Brunson’s Return to the Court
Now that he’s back, Jalen Brunson can look back and laugh a bit.
After missing two games due to a sprained right ankle, he made his comeback on Monday during the matchup between the Knicks and the Mavericks at Madison Square Garden.
The injury, which occurred in last week’s game against the Kings in Sacramento, marks one of the more challenging moments in his career.
“It’s just as embarrassing to watch as it is to say,” Brunson shared after practice on Tuesday. “You’re just tripping over your own two feet—or one leg, whatever. It’s really that simple.”
Josh Hart, who also dealt with a sprained right ankle, joked with his teammates, saying he still wasn’t quite back to 100 percent.
“It shows his lack of athleticism,” Hart said on Tuesday, teasing Brunson. “He landed on someone and sprained his ankle. He tripped and missed two games.”
However, there’s a serious side to Brunson’s injuries. This marks the third time he’s been out with a sprained right ankle; earlier this season, he missed two games, and last year, he was sidelined for 15. While he managed to play through the playoffs last year, there were moments when it seemed to be affecting him.
“Obviously, I’ve dealt with ankle issues over the last few years,” Brunson mentioned. “I’m doing fine. I’ll be going to the gym and following all my treatments to get back to full strength.”
Despite these challenges, Coach Mike Brown noted that communication with owner James Dolan and the front office remains steady.
“I talk to management regularly, Leon [Rose]. We discuss things all the time,” Brown said on Tuesday. “That hasn’t changed and it won’t. I appreciate collaborating with the players as well as the coaches. I take all input into account, but ultimately, the decision is mine.”
On a different note, the Knicks signed Dillon Jones to a two-way contract on Tuesday. Earlier this month, they opened up a spot by waiving Tosan Ebbuomwan.
Jones, picked 26th overall in the 2024 draft, won a championship with the Thunder last year, where he averaged 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over 54 games.
