Jalen Brunson has continued to prove why he is a top-10 player in the NBA. His numbers this season alone has shown his value to the New York Knicks. Unsurprisingly, the Knicks have one of the top offenses in the league, thanks to the powerful duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Brunson. The 28-year-old was drafted 33rd overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft. Brunson spent four seasons with Dallas before heading to the Knicks in 2022. He played collegiate basketball at Villanova from 2015 to 2018. Let’s dive into his incredible play and value to the Knicks this season.
Jalen Brunson: The Knicks’ Ace and a Proven Superstar
Jalen Brunson’s Performance This Season
The Knicks lost at home against the Atlanta Hawks 108-100. This wasn’t just any regular-season game; it was the NBA Cup quarterfinal, with both teams having a lot on the line. The Knicks (15-10) came into the game winning five of their last six games, while the Hawks (14-12) saw their six-game win streak snapped by the Denver Nuggets. The Hawks, especially Dyson Daniels, used size and physicality to throw Brunson out of scoring, considering his 6-foot-1 size. It will be key to see how Brunson handles physical defenses in the future.
The ex-Villanova star’s Knicks are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference, but they can certainly move up the ranks if their offense consistently performs well. So far this season, they have the second-highest offensive rating, 120.2, just slightly behind the defending champion Boston Celtics, who are first with 120.3. Brunson had a stellar 2023-24 season, earning All-NBA honors and finishing top five in the MVP race. That year, he averaged 28.7 points per game and 6.7 assists per game.
Brunson displayed leadership after the Hawks’ NBA Cup quarterfinal loss. Trae Young pretended to throw dice as he stood on the MSG logo. When asked if Young’s actions bothered him, Brunson answered honestly,
“We should win the game if we don’t want that to happen. “
Brunson is correct. Was Young taunting the Knicks? Yes, he was, but he earned the right to do so. After all, he’s had the Knicks’ number. Brunson could’ve been petty and taken a jab at Young, but that’s not in his character to do so. His response showed full accountability, as any team leader would in such circumstances.
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Brunson showed his leadership this past offseason when he agreed to a four-year $156.5 million extension with New York, $113 million less guaranteed that he’s eligible to sign for a year from now. The move was to help free up space to make more roster moves to better the team. Additionally, the deal helped keep the team together for improvement. Brunson has since blossomed as a top NBA player after starting his career as a backup point guard with the Mavericks.
With Julius Randle gone and Karl-Anthony Towns as the second go-to man, Brunson leads the Knicks as the best player on the team. Considering his playmaking, the Knicks are at their best when Brunson plays well, considering his outstanding on-ball play. Brunson has averaged 24.7 points per game so far this season, playing 24 games this year with 7.8 assists. In his tenure with the Knicks, he has averaged points a game. Brunson has been surrounded by a cast of former national championship teammates at Villanova to create a remarkable team on and off the floor.
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