The New York Knicks’ 2025 Eastern Conference Finals run delivered high-stakes drama on the court, but superstar Jalen Brunson also caused an unforgettable accidental injury off of it. In a truly bizarre twist, lifestyle icon Martha Stewart recently revealed that the Knicks point guard accidentally stepped on and fractured her toe during a pivotal playoff game.
Stewart, who was sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden, has since dubbed the medical episode the “Brunson fracture.”
Jalen Brunson’s 43-Point Masterpiece
The incident occurred during the final, chaotic moments of Game 1 of the 2025 ECF between the Knicks and the Indiana Pacers back in May. Jalen Brunson absolutely dominated the contest, putting up a monster performance. He secured a team-high 43 points on blistering 60% shooting from the field.
As the game neared its conclusion, Brunson spearheaded New York’s offensive surge. However, the Pacers ultimately stunned the Knicks, winning a fierce battle in overtime with a final score of 138–135.
The Courtside Crush
According to reports from PEOPLE, Stewart shared the details during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this December. She explained that in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, Brunson came crashing down near her seat.
Stewart admitted her footwear choice was a catastrophic mistake. “See those open-toe shoes? Never, ever wear open-toe shoes to a game like that when you’re sitting on the floor,” she cautioned. The MVP candidate stomped directly onto her big toe, shattering it immediately.
The injury was painful, but Stewart stoically stayed put. She told Fallon the game went into overtime, forcing her to remain courtside despite knowing the toe was broken. Stewart chose not to distract the star player, instead fessing up to Brunson’s parents, including Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson. She joked that all she secured from the superstar was a signed basketball for her grandchild.
The story instantly went viral on social media, quickly establishing itself as a classic in the peculiar history of celebrity-athlete interactions. Fans reacted with a mix of shock and humor over the severity of the injury versus the absurdity of the pairing.
One viral tweet read, “Only Jalen Brunson could drop 43 points and still have an L thanks to the ‘Brunson fracture.’ Truly iconic.” Another commenter quipped, “Martha Stewart is a tougher New Yorker than anyone. she sat through an OT playoff loss with a broken toe!” The emotional energy around the story highlights how Brunson’s incredible star power now impacts everything around him. Brunson’s physical well-being also suffers.
Despite the restriction of wearing open-toe footwear, Stewart appears in excellent spirits and is recovering well. Even so, the “Brunson fracture” itself will necessitate ongoing healing. Her public reveal suggests the injury is minor enough to laugh about months later. For Jalen Brunson and the Knicks, the focus moves beyond courtside casualties. That Game 1 overtime loss put the team in a tough position early in the ECF.
Going forward, the Knicks must secure wins and demonstrate that tired legs and blown leads did not characterize their deep playoff run. Brunson is expected to continue dominating the league, but perhaps now he’ll check the footwear of the celebrities sitting courtside.
