At a news conference on the second day of Knicks training camp Tuesday, star point guard Jalen Brunsonand head coach Mike Brownspoke about the offseason, the upcoming campaign, and more.
Brunson bounces back after wrist injury
In July, Brunson underwent surgery to repair a wrist injury sustained midway through the Knicks’ victorious playoff run, leaving him in a cast for about two months and rendering him unable to complete his usual offseason training regimen.
Nevertheless, Brunson said he feels no need to “catch up” on practice ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“I just feel like I didn’t do my normal summer stuff,” he said. “I feel good, but also I know that it wasn’t just my normal summer.”
Brunson sustained the injury — a tendon-bone friction issue in his left wrist caused by the repeated motion of shooting the ball — in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals but continued to play through the remainder of the Knicks’ title hunt, averaging 28 points and six assists across the entire postseason and securing the honor of NBA Finals MVP.
Two years earlier, Brunson fractured his hand on the same side in a season-ending loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He compared that injury to the one in his wrist, noting that although the rehab periods were similar, he had more time to recover during the offseason last time.
“It was similar, but I was shooting earlier than I was this time,” Brunson said. “I was in a cast longer than I was before, when I broke my hand. Plus, [surgery] was a little bit earlier — I think I got surgery right after it happened. I didn’t get surgery until like three weeks later [this time] because I didn’t know it was a necessity.”
Brunson announced Sept. 24 that he’s “fully cleared” for the upcoming season.
Brunson returns respect from LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Since leading the Knicks in their historic title run, Brunson has received praise from across the league — including from stars like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Both players chose to shout Brunson out, along with the rest of the Knicks, in their respective media day comments Monday. James described Brunson as “unbelievable,” and Antetokounmpo called him “one of the best players” in the NBA.
“I really do appreciate it,” Brunson said. “I respect the hell out of them. It’s honestly really cool … I really do appreciate it, and it shows where I’ve grown, but still got a lot of work to do.”
In the same news conference Monday, James stated that, had the Knicks not won the championship last season, he would have wanted to sign with them as a free agent in the offseason, reaffirming the sentiment his agent expressed in early July.
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” James said. “One of the best places I’ve ever played.”
Instead, the 41-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mike Brown weighs in on White House visit
Head coach Mike Brown took the podium after Brunson and, among other things, gave an update on whether or not the team has accepted President Donald Trump’s invitation to the White House following their title win.
“That’s still something that our guys, the organization is internally discussing,” Brown said. “Whatever we decide to do, we’ll all do together.”
Knicks owner James Dolan stated on the radio after the team’s victory in June that they would indeed make the trip to Washington, D.C.
A visit would make the Knicks the first NBA team to visit the White House under a Trump presidency.