Mitchell Robinson says his knuckle injury began with a moment of panic after a brother’s car accident

Mitchell Robinson’s hand problem around the 2026 NBA Finals is no longer a mystery. In a statement shared after the Finals, the former New York Knicks center said his knuckle injury stemmed from “banging” his hand on his truck after he received a late-night call about a car accident involving his youngest brother.

Robinson said he did not see early messages until he arrived home, that when he FaceTimed his brother he feared the worst, and that his brother was unresponsive and wearing a neck brace. He described breaking down emotionally and then, in a “moment of frustration,” hitting his hand against the truck. The account places the injury in a personal context rather than an on-court collision or routine practice setback, which helps explain why the circumstances were not immediately clear to fans.

The timing of the injury mattered. New York’s run to the Finals put Robinson’s availability under a spotlight, with his status in question at the start of the series. Even with concerns raised, Robinson ultimately played through the issue, and the Knicks proceeded to win the championship. Robinson’s ability to stay on the floor was part of the Finals picture, particularly for a New York frontcourt that relied on size, screening, and interior defense.

Robinson’s explanation also reframed how the injury was described publicly. Reporting leading into the series had suggested a fractured hand, but the cause had remained largely unelaborated. In the new statement, he addressed why people judged the situation without all the circumstances, emphasizing that the details were not publicly known.

Statistically, the injury appears to have reduced his role without removing him from the lineup. According to Yahoo Sports reporting referenced in the follow-up coverage, Robinson averaged 5.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game during the regular season, then produced 3.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game in the Finals. The drop in playing time suggests New York and its medical staff managed the condition carefully even as Robinson remained in the rotation.

Robinson’s explanation arrives as he moves on from the Knicks. Reports tied to his post-championship decisions indicate he has agreed to join the Boston Celtics on a three-year deal. If that move is finalized in the coming league year, it would shift the Celtics’ defensive identity in the middle, while giving Robinson a new setting to build on the postseason experience he earned in New York’s championship run.

For Knicks fans, the disclosure offers a rare look behind the curtain at how a personal crisis can intersect with an elite-level playoff timeline. For the NBA, it is also a reminder that injuries are sometimes misunderstood when the public only sees the label, not the circumstances that preceded it. Going forward, attention will likely turn to how Robinson fits into Boston’s frontcourt plans, and whether his role will mirror what made him effective in New York, albeit with different teammates and defensive schemes.