Trump says he thinks he’ll attend the NBA Finals
President Donald Trump said during a cabinet meeting Wednesday that he believes he will attend an NBA Finals game next week as the New York Knicks make their first Finals appearance in nearly 30 years.
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The New York Knicks may have a problem with one of their key players heading into the NBA Finals.
Center Mitchell Robinson, who is coming off the bench for head coach Mike Brown’s team, suffered a broken right pinky and his timetable for his return has not been determined, according to multiple reports.
It is unknown when Robinson sustained the injury, but it would be a key loss if he were to miss time in the final.
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Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks reacts during the first quarter of game six against the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on April 30, 2026. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Robinson spells Karl-Anthony Towns down low while also being part of a bigger five on the court for the Knicks as Brown decides to deploy both of his centers at the same time.
Robinson averaged 4.5 points and 5.8 rebounds across 13.3 minutes per game. game during the Eastern Conference Finals sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has also appeared in 13 of the Knicks’ 14 playoff games thus far.
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However, there is still some time before the final, with Game 1 scheduled for June 3. The Knicks are still waiting for the winner of the Western Conference Finals, which could be the Oklahoma City Thunder again if they can defeat the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night on the road.
If Robinson is unable to go after the Knicks, Brown will have to rely on Ariel Hukporti, who would likely come off the bench in Robinson’s place.
Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks dunks the ball against Jaylon Tyson of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter of Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on May 25, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Hukporti has seen some time for the Knicks, especially in the one game Robinson missed earlier in the playoffs. However, he hasn’t been on the floor recently except for blowout moments.
Whether it’s the Thunder or the Spurs that the Knicks are looking at, they both have some serious firepower in the paint. The Knicks know all about Isaiah Hartenstein for Oklahoma City, but Chet Holmgren poses a bigger problem with his ability to play all over the floor while being a tough defender.
Then there’s 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama for the Spurs, and it goes without saying what he can do on a nightly basis in a Finals series.
Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks watches during game three of the second round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., on May 8, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
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On the other hand, it will be a hard blow for New York not to have Robinson, but it is not certain yet. The Knicks and its rabid fan base, who have been waiting for this series for the past 27 years, will be hoping Robinson can fit the bill on the road in Game 1 on June 3.
