New Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson revealed what caused his hand injury in a Facebook post Sunday morning, writing that hearing his brother was involved in a car accident caused him to bang his hand on his truck.
Robinson, 28, underwent surgery on his right pinkie finger days before Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks said at the time that Robinson was not injured at practice or in a game, but did not specify the nature of his injury.
Robinson played in all five games, averaging 3.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 13.4 minutes per game, as the Knicks took down the San Antonio Spurs for their first NBA title since 1973.
He wrote Sunday that he found out about the accident after the Knicks returned to New York following a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
“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.”
Robinson agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Celtics on Wednesday following eight seasons with the Knicks. In 397 games (215 starts), he’s averaged 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game since the Knicks selected him in the second round of the 2018 draft.
