Mitchell Robinson, the newly signed Boston Celtics center, has come forward to explain the circumstances behind the hand injury that sent him into surgery just days before the NBA Finals — and it had nothing to do with basketball.
In a Facebook post shared Sunday morning, Robinson, 28, described the terrifying moment he learned his brother had been involved in a car accident. The news triggered a panic response that led him to strike his hand against his truck, fracturing his right pinkie finger and requiring surgery.
“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.”
Robinson said he found out about the accident after the New York Knicks returned home following a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
At the time of the injury, the Knicks confirmed that Robinson had not been hurt during practice or a game, but they declined to provide any further details about what had happened.
Despite the injury and surgery, Robinson suited up for all five games of the NBA Finals, where the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to claim their first NBA championship since 1973. He averaged 3.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 13.4 minutes per game throughout the series.
In his post, Robinson also addressed those who might be quick to judge without knowing the full story behind his injury.
“As many of you know, I have a deep affection for my trucks, but my siblings and daughter are my top priority,” he wrote. “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 spent eight seasons with the Knicks after being selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. Across 397 games — including 215 starts — he averaged 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. He agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Celtics on Wednesday.
