By all accounts, the New York Knicks are expecting to have superstar guard Jalen Brunson return to all basketball activities by the time training camp kicks off later next month.
Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he'll be anywhere close to his pre-injury form.
This summer, Brunson underwent an arthroscopic surgery on his left shooting wrist, an operation that typically takes six to eight weeks to recover from. This timeline has him on track to partake in camp activities as soon as they open, though returning to action doesn't necessarily mean a return to form.
Dexter Henry of the New York Post recently highlighted a frightening, albeit incredibly important distinction "between being medically cleared and then Brunson being Brunson."
As of this writing, the Knicks' cornerstone is not taking part in any basketball activities and has been open about how "frustrating" the rehab process has been for him.
To Henry, the biggest "unknown" at this point is whether Brunson and his surgically repaired wrist can withstand a full 82-game season, including what is expected to be a long playoff run, especially considering how physical a player he is
Though he was capable of playing through his injury en route to the NBA Championship, it's by no means a guarantee that he'll be able to get back to his fully healthy level of play -- not in year one post-operation, anyway.
Just ask Thunder star, Jalen Williams.
'That's it' for Knicks if Jalen Brunson can't regain form
To the Posts' Bryan Fonseca, this New York Knicks squad is capable of withstanding many things heading into 2026-27.
Brunson proving incapable of coming back from his operation, unfortunately, is not one of them.
During a recent episode of Got Game, the analyst stressed how "unprecedented" a player the point guard has become, stressing that if he can't get back into his pre-injury groove, "that's it" for any chance of a Knicks repeat championship run.
Frankly, this is the kind of sentiment that's objectively inarguable.
Not only was Brunson the far-and-away focal point of this Knicks offense, but his advanced metrics prove that he's one of the most important and impactful players on any team in the association.
This completely rang true during their historic 2026 playoff run, where he placed fourth in win shares (3.0), third in plus-minus (12.3), and first in total clutch points (38), all while posting remarkable averages of 28.4 points, 6.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals on 46.5 percent shooting from the floor and 36.3 percent shooting from deep.
From his uncanny scoring skills and legendary leadership abilities that keep his team locked in, even during the most gut-wrenching times, without Brunson, this Knicks team would have little to no chance of running things back.
Because of this, it's up to New York and their staff to remain patient with his recovery rather than rush him back and risk further health ailments.
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