Jalen Brunson Played Through a Painful Wrist Injury to Win the Knicks’ First Championship in 51 Years

The Big Picture

Imagine trying to shoot a basketball when every time you flick your wrist, a tendon rubes painfully against a bone. That’s exactly what Jalen Brunson dealt with during the most important games of his life — the NBA Finals. Despite the injury, he led the New York Knicks to their first championship since 1973 and won Finals MVP honors.

Important Point: Brunson didn’t use the injury as an excuse. He knew opportunities like this don’t come around often, so he pushed through the pain and focused on healing after the season ended.

How the Injury Happened

The Timeline

1. Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals — Brunson first felt pain in his left wrist (his shooting hand) during the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks swept that series 4-0.
2. The NBA Finals vs. San Antonio Spurs — He played every game of the Finals with the injury.
3. Early August 2026 — After the season ended, he had a minor surgical procedure to fix the tendon.
4. Recovery — 6–8 weeks in a sling and cast, meaning he’ll be ready for training camp in September.

What Was Actually Wrong?

• The problem: A tendon in his left wrist was rubbing against the bone every time he shot the ball.
• The result: Sharp pain with every natural shooting motion.
• The fix: A minor procedure to repair the tendon issue.

His Finals Performance Was Unreal

Even with a hurt wrist, Brunson put up video game numbers:

The Signature Moment: Game 5

• Brunson: 45 points
• All his teammates combined: 49 points
• Result: Knicks close out the series and win the title

Important Point: Scoring nearly as many points as your entire team combined in a championship-clinching game is one of the most dominant performances in NBA history.

What Brunson Said About It

Speaking at his Jalen Brunson Charity Golf Classic (benefiting his Second Round Foundation) at Westchester Country Club, he told The Post’s "New York Got Game" show:

"I just knew that the opportunity rarely presents itself to be in a position like that. So I just wasn’t going to let something that seemed minor take me out. Just [do] whatever needed to be done, [then] focus on it afterwards."

On the recovery process:

"It’s reminded me a lot about patience, for sure. But it’s a steady process and it’s something that, honestly, it is what it is. It’s something I attack every day. Just find a way to continue to improve."

The Charity Side of Things

Brunson’s golf event wasn’t just for fun — it raises money for his Second Round Foundation, which helps kids and communities in need. His mom, Sandra Brunson, was right there with him during the interview, showing this is a family affair.

Summary

• Jalen Brunson played the entire NBA Finals with a painful left wrist injury
• The tendon rubbed against bone every time he shot the ball
• He still averaged 32.6 points and won Finals MVP
• He dropped 45 points in Game 5 to clinch the Knicks’ first title since 1973
• Had surgery in early August; 6–8 week recovery means he’ll be ready for September training camp
• Calls it a lesson in patience and attacks rehab daily
• Runs charity work through his Second Round Foundation

FAQ

When did Brunson first hurt his wrist?

During Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers. He played through it for the rest of that series and the entire NBA Finals.

What exactly was the injury?

A tendon issue in his left (shooting) wrist. The tendon rubbed painfully against the bone every time he went into his natural shooting motion.

Did the injury affect his shooting?

Not enough to stop him. He still averaged 32.6 points per game in the Finals and scored 45 in the championship-clinching Game 5.

When did he have surgery?

Early August 2026, after the season ended. The procedure was described as minor.

Will he be ready for next season?

Yes. The recovery timeline is 6–8 weeks, which means he should be fully cleared by the time training camp opens in September.