Mitchell Robinson’s hand injury shortly before the NBA Finals came from banging his hand on his truck “in a moment of frustration” after his brother was in a car accident, Robinson wrote in a Facebook post Sunday.
Robinson had surgery on his right pinkie days before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. At the time, the Knicks said Robinson did not incur the injury during a game or practice, but did not elaborate further. Concerns mounted as to whether he would be available for the Knicks’ first shot at the title since 1999. Robinson ended up playing in all five games in New York’s championship win over San Antonio.
Robinson wrote that, after the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, he returned home to New York to learn that his youngest brother had been in an accident.
“As the eldest sibling, I felt a deep sense of concern, and I immediately went into panic mode,” Robinson wrote. “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.”
Playing shortly after having surgery, Robinson ended up averaging 13.4 minutes in the finals, with a crucial offensive rebound in Game 5 when the Knicks clinched the title.
Robinson said his injury was to his knuckle, and that he “had been dealing with personal issues, relationship problems, and internal struggles, which affected my performance on the basketball court.” Robinson also wrote about not seeing his daughter as frequently during the season, a “huge sacrifice” as the Knicks made the title run.
After eight seasons with the Knicks, Robinson opted on Wednesday to sign a three-year, $47 million contract with the Boston Celtics.