Jalen Brunson shooting for the Knicks in the NBA Finals
Jalen Brunson shooting for the Knicks in the NBA Finals
The Knicks are calling Jalen Brunson’s wrist surgery an offseason issue, and the public timeline is encouraging. He is expected back on the court later this summer.
Still, this changes the calendar. The Finals MVP played through the injury, then had surgery after the championship. The team needs him ready for the season, not trying to win August.
Jalen Brunson celebrating the Knicks championship with the Finals MVP trophy
Jalen Brunson celebrates with the Finals MVP trophy. Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Brunson scored 45 points in the Game 5 closeout against San Antonio. That performance is already part of Knicks history. It also makes the recovery worth taking seriously instead of treating it like a footnote to the parade.
The Knicks should let Jalen Brunson have a boring summer
There is no reason for New York to rush its best player into anything that does not count. Brunson has earned the right to take the sensible route here.
The Knicks captain is expected to return in time for the title defense, which is the good news. The practical part is making sure the wrist is right before camp ramps up and before the season asks him to carry the usual workload again.
New York has enough veterans to handle the summer. The staff can use the time to get everyone else organized, build its depth, and let Brunson rehab without turning every update into a major event.
The championship did not remove the usual NBA concerns about health and workload. A team that just won a title has even more reason to protect the player who drove it.
I would be surprised if this becomes a regular-season problem. But the Knicks do not need to prove anything in July. They need Brunson healthy when the games begin again.