Jalen Brunson was the final hammer drop for the New York Knicks amidst a bevy of injuries in the 2023-24 post-season. Always ready to pull his team over the edge, Game 7 of the second-round playoffs saw their star guard also fall to the injury curse going around. But with the offseason slowly ending, the NYC faithful worry whether their talisman will be able to suit up come game time.

And the answer is ‘yes’. While the 27-year-old constantly provided us with updates, this one should be even more special. Joining former Knicks star Mark Jackson, on his YouTube show, Brunson gave the eagerly awaited news. “Hand’s good. We’ll see around first game of the season, see if it’s ready to go or not.” Jalen Brunson for the season opener – confirmed!

It was a shorthanded Knicks team that went up against Indiana. Led by the energizer bunny, Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers had also shown glimpses of becoming a contending team. In an ideal scenario, which is one where the ‘Big Apple’ had all its pieces, their NBA rivals would certainly have a hard time taking care of business.

But in a team where five key players, not counting Jalen Brunson, were already out of the lineup with various injuries, and the most important one also ended up taking a major hit, there’s only so much we could expect from the Knicks. “I’m proud of what we were able to do this year and the way we fought,” JB admitted after crashing out, as his comment was tainted with a tinge of sadness.

Amidst such concerns, the former Villanova product had nearly given the Knicks fans something of a heart attack over a month ago. But he made sure to quell the fears right after.

The image of Jalen Brunson in a ring was enough for many fans to very nearly draw their last breath

No, no. We are not talking about the NBA ring. Rather, the instance here is that of the WWE Smackdown at MSG in early July. Joining the adrenaline-pumped crowd were the hardwood rivals Haliburton and Brunson. Needless to say, the already electric atmosphere charged up to an unbelievable level!

A huge wrestling fan, this wasn’t Haliburton’s first rodeo. But the welcome surprise was the appearance of the hometown hero. While Tyrese’s presence resulted in a rain of boos, Jalen received nothing but a champion’s welcome. Adding to the drama was when the latter decided to remind the MSG crowd of their on-court rivalry.

As soon as the pair locked eyes, it was an intense stare-down that practically gave everyone in the arena chills. Despite being a WWE rookie, Jalen Brunson couldn’t turn away from the challenge. He snatched a nearby steel chair and mockingly waved it at Tyrese Haliburton. And while it thrilled the crowd, many fans were concerned about JB’s hand.

After all, he was still rehabbing from hand surgery. But he soon allayed all the fears with a lively tweet. “Just lived out a childhood dream, and yes the hand fine lol yall can relax.” The first-time All-Star is clearly setting the stage for an exciting 2024-25 season. There’s no doubt that Brunson and Co. are going to use the Game 7 defeat as fuel to aim for a deeper playoff run. And we can’t wait!

 Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.