Nine days from now, Jalen Brunson will step onto the court at training camp. No brace on his wrist, no restrictions, and no excuses – just a championship to defend.
The New York Knicks’ point guard is approximately 80 to 85 percent recovered from the wrist surgery he underwent in July, and multiple reports confirmed this week that he is expected to start camp on September 29 without limitations. “He should have no restrictions when camp begins,” a source told HoopsHype.
He played through it all
The surgery itself wasn’t a surprise. Brunson grinded through a wrist injury for the entire 2026 postseason – the tape on his wrist became one of the more visible subplots of New York’s championship run. He led all scorers with 539 total points in the playoffs, averaging 32.6 points per game in the Finals against San Antonio. In Game 5, a series-clinching road performance, he dropped 45 points and tied a record Michael Jordan set in the NBA Finals.
The Knicks won in five. Brunson won Finals MVP, becoming the first Knicks player since Willis Reed in 1973 to claim that trophy. He had his wrist operated on the following month.
What this means heading into camp
Clearing camp restrictions nine days out matters more than it might sound. The Knicks open their title defense on October 20 in Philadelphia – a visit to a 76ers team that spent the offseason acquiring LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to build around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Night one of the season is one of the marquee matchups of the year. Brunson needs to be ready, not rounding into form.
During the regular season, Brunson posted 26.0 points, 6.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game on 46.7 percent shooting. The 29-year-old plays every big moment bigger. Now it’s just a matter of whether that wrist holds up under the wear and tear of another 82 games – and then some.
The Knicks haven’t confirmed a timetable for when he’ll be at full strength. But practicing without restrictions on day one of camp? That’s the best possible answer they could have asked for right now. Yahoo Sports also confirmed Brunson is tracking well ahead of the season opener.
