The Knicks have dealt with notable injuries this season, from Mitchell Robinson’s extended absence to OG Anunoby’s foot injury that cost him most of February. On Thursday night, they saw the one player they absolutely can’t afford to lose become the latest to go down.
Jalen Brunson went down in a heap after driving to the basket late in a loss to the Lakers, sparking panic among Knicks fans.
Brunson shot two free throws after the injury, making both but he had to exit the game at that point and wasn’t able to return for the final 84 seconds of overtime.
Here’s what you need to know about Brunson’s injury and his status going forward.
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What is Jalen Brunson’s injury?
Brunson appeared to significantly roll his ankle after driving to the rim during overtime on Thursday. He grabbed the back of his ankle immediately after the injury, leading to some speculation about his Achilles, but replay revealed a severe turn of his right ankle.
Jalen Brunson headed to the locker room after suffering a leg injury on this play
He stayed in to shoot his FT’s pic.twitter.com/bw4jrE3Uhj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 7, 2025
After the loss, Chris Haynes reported there is “optimism” Brunson simply suffered a sprained ankle.
There’s optimism New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson only sustained a sprained ankle, sources tell me.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 7, 2025
While no fracture or Achilles injury would be terrific news for the Knicks, a sprained ankle could still cost Brunson time. The New York Post”s Stefan Bondy reported Friday that Brunson’s ankle X-rays came back negative, further clarification that he avoided a serious injury. Here’s a look at his status going forward.
How long will Jalen Brunson be out?
Brunson is expected to miss time after a significant turn of his right ankle, but his exact timeline for a return is not yet determined.
“It’s a bummer of an injury. We expect him to be out for a little bit,” Brunson’s teammate Josh Hart told reporters Thursday. Karl-Anthony Towns said the Knicks need to have a “next man up” mentality, echoing Hart.
While the Knicks are still awaiting word on the severity of Brunson’s ankle sprain, it’s not looking like he will be able to get right back on the court. Brunson still needs to play in five of New York’s final 11 games to be eligible for All-NBA honors.
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Knicks schedule 2024-25
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| March 7 | at Clippers | 10 p.m. | — |
| March 10 | at Kings | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| March 12 | at Trail Blazers | 10:30 p.m. | — |
| March 15 | at Warriors | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
| March 17 | vs. Heat | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
The Knicks play the second game of a back-to-back on Friday night against the Clippers, and they will stay on the west coast for matchups with the Kings, Trail Blazers and Warriors after the contest.
Fortunately for Brunson, New York’s schedule is a bit more sporadic after the second game in Los Angeles. The Knicks will play only three games in a span of nine days before heading back home to face the Heat on March 17.
