Mitchell Robinson is scheduled to play in Game 1 of the Finals after surgery and will wear a protective gear.

May 30 - According to ESPN, New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson plans to wear a brace during Game 1 of the NBA Finals after undergoing surgery for a fractured little finger on his right hand.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown confirmed in an interview that Robinson has undergone surgery, but the team did not disclose the exact time of the injury. Brown stated that the injury did not occur during Game 4 or practice, and the team has not released further details.

According to game footage, with 5 minutes and 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the Eastern Conference Finals game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Robinson visibly clutched his right hand and repeatedly moved his fingers after landing during a rebound attempt. He then made several attempts to continue playing. Despite his obvious discomfort, he played intermittently into the latter part of the fourth quarter, finally being substituted with 7 minutes and 47 seconds remaining.

In this season's playoffs, Robinson primarily served as a backup center, averaging 14.2 minutes per game, contributing 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks. His main tasks were to provide defensive support and rebounding when Karl-Anthony Towns was resting or in foul trouble.

The Knicks will play their first game of the NBA Finals next Wednesday, with their opponent determined after the decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.

Image source: Internet