Since Jalen Brunson went down with right ankle sprain against the Lakers on March 8, the New York Knicks have been holding their breath. With the playoffs rapidly approaching, the question on everyone’s mind is when will their All-Star guard return?

As Knicks fans are well aware, injuries have ended promising seasons before and there is understandable concern. However, the good news is — Brunson’s rehab’s moving up quickly compared to expectations. It does not mean that he will be back tomorrow but he definitely looks like he will return before the playoffs.

The Knicks aren’t giving a set date for his return, but head coach Tom Thibodeau has been clear: Brunson is making “really good progress” and “doing more and more each day.” He’s already ditched the walking boot, started shooting drills, and kept his conditioning up with pool and bike workouts.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. National reporter Ian Begley says Brunson’s rehab is progressing faster than originally anticipated. That’s a great sign for a Knicks team that desperately needs their floor general back. While he hasn’t returned to full practice yet, that seems to be the next step before he’s game-ready.

The Knicks, in the final 12 games of the regular season, have a tough call to make: push for Brunson’s return ASAP, or play it safe and make sure he’s 100% before stepping back on the court.

How the Knicks have coped without Brunson

The truth is, the Knicks aren’t the same without Brunson. Since his injury, they’ve gone 4-4, but the bigger concern is that their offense has taken a hit. In offensive rating, they were 5th before he was hurt. Without him? Down to 25th.

The Knicks have attempted to replace the void with Cam Payne and rookie Tyler Kolek playing point. But the idea of replacing someone who is averaging 26.3 points and 7.4 assists a game with a rookie such as Kolek is too much to expect.

Brunson is not only the Knicks’ best scorer, he is their leader, their playmaker, the guy who steps up in the fourth quarter. New York hasn’t had that go to option when games get tight without him.

So, when can Knicks fans expect to see Brunson back on the court? Right now, the team is focused on making sure he’s fully healthy before rushing him back. Thibodeau has made it clear they won’t take any chances with their franchise star, and honestly, that’s the right move.

The Knicks face Brunson’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on Tuesday, but don’t expect a revenge game just yet—he’s not ready to return. However, the fact that he’s already ramping up workouts suggests he could be back sooner rather than later.

The next big checkpoint? The team will re-evaluate him within the next week. If all goes well, Knicks fans might not have to wait much longer before their star is back running the show.