When news broke that Jalen Brunson was going to be out of action for an extended period of time with a sprained right ankle injury, it added a major question mark to the final chapter of the New York Knicks' 2024-25 regular season.

Sure, the team has Miles “Deuce” McBride, who has played well in his place as a full-time lead guard alongside Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and company, and the Knicks have held things down all right in his absence, going 3-4 against a middle-of-the-road collection of opponents.

But even with Karl-Anthony Towns becoming a revelation in New York, the Knicks are still Brunson's team, and they need their leader to shepherd them into the postseason.

Well, on Saturday, March 22, Knicks fans got their answer, with the team's official PR department letting the NBA world know that Brunson has returned to the court and medical staff will re-evaluate him in one week's time.

“Jalen Brunson (sprained right ankle) is doing controlled court work, and his status will be updated in approximately one week,” Knicks PR wrote.

Article Continues Below
Related New York Knicks News
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
Tom Thibodeau sounds off on Knicks’ anti-Tyrese Haliburton tacticNathan Yasis ·
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers.
Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns reveals 3-word message behind Game 5 winJosh Davis ·
Featured image Jalen Brunson Karl-Anthony Towns
Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns gives Jalen Brunson his flowers for Game 5 heroicsDylan Fine ·
Former NBA player JR Smith looks on from the 3rd hole during the third round of the Tour Championship golf tournament.
Knicks’ Jalen Brunson Receives J.R. Smith’s Championship BlessingJosh Davis ·
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) stands on court during the second quarter against the New York Knicks of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton makes striking admission after Game 5 clunkerNathan Yasis ·
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) in the second quarter during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns’ response to Charles Barkley’s ‘dumb’ questionAlex House ·

So far during the 2024-25 NBA season, head coach Tom Thibodeau has utilized Brunson to an incredible degree by head coach Tom Thibodeau, averaging a career-high 35.4 minutes of action per game while attempting 18.7 shots from the field each game to go with 7.4 assists, three rebounds, and a steal.

Brunson has already logged 2,162 minutes over just 61 games, roughly 550 fewer than last season over 16 fewer games, and will likely see his on-court time ratcheted up even further in the playoffs, where he played an average of 39.8 minutes per game last season.

Now granted, when Brunson does return, he might not have to play as much as he did before as if there is a bright spot of his absence, it's that McBride has proven he's an NBA-caliber guard who deserves a solid run in the regular and postseason alike.

However, Knicks fans will be counting down the days until Brunson can return to the court, as this New York team simply isn't the same without the Villanova performer in the backcourt running the show as Thibodeau's triggerman.