Jalen Brunson is back, baby! After a brief injury layoff, the New York Knicks’ floor general returned to the hardwood on April 6 – and didn’t miss the chance to make a splash. While fans were thrilled to see their cult hardwood hero back in action, sneakerheads had another reason to celebrate. A certified Kobe connoisseur, Brunson stepped onto the court in the Nike Kobe 5 Protro ‘The Joke’s On You’ PE – a bold, villainous nod to Batman’s chaotic nemesis.
This pair echoes the OG Nike Kobe 5 ‘Chaos’ from 2010, a colourway inspired by Heath Ledger’s unhinged performance in The Dark Knight. Brunson’s PE takes things further into Gotham’s underworld, featuring a slick black and purple upper with wild pops of volt green and crimson.
Brunson finished with 15 points and six assists in his return, shooting 3-of-9 from the field and 1-of-4 from deep. It wasn’t his sharpest shooting night, but the Knicks got the job done, taking down the Phoenix Suns 112–98. OG Anunoby led the charge with 32 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 13 boards.
The win marked the Knicks’ 50th of the season – their first back-to-back 50-win campaigns since the early ’90s. Brunson’s back, and so is the buzz in the Garden.
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