Jalen Brunson has captured the hearts of Knicks fans everywhere. The star guard has led New York to three straight postseason appearances, and the team earned its first NBA Cup crown with a 124-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night.
World-renowned chef and TV personality Martha Stewart is a big fan of Brunson’s. She revealed Tuesday on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” that this spring, during Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals, Brunson taught her an important lesson.
“Never, ever wear open-toed shoes to a game like that when you’re sitting on the floor,” Stewart said. “Jalen, who’s now like super-duper, he is so great … I have the Brunson fracture. He stepped on my big toe.”
Stewart said Brunson fell into her lap and stepped on her toe with about five minutes remaining in the game.
“I knew it was broken immediately,” Stewart said. “He comes crashing down, sat on my lap, and I grabbed his arm and his arm was like icy cold. And I thought he’s a basketball player, he should be sweaty. He wasn’t sweaty at all. He was cool as a cucumber.”
The Knicks blew a 14-point lead to the Indiana Pacers with three minutes left.
“Then they went into overtime,” Stewart said. “Which made it even more painful because I couldn’t get up and leave to go take care of my toe.”
Martha Stewart attends Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2025. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
The Knicks wound up losing. Stewart shared with a chuckle that she told Brunson’s parents about her toe after the game. Jalen’s father, Rick, is an assistant coach for the Knicks.
“I met his parents,” Stewart said. “And they were laughing. They thought it was so funny.”
For her troubles, Stewart was given a signed basketball for her grandchild. Her shoe selection is limited in the aftermath.
“That’s why I’m wearing open-toed shoes, because it’s the only kind of shoes I can wear now,” Stewart said.