New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is back.

After missing the last two games with a sprained right ankle — sustained in the Knicks’ 112-101 road loss to the Sacramento Kings last week — the captain will play on Martin Luther King Jr. Day against the Dallas Mavericks, as stated by head coach Mike Brown, per SNY’s Ian Begley.

Brunson, 29, injured his right ankle while sizing up a defender early in the game out west.

It was, unfortunately, the same ankle he had injured multiple times in the previous two seasons. The most notable incident occurred last March, when he was driving to the hole against the Los Angeles Lakers.

New York was forced to play without its captain for an extended period of time last spring. Despite his regular-season return, just in time for the NBA playoffs, Brunson was nowhere near full strength as Tom Thibodeau’s squad advanced through two rounds, ultimately falling to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

These days, Mike Brown’s Knickerbockers couldn’t be more thrilled with the news. Having dropped 8 of their last 10 games, New York needed its top baller back in a bad way.

The Knicks’ injury situation got additional positive news beyond Brunson. New York will have Josh Hart back in the lineup after he missed Saturday’s uninspiring 106-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns on alumni night at Madison Square Garden.

Moreover, the Knicks’ opponent, the Mavericks, also received good news on the injury front ahead of the bout. Rookie Cooper Flagg, who was upgraded from out to questionable Sunday night, is also expected to play.

Brunson named All-Star starter

Playing second fiddle in importance, the NBA announced its Eastern Conference All-Star Starters.

Jalen Brunson made the cut as the lone Knicks player.

Brunson is currently averaging 28.2 points (on .481 shooting), 6.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game in 34.5 minutes. This marks the second time the Knicks’ leader has received All-Star starter honors (and the second consecutive year, along with the 2024-25 campaign).

Last year, the Knicks saw two players start for the East: Brunson and big man Karl-Anthony Towns. As was entirely expected — courtesy of his production decrease — the latter wasn’t voted in as a starter this season.

The New York Knicks’ annual MLK Day game is set to tip off at 5:00 p.m. ET and can be viewed on NBC and MSG Networks.