It was enough to put Jalen Brunson in contention for the final spot on this past summer’s gold-medal-winning Team USA Olympics roster. And while Brunson broke his hand in the Knicks’ season finale in May, he reminded me that the injury didn’t actually change his fate. “So, let’s clarify, for sure,” he said. “The team was chosen before I broke my hand.” He was rooting for Team USA, he told me, and didn’t hold any grudges. “But I clearly want to be out there and playing for the United States.” When I asked if he thought he should have been on the roster, he was characteristically blunt. “Yeah, for sure,” he said. “The way I played last year, I thought I was deserving. I thought I could have fit in. I’ve played many roles throughout my career; I could play another. But obviously, it just wasn’t in the cards at that time. And so, you move on and you find ways to get better. You keep having goals, and that’s a goal of mine. I want to play next time.”
Source: GQ.com
Source: GQ.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
StatMuse @statmuse
Jalen Brunson in the first half:
17 PTS
6-9 FG
+18
Picked up where he left off. pic.x.com/AcMtRNBp52 – 8:36 PM
Jalen Brunson in the first half:
17 PTS
6-9 FG
+18
Picked up where he left off. pic.x.com/AcMtRNBp52 – 8:36 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Jalen Brunson has done Jalen Brunson-y things this half. Has 17 points going into the break.
Story of the half, though, is the defense from Bridges, Hart and Anunoby. The three have five combined steals and even more deflections.
Halftime reading:
nytimes.com/athletic/58270… – 8:36 PM
Jalen Brunson has done Jalen Brunson-y things this half. Has 17 points going into the break.
Story of the half, though, is the defense from Bridges, Hart and Anunoby. The three have five combined steals and even more deflections.
Halftime reading:
nytimes.com/athletic/58270… – 8:36 PM
Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Talked a lot on the podcast this weekend with @_JasonLT about how the Karl-Anthony Towns deal could actually end up leading to another Jalen Brunson leap on offense. pic.x.com/d1Q4zfe2JR – 4:27 PM
Talked a lot on the podcast this weekend with @_JasonLT about how the Karl-Anthony Towns deal could actually end up leading to another Jalen Brunson leap on offense. pic.x.com/d1Q4zfe2JR – 4:27 PM
More on this storyline
Brunson is careful to point out that his deal is, technically, only a relative discount. “Everyone sees like, ‘Oh, taking 113 less,’ ” he reminded me. “Well, to be blunt, I took the most I could do this year.” Still, his decision makes it far more likely that the Knicks will be able to keep adding and retaining talent around him—like Bridges, who is due an extension of his own soon. “Obviously, it helps the team out, and I want this team to stay together for as long as we can, and try and do something special here,” he said. -via GQ.com / October 10, 2024
Karl-Anthony Towns’ debut will likely be Sunday. Tom Thibodeau said he plans on playing the starters together in the preseason opener at Charlotte, including newcomer Towns — providing Knicks fans with their first glimpse at one of the league’s top point guard-center tandems with Jalen Brunson. “I’m ready to see where we are,” Brunson said. “Every day is a test, and we get to see where we are and move on from there.” -via New York Post / October 6, 2024
Thibodeau cautioned that he first needs to consult with the medical staff and Sunday’s rotation isn’t “finalized.” But Towns has been a full participant in training camp despite his late arrival and is eager to suit up in Charlotte, according to Thibodeau. “I think he wants to play and he’s been going full tilt so far so we’ll see where he is after [Saturday’s practice],” the coach said. -via New York Post / October 6, 2024