NBA Finals in 27 years had been going optimally. While the Knicks made short work of the Cleveland Cavaliers, sweeping them in just four games, their Finals opponent from the West is yet to be determined, with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder heading to a Game 7.
After a three-day break, the Knicks returned to practice on Thursday and, according to widespread media reports, immediately faced a significant setback: backup center Mitchell Robinson has fractured the little finger on his right hand.
It remains unclear at this time when the right-handed player will return to the court. The Knicks themselves have not provided a precise timeline. If surgery is not required, NBA stars typically miss around a week and a half with such an injury. If surgery is unavoidable, they often miss more than a month of playing time.
It is not yet known when Mitchell sustained the injury. The Knicks last played on Monday. Immediately after the game, he was not wearing a splint or bandage on his finger. Game 1 of the Finals is scheduled for June 3rd (local time).
Knicks insider Ian Bagley (SNY) reported, «The Knicks are, of course, very tight-lipped about this situation and aren’t releasing any official information. But from conversations in the last few hours, I know Robinson will push to play immediately.» However, the center cannot make this decision alone. «He is eager to be there, and a player’s opinion is always sought in such cases, but ultimately, the decision rests with the medical staff,» Bagley added.
Robinson is a Force on the Offensive Boards for the Knicks
Should Robinson miss the opening game or several games of the Finals series, it would be a major blow for New York. Robinson has played in 13 of the 14 playoff games this season and has consistently been a crucial factor in his minutes off the bench.
The 28-year-old is one of the best players in the league on the offensive boards, providing the Knicks with numerous second (and third) chances after missed shots. He secures 2.5 offensive rebounds per game for his team in the playoffs. In the regular season, this number was even higher at 4.2 offensive rebounds, placing him second in the entire NBA.
Furthermore, despite being a notoriously poor free-throw shooter (30.2% FT% in the playoffs), he converts his close-range shots with a high percentage (73.7% FG%) and has averaged 5.3 points per game this way so far. The 7-foot-tall player, with his length and rebounding ability, would be a sought-after option for Head Coach Mike Brown, especially in matchups against the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama.
If Robinson is Out: Can Hukporti Convince Again?
If Robinson is sidelined, it could be Ariel Hukporti’s time to shine. When Robinson missed several back-to-back games in the regular season, the German center was always the first replacement when Karl-Anthony Towns went to the bench.
In his second NBA season, the 24-year-old has already had the opportunity to prove himself eight times in the playoffs and has shown considerable promise on multiple occasions. Like Mitchell, he poses a threat on the offensive boards, grabbing an average of 1.6 offensive rebounds in just under nine minutes played. He even received special praise for his defense against Sixers superstar Joel Embiid in the second-round series against Philadelphia.
NBA: Statistics for Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti
| Player | Season Phase | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Robinson | Regular Season | 60 | 19.6 | 5.7 | 8.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 |
| Mitchell Robinson | Playoffs | 13 | 14.1 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Ariel Hukporti | Regular Season | 54 | 9.2 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Ariel Hukporti | Playoffs | 8 | 8.8 | 2.1 | 3.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 |