Jalen Brunson Gives Injury Update on Podcast

During his live podcast on Thursday, Jalen Brunson opened with news about his recovery.

“I am,” he said, pausing for a moment, “fully cleared.”

He was talking about his left shooting wrist, which had surgery in July to fix a tendon problem.

Brunson, who played through the injury during the playoffs and even earned the NBA Finals MVP, spent a lot of his summer in a cast but is prepared for the upcoming challenges.

The training camp for New York, the reigning champions, kicks off on Tuesday in Tarrytown.

“I was told that I am cleared,” Brunson mentioned when questioned about participating in five-on-five games. “Just in time for training camp.”

This announcement got the crowd cheering “MVP” at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, where Brunson and Josh Hart hosted their third annual Roommates Show Block Party.

Much of the talk during the event, which featured guests like Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, and Spike Lee, reminisced about the recent triumph. After all, the Knicks celebrated a championship, and the excitement in NYC spilled out, even though the decisive Game 5 was played in San Antonio.

“I’m really happy we didn’t clinch it here,” Brunson remarked, reflecting, “Because I probably wouldn’t have gotten home that night.”

This occasion also marked the first time Alvarado and Shamet talked about their new contracts with the Knicks. Alvarado signed a three-year deal worth $14 million this summer, while Shamet secured a four-year contract for $24 million.

Both players made significant contributions during the playoffs.

“The Knicks changed my life,” Alvarado said, recalling his trade from the Pelicans in February.

The growing popularity of the Roommates Show podcast — likely spurred by the team’s championship run — led to a bigger setting for the block party. After two years at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, which included a very wet event last year, moving to Icahn Stadium meant a larger, though less personal, venue.

Ticket prices increased as well, with standing-room-only tickets starting at $135 and VIP tickets reaching $600.

The podcast has become quite profitable for Brunson and Hart. Thursday’s event also served as a live rehearsal for Brunson, who is set to host “Saturday Night Live” this weekend.

The two friends joked about their hairlines and salaries during the event (Brunson definitely has the edge in salary). And he did all this, as he mentioned in his opening remarks, while being fully medically cleared.