Mitchell Robinson has finally revealed the story behind his broken hand, which hampered him throughout the 2026 NBA Finals. And it turned out to be nothing related to basketball.
In a lengthy post on Facebook, the former New York Knicks center explained how the injury happened after he believed that his younger brother had died in a car accident.
“I would like to address the concerns regarding my finger, which was actually my knuckle. To provide some context, I had been dealing with personal issues, relationship problems, and internal struggles, which affected my performance on the basketball court.”
“In this league, I simply follow the instructions given to me y’all have seen videos of everything I’m very capable of doing. Moving forward to the Eastern Conference finals, after our victory in Cleveland, everything seemed to be going well. We were celebrating our achievement, but for me, things took a turn for the worse. As many of you know, I am a compassionate and private person who enjoys listening to country music. Without going into details about my upbringing, I am extremely protective of my siblings, whom I care for deeply.”
“Upon returning to New York, 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. 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. As many of you know, I have a deep affection for my trucks, but my siblings and daughter are my top priority.’
“Before judging someone, it is essential to understand their circumstances, which may not be publicly known. Life is unpredictable, and it is how we respond to challenges that truly matters. After consulting with doctors, I was able to gain the confidence in myself to go in and get the job done and WE DID 2026 NBA CHAMPS.”
“So at the end of the day I battled with so much throughout this season even made a huge sacrifice to not see my daughter as much this season because I needed to focus and lock in so she can have a better future than I did.”
At that time, the exact cause of the injury was unknown, and it remained a mystery. Reports came out during the Eastern Conference Finals, and neither the Knicks nor Robinson explained how it happened. Robinson underwent surgery and had his hand heavily wrapped throughout the Finals. He did manage to average 3.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in the Finals, averaging 13.4 minutes per game, and won his first-ever title.
The Spurs did employ the ‘Hack-a-Mitch’ strategy due to his free-throw struggles. But his defense remained vital throughout the series. His biggest play came late in Game 2 when Robinson forced Victor Wembanyama into a missed game-winning attempt, helping New York take a 2-0 series lead. The Knicks ended up winning 5 games and ended their 53-year championship drought.
That championship ultimately became his final moment as a Knick.
Shortly after helping the Knicks win their first title since 1973, Robinson signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the rival Boston Celtics after the Knicks chose not to cross the NBA’s second apron to retain him.
For weeks, fans wondered how Robinson had broken his hand before the biggest series of his career. The answer wasn’t carelessness or frustration over basketball. It was a terrified older brother convinced, if only for a few agonizing moments, that he had just lost someone he loved.
