We celebrated when Jalen Brunson returned to the New York Knicks! He’s missed many of this season’s most pivotal games due to a sprained ankle, now he’s again hitting the hardwood. The injury occurred while cutting to the basket on November 12 during the Knicks’ 124-107 home loss vs. the Orlando Magic. At first, physicians thought it would keep him out for at least two weeks. But Brunson’s healing process was more protracted than anyone anticipated. So, he ended up missing even more games before eventually rejoining the team just in time for the playoffs.
Before his injury, Brunson was putting up some amazing numbers of 28 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. His stellar play was a huge reason why the Knicks jumped into the playoff picture, coming into this week with an 8-5 record. The team leaned on his scoring and playmaking, so not having that on the floor with them was a big loss.
This certainly wouldn’t be the first time Brunson has encountered ankle problems. Last season, he sprained the same ankle, an injury that sidelined him for 15 games. This history made him a huge worry to fans and team executives in equal measure about his ability to stay on the field. During this season’s playoffs, Brunson owned up to reinjuring himself several times throughout the first round. Even after this catastrophic blunder, he appeared largely undeterred, as he guided New York to the East finals.
During his rehabilitation from that latest setback, Brunson had an incident requiring daily neurological evaluations. He missed two games where the Pacers faced off against the Miami Heat, but was still very much connected to the team. His determination to return to the court reflects both his commitment to the team and his desire to contribute to their playoff ambitions.
As the Knicks look to advance within the postseason, Brunson’s return represents a major lift for his New York teammates. Between his scoring ability and leadership on the floor, he’s absolutely indispensable to this team. He is already under intense pressure to lead them away from similar future calamities.
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