Jalen Brunson made a wardrobe change during Game 1 of the NBA Finals

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Jalen Brunson played through two injury scares on Wednesday night to help the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Brunson finished with 30 points, joining Willis Reed as the only players in franchise history to score 30 or more points in a Finals debut. He scored 13 of those points in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

However, his night was complicated by two physical plays. In the first quarter, Spurs forward Harrison Barnes collided with Knicks guard Landry Shamet, tumbling directly into Brunson's right knee. Brunson clutched his leg and signaled for a substitution. He was walking gingerly as he went to the locker room and returned to the bench in the second quarter with his knee wrapped.

Later in the game, Spurs big man Luke Kornet landed on Brunson's left ankle after a drive. Brunson was furious with referee Scott Foster over the no-call, but he stayed on the floor.

His injury scares were the main story until sharp eyes on social media caught something else. Memorabilia collector @goatcollect shared side-by-side photos showing Brunson in two different uniforms across the game, while also wearing noticeably different colored sneakers in the second half.

— Chase Jordan (@goatcollect) June 4, 2026

The jersey switch at halftime was likely for comfort after he sweated through the first uniform. However, another theory making the rounds online suggests that his official jersey patch might have just fallen off. Meanwhile, changing his shoes after the injury scare is a common adjustment players make mid-game for better comfort or ankle support.

Coach Brown praised Brunson’s durability to reporters, calling him "tough as nails" and noting, “to me, he didn't seem like he had any effect afterwards." Brunson gave a brief, reassuring update directly to ESPN's Lisa Salters on the court, stating, "I'll be alright” ahead of Game 2, which tips off Friday in San Antonio at 8:30 p.m. ET.