Injured Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson said he’s making steady progress from a sprained right ankle and has resumed basketball activities, though he stopped short of confirming whether he’s taking full-contact drills. “Cleared for basketball activities, specifically,” Brunson said ahead of Su nday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. When asked if that includes contact, he smirked, adding, “Basketball activities. Whatever that includes — you guys aren’t going to get me.” Brunson, sidelined since spraining his ankle in overtime against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6, described his current regimen as a mix of rehab and on-court work, noting he’s “recently cranking it up; two-a-days if I have to.” Though Brunson doesn’t have a firm return date in mind, he’s hopeful he’ll play some regular-season games before the playoffs tip off in mid-April. “Realistically, I’m hoping to play before the playoffs,” he explained. “I think it’s good for me to get some game reps before we go into that kind of stretch run. But most importantly, I want to make sure I’m healthy.” Previously wearing a walking boot, Brunson says he’s now advanced to sprinting and reports improved mobility each day, though he admits the slow pace of recovery has been frustrating. “I think the worst part is knowing I’m getting better and better, but I’m still not where I want to be,” Brunson said. “It sucks. It’s not fun. I really wish I was out there.” Brunson, who’s played in 61 games, said he would ideally like to return in time to meet the NBA’s 65-game threshold for eligibility for All-NBA and other end-of-season awards — but emphasized that’s not his top priority. For Brunson to hit that mark, he’d need to be back by the Knicks’ April 8 matchup against Boston and play in both legs of their April 10-11 back-to-back against Detroit and Cleveland. Alternatively, he could target a return after the Knicks practice on the road in Atlanta and appear on April 5 against the Hawks, rest on the back-to-back against Phoenix the next night, and still reach 65 games. “Individually, yeah [I want to play 65 total games],” Brunson acknowledged. “But I just want to make sure I’m fully healthy before I’m back out there.” Brunson also indicated a willingness to return at less than 100 percent healthy if necessary for the playoffs, but he emphasized that decision would come through careful consultation with the medical staff. “That’s probably a conversation we’ll have with the medical team,” Brunson said. “Obviously, I want to feel 100 percent, but a lot of this is also mental — making sure I can trust everything I do.” This recovery process differs significantly from dealing with an in-game injury, Brunson explained. “When I know something is minor, and I know I can play through it, I can play through it,” he said. “But something like this, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page. We’ve been on the same page for the past couple weeks, so we’re going to continue to progress that way.” Brunson is averaging 26.3 points and a career-best 7.3 assists per game, shooting 49 percent from the field. His standout play earned him his second career All-Star nod and first-ever selection as a starter, powering the Knicks to the East’s No. 3 seed and one of the best pre-All-Star break records in franchise history. “You’re not going to replace Jalen individually — you have to do it collectively,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Anytime someone goes out, it’s an opportunity for someone else to step in. Our defense and rebounding, if we lock into those and limit turnovers, we’ll be in position to win. When Jalen returns, obviously, that adds a lot to our team.” Brunson isn’t the only guard on the Knicks’ injury list. Sixth man Miles McBride (groin) and veteran guard Cameron Payne (ankle) are also sidelined, leaving rookie Tyler Kolek and veteran Delon Wright to hold down the point guard responsibilities. Since Brunson’s injury, the Knicks are 6-5, including disappointing losses to two bottom-four teams and another close call against the league-worst Washington Wizards. Watching from the bench — and sometimes from home while rehabbing — has given Brunson a fresh perspective. “I’m happy with the way we compete,” he said. “Obviously, we can get better — even when I’m back, there’s a lot we can improve on. But the guys are competing.” Brunson praised his teammates’ resilience, especially bouncing back after consecutive losses to the Spurs and Hornets. “They responded. There were nights where we don’t play well, and then the next night, they respond,” Brunson said. “That’s all we can focus on. There’s going to be games where things don’t go our way, but how we respond to those moments and how we get better matters most. And they’ve done a good job.” ...read more read less