Jalen Brunson could return to the Knicks as soon as Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks or Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
The star point guard has been sidelined with a sprained ankle since March 6, which has tested the Knicks’ depth, considering his backups Miles McBride and Cameron Payne also hit the injured list shortly after.
Brunson himself provided a positive update on Sunday when he revealed that he had begun participating in basketball activities. Begley said that based on the guard’s “current trajectory,” the weekend is the most logical time for a return.
“I think it’s good for me to get some game reps before we go into that type of stretch run,” Brunson said earlier this week. “Most importantly, I want to make sure I’m 100% healthy.”
The regular season ends on April 13, so a one-week ramp-up period would go a long way to ensure the All-Star was clicking on all cylinders heading into what New York will hope is a deep playoff run.
After a rocky start without their floor general, the Knicks have taken advantage of a softer part of their schedule, winning five of their last six prior to Wednesday night’s clash with the East’s top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. They have been forced to roll with a two-man point-guard unit of veteran journeyman Delon Wright and rookie Tyler Kolek.
Brunson was continuing to assert himself as one of the NBA’s premier point guards this season, garnering All-Star Game starting honors for the first time in his career while averaging 26.3 points and 7.4 assists per game. In his 61 starts this season, the Knicks are 39-22. When he is not in the lineup, they are 9-5.
Again, fortunate timing in their schedule had them playing some of the weaker opposition in the league. However, the Knicks are going to need Brunson ready to go in order to face off against some of the league’s elite teams, which the team has had significant issues against this year.
Before Wednesday’s matchup against the Cavaliers, the Knicks went a combined 0-5 with Brunson in the lineup against Cleveland and the Boston Celtics — the two teams that sit above them in the Eastern Conference — this season.
As much as it is the physical portion of the ankle injury that Brunson will need to overcome to prove that he is ready, there is a significant psychological side to it, as well.
“Obviously, I want to feel 100%,” Brunson said. “But a lot of this is also mental, just making sure I can trust everything I do. So it’s just a conversation for us to have.”
