Getty Image / Michael Reaves
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson has had a fantastic season. The 27-year-old has turned himself into one of the league’s best players and a true New York hero.
It’s taken him a long time to get the recognition he deserves, but it’s finally starting to come in. During halftime of the Knicks 119-109 win against the Celtics Thursday, Inside The NBA’s Kenny Smith gave Jalen Brunson his flowers.
That’s quite the strong take, all things considered. There are a lot of great players in the East, and I think most would give the title as the conference’s best player to Celtics forward Jayson Tatum or Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But, Jalen Brunson certainly has an argument, and he’s on a heater right now. He has 35 points in each of his last five games, and he would’ve made it four straight with 40+ points had he not sat the entire 4th quarter with 39 points. On the year, he’s averaging 28.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds for the 48-32 Knicks.
They currently sit in 3rd in the Eastern Conference, and that’s a testament to Jalen Brunson. The team has been without Julius Randle since January 27, and was without OG Anunoby for much of that time, as well. Brunson kept them afloat when the rotation got lean. Randle is out for the year, but Anunoby is back, as is center Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks have beaten the Bucks and Celtics, the top two seeds in the East, on the road in the last week, and look to be a serious title contender.
Brunson, who was spectacular last year but snubbed from the All-Star Game, is looking to make his first All-NBA team this year. He surely will, maybe even the first team.