Knicks' Jalen Brunson explains how latest injury is different than previous setback

Shortly after New York Knicks team captain and point guard Jalen Brunson guided the franchise to an NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs this past spring, it was learned that he needed a minor procedure to repair a tendon issue in his dominant left wrist. 

In the spring of 2024, Brunson fractured his hand on the same side as the Knicks suffered a Game 7 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. While speaking with reporters Tuesday on the second day of Knicks training camp, Brunson compared those two setbacks. 

Jalen Brunson injury "similar" to what he previously dealt with

"It was similar, but I was shooting earlier than I was this time," Brunson explained, per Julia Yohe of SNY. "I was in a cast longer than I was before, when I broke my hand. Plus, [surgery] was a little bit earlier — I think I got surgery right after it happened. I didn't get surgery until like three weeks later [this time] because I didn't know it was a necessity."

There has never been any indication that Brunson's latest injury would impact his availability for the start of the 2026-27 regular season. On Sept. 24, he revealed that he had been "fully cleared" for basketball-related activities. 

Brunson first began playing through wrist pain during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals series that featured the Knicks sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the discomfort, he averaged 32.6 points and 4.6 assists per game against the Spurts in the NBA Finals. Brunson ultimately scored 45 points on 14-of-27 shooting in the series-clincher en route to earning NBA Finals MVP honors. 

Will Jalen Brunson have to shake rust off?

According to Yohe, Brunson insisted on Tuesday that he doesn't need to "catch up" after spending the summer recovering from surgery.

"I just feel like I didn't do my normal summer stuff," Brunson added during his comments. "I feel good, but also I know that it wasn't just my normal summer."

Brunson and the Knicks will open the regular season with a home game versus LeBron James and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 20.