Jalen Brunson Reveals Why He Played Through Wrist Injury During Knicks’ Championship Run

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson has revealed why he refused to let a painful wrist injury keep him off the court during the team’s historic championship run.

Brunson admitted that he wasn’t fully healthy during the NBA Finals, but he considered the opportunity too important to walk away from. The Knicks eventually won their first NBA championship since 1973, with Brunson earning Finals MVP honors.

“I Wasn’t Going to Let Something Minor Take Me Out”

Brunson explained that he knew championship opportunities were rare, which convinced him to continue playing despite the discomfort.

His mentality was simple: deal with the injury after the season rather than allow it to prevent him from competing for a title.

That decision proved significant because Brunson went on to lead New York through the biggest moments of its playoff run.

The Injury Started During the Eastern Conference Finals

Brunson later revealed that he first noticed the wrist problem during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The issue involved a tendon in his left wrist rubbing against a bone whenever he shot. Despite the pain, he continued playing through the remainder of the playoffs.

There wasn’t one specific play that Brunson could identify as the exact cause of the problem.

Brunson Still Produced at an Elite Level

What makes the story even more remarkable is what Brunson accomplished while dealing with the injury.

During the NBA Finals, he averaged 32.6 points and 4.6 assists per game, helping the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs. He also delivered a spectacular 45-point performance in Game 5.

Rather than allowing the injury to become an excuse, Brunson continued to carry a major offensive responsibility.

He Eventually Underwent Surgery

Once the championship celebrations were over, Brunson addressed the underlying wrist problem.

He underwent a minor procedure to repair the affected tendon and entered the offseason in recovery. His expected recovery timeline was approximately six to eight weeks, with the expectation that he would be ready for training camp in September.

The Championship Was Worth the Risk

For Brunson, the decision ultimately came down to perspective.

The Knicks had waited 53 years for another championship, and Brunson understood that opportunities to compete for a title at that level don’t come around often.

His willingness to play through the injury became another defining chapter in a championship season that already made franchise history.

The Bottom Line

Jalen Brunson didn’t play through his wrist injury because he was unaware of the problem. He knew something was wrong but refused to let a seemingly manageable injury take away a rare opportunity to win an NBA championship.

That decision came with a cost—he eventually needed surgery—but Brunson’s gamble paid off as the Knicks won the title and he was named NBA Finals MVP.