How Did Knicks’ Jalen Brunson Assemble His First All-Star Team?
There were rumors that Jalen Brunson was overpaid when he signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the New York Knicks in 2022. Rather, the acquisition has evolved into a contract that changes the organization, leading to the previous second-round pick’s inclusion in the All-Star game.
The Knicks have rotated point guards during the last ten years. Trey Burke, Elfrid Payton, and Emmanuel Mudiay were picked for the reclamation project. Stars who were past their prime, like Derrick Rose and Kemba Walker, came and departed.
Additionally, Frank Ntilikina, a lottery selection from 2017, didn’t work out. Jalen Brunson is now among the greatest acquisitions in team history as a result of his meteoric rise to success.
Brunson’s selection as an All-Star in his second season in New York appeared certain following a stellar 2022–2023 campaign in which he averaged 24.0 points and helped the Knicks win a playoff series. He’s been using different pivots, pump fakes, and hesitations to tie up opposing defenders on the floor in his weekly version of Twister this season.
With the Knicks, Brunson has averaged 27.3 points and 6.5 assists in 48 games. With his improved technique, he is making more three-pointers than ever in his career (6.6 per 36 minutes).
Brunson still uses floaters and other midrange trick shots as a frequent component of his shot-creation strategy. Despite getting more attention from opposing defenses, his assist rate has climbed and his turnover rate has decreased.
With a 32-18 record, New York currently sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, largely due to the impact of Brunson’s performance. For the Knicks’ offense to continue to flow, he must be on the court.
When Brunson is in the game, the Knicks score 121.5 points per 100 possessions, which would be the highest offensive efficiency in the NBA, according to NBA Stats. New York scored only 105.2 points per 100 possessions in the 674 minutes he has been out of the game, which would put them dead last in the NBA.
Acquiring additional responsibilities
RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, two of New York’s most used players, were traded to the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby approximately a month ago when the team restructured.
Jalen Brunson and fellow All-Star Julius Randle are now under more pressure and responsibility in New York’s offense, even though Anunoby has been a better fit and has contributed significantly to the team’s recent winning streak.
With the longest possession of the ball of any player in the NBA, Brunson leads the association in average dribbles per touch. Although he has had two scoring bursts of forty points, he has still been more efficient, earning 11 games with 30 points or more.
This last week was a prime illustration of Brunson’s development and increased responsibility.
The Knicks went 3-1 even with Randle sidelined due to injury thanks to Brunson’s leadership. He faced several double teams and increased pressure in a Tuesday night victory over the Utah Jazz, but he remained unfazed, finishing with 29 points and nine assists. He scored 40 points against the Indiana Pacers in the following game. Despite constantly having to deal with double teams and traps, Brunson managed 36 points, six rebounds, and ten assists in the one loss over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
Whether Brunson is a genuine superstar has been hotly contested in the national media this season, but he has continuously disproved his detractors. Every explanation for that, including his lack of athleticism or size, has been offered.
The point guard solidified his role as an offensive focal point in 11 playoff games last season, averaging 27.8 points and 5.6 assists. This included 38- and 41-point scoring behemoths in the last two games of New York’s defeat by the Miami Heat in their second-round series. The 6-foot-2 guard’s consistent gains in his second season only serve to highlight the fact that he still has room to develop and accomplish more.
