Jalen Brunson’s Knicks return shouldn’t become a workload gamble

Jalen Brunson has scored 25 points in 35 preseason minutes and made half of his shots. The Knicks are getting a productive version of their captain again. Their 0-2 exhibition record isn't a reason to rush him into a regular-season workload.

I'd keep the progression deliberate. Brunson went from 15 minutes in Philadelphia on Monday to 20 against Washington on Thursday. That's an increase already, and the next step should serve his preparation rather than the urge to make the preseason results look more respectable.

He is fully cleared after July surgery on his left wrist, as he confirmed at Media Day. This isn't a report of a medical restriction or a setback. Clearance means he can play; it doesn't require the Knicks to prove his readiness with a long night in a game that won't affect the standings.

The Knicks have seen the scoring they needed to see

Brunson scored 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting in the opener, then 13 on 6-for-12 against the Wizards. He had three assists in each game. Those are encouraging early returns for a player whose summer included both a championship run and a procedure on his shooting-side wrist.

The perimeter shooting hasn't been as sharp: three makes in 11 attempts from beyond the arc across the two games. I wouldn't treat that as evidence of a wrist issue when no such problem has been reported. It is a shooting result over two exhibitions, not a diagnosis.

There are basketball reasons to give him more work. Mike Brown needs his first group to regain timing, and the Knicks have had turnovers and uneven offensive stretches. The starters played around 20 minutes Thursday after shorter appearances in the opener. Brunson's next sessions should include enough time with those teammates to work through real possessions.

A rehearsal doesn't need to become a marathon

I'd rather see Brown extend one controlled stretch with the regular group than keep Brunson on the floor simply because New York is chasing an exhibition win. The aim is to prepare the offense: get the spacing right, make the next pass sooner and build the timing between the ball handler and his screeners.

The reasonable counterargument is conditioning. Brief appearances won't fully prepare a player for the demands of opening night, and a familiar starting unit still needs game-speed repetitions. That's a case for increasing minutes thoughtfully across the remaining schedule, not freezing Brunson at 15 minutes indefinitely.

The next preseason game is Monday against Minnesota. Brown can use it to test a slightly longer first-team stretch and then evaluate how that work carried over. The exact workload belongs to the coaches, player and medical staff; there is no public minutes cap to quote here.

For now, 25 points on 50 percent shooting is a better development than either loss is a concern. I'd spend the remaining preseason getting Brunson ready for the games that count, not asking him to rescue the ones that don't.