New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson was rushed to the trainer’s room with an apparent knee injury after asking to be subbed out in the first quarter of the NBA Finals opener in San Antonio on Wednesday.

After a made corner 3-pointer by San Antonio, Spurs forward Harrison Barnes was bumped into Brunson, who reacted by grabbing his right leg. Shortly after Brunson made the rare decision of asking Knicks coach Mike Brown to be removed from the game.

‘He’s looking over at the bench,’ ABC announcer Mike Breen said after the injury. ‘He is one that never wants to come out, but he needs to come out. And not a good sign that he needs to come out.’

The broadcast caught Brunson heading down the tunnel to the locker room to get his knee examined, leading to Knicks fans panicking.

‘This would be sickening. Let’s hope it’s nothing,’ wrote one user on X.

Another said, ‘im gonna throw up blood everywhere.’

After a made corner 3-pointer by San Antonio, Spurs forward Harrison Barnes was bumped into Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who reacted by grabbing his right leg

Jalen Brunson is the son of another former New York Knicks guard, Rick Brunson 

‘You gotta be kidding me. In the 1st qtr of the Finals…,’ wrote another Knicks fan.

One comment read, ‘This doesn’t look good. Hopefully Brunson will be fine.’ 

Brunson was absent for the rest of the quarter. Later in the game, Brunson appeared to have blood seeping through the white leg tights he was wearing.

He eventually returned to the action in the second quarter, where he appeared to suffer another injury – this time, to his ankle. It didn’t affect any game time, however, he was seen screaming at referee Scott Foster.

The Knicks entered the game with injury concerns for center Mitchell Robinson, but he was able to play in Game 1 of the Finals.

After Brunson’s injury, Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns went down with a shot to the face from Victor Wembanyama. He left the game briefly before returning.