New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson underwent surgery on his broken right pinkie finger but intends to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals while wearing a protective brace. The injury occurred during the Eastern Conference finals sweep of Cleveland, with Robinson grabbing at his hand after a rebound attempt late in the third quarter. He finished that game and helped secure New York's first Finals berth since 1999.

Robinson's presence gives the Knicks valuable depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns, averaging 5.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in just 14.2 minutes per playoff game. His size and rebounding ability provide a different look when Towns deals with foul trouble, though teams have exploited his poor free throw shooting at the line.

The 7-footer connected on just 13-of-43 free throws this postseason, making him a target for intentional fouling. Still, his 8.8 rebounds per game during the regular season shows his value on the glass. With the Finals beginning Wednesday against either Oklahoma City or San Antonio, Robinson's availability could prove decisive in a series expected to be tightly contested.

His willingness to play through injury demonstrates the Knicks' desperation to capitalize on their championship window after decades of playoff disappointment.