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Finals MVP Jalen Brunson Has Wrist Surgery, Returns Summer

7/8/2026

Summary

Brunson Wrist Surgery

Jalen Brunson underwent left wrist surgery on Tuesday.
League sources say he will resume basketball activities later this summer.
He played through the injury in the Knicks’ 2026 NBA Finals, averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds.
He earned unanimous Finals MVP honors after posting a postseason average of 28.4 points and 6.1 assists.
He signed a four-year, $104 million deal in July 2022 and a $156.5 million extension in 2024.

Summary

Knicks Adjust Lineup

If Brunson misses time, the Knicks will start guard Jose Alvarado, who shot 51.5% from three in the playoffs.
Miles McBride is being made the primary ball-handler with an offseason focus on dribbling before free agency.
OG Anunoby could take on scoring and playmaking as a secondary option if Brunson’s return is delayed.
The Knicks kept most players on team-friendly contracts and missed only Mitchell Robinson.

Summary

Brunson Surgery

Brunson is scheduled for left wrist/forearm surgery.
The Athletic’s James L. Edward corrected earlier reports that had misidentified the injured side.
Knicks Fan TV first disclosed the Tuesday procedure, showing fan-run media’s role in early injury news.
The New York Post reported a six-to-eight-week recovery window, which is shorter than the two-month estimate from other sources.

History

Historical Context

In the 2015 NBA Finals, Kyrie Irving missed Game 5 with a right ankle sprain after a hard-fought series, yet the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched the championship. Cleveland’s coach Ty Lue cited Irving’s 27.1-point playoff average, while the Warriors’ Stephen Curry delivered a 30.5-point Game 5 performance, and the series ended with a 4-3 victory. Today the Knicks depend on Jalen Brunson’s post-surgery comeback, with Jose Alvarado’s 51.5% three-point shooting and Miles McBride’s offseason dribbling focus mirroring Irving’s pivotal contribution. The parallel illustrates how franchises adjust after star injuries, prompting roster flexibility, influencing multi-year contract extensions, and shaping league-wide medical protocols.

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Brunson Wrist Surgery

Jalen Brunson underwent left wrist surgery on Tuesday.
League sources say he will resume basketball activities later this summer.
He played through the injury in the Knicks’ 2026 NBA Finals, averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds.
He earned unanimous Finals MVP honors after posting a postseason average of 28.4 points and 6.1 assists.
He signed a four-year, $104 million deal in July 2022 and a $156.5 million extension in 2024.

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