New York Knicks central defender Mitchell Robinson will undergo surgery on his fractured right hand and is expected to be four to six weeks away, sources told ESPN. Robinson suffered a fractured fourth metacarpal hand, sources said.
Dr. Michelle Carlson of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York will do the procedure next week, the sources said.
Robinson, 22, suffered an injury in his victory over Washington late on Friday.
In his absence, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said that Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson will play mainly in the central position. Julius Randle and newcomer Obi Toppin could also give New York a few minutes there, Thibodeau said.
Robinson has an average of 8.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in a career record of 28.8 minutes per game for the Knicks. After Noel started in the preseason, Thibodeau made Robinson the starter to start the season, starting in all 27 games so far.
The Knicks have an option in Robinson’s contract for the 2021-2022 season that they can exercise, keeping him under contract for $ 1.8 million, which would make him an unrestricted free agent after the 2021-22 season.