Jalen Brunson: The Rise of a Superstar in New York
Hoops writer Nick Andre gives a deep dive on Jalen Brunson’s rise from overlooked to franchise player of the New York Knicks.
For most of the 21st century, the Knicks franchises have not had the best of times. There have been issues with roster construction, injuries, and so many more. Fans have been hungry for success. The Knicks have been a big market in the NBA since they arrived and it’s only right the team figures a way to remain top contenders.
For the past decade, the Knicks have failed to bring in a household name in Free Agency. In 2010, they failed at acquiring the biggest name in basketball, LeBron James, as he went down south to join the Miami Heat. Well, the Knicks did sign Amar’e Stoudemire, an All-Star power forward who had success in Phoenix. They also acquired Carmelo Anthony in the middle of the 2010–11 season via trade as well.
There were a lot of things that went wrong in the Carmelo Anthony era. First, there were injuries as players like Stoudemire and others didn’t have the opportunity to mesh with teammates on the court. Another was a lack of roster construction. Knick fans will probably never forgive Phil Jackson for the years of watching their team collapse to the bottom of the NBA. The Carmelo Anthony era lasted for six seasons and only resulted in two playoff appearances.
It seemed impossible for the Knicks to rise back into contention. With a stubborn owner in James Dolan as well as a poor front office, the team in orange and blue was going to continue to be a ranking organization. However, a shift changed in 2021 when New York basketball was back. Sure, the stars of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden resided in Brooklyn. But the Knicks were back as they clinched the fourth seed and advanced to their first playoff appearance in eight seasons.
The 2022 Playoffs increased Jalen Brunson’s stock significantly. If you watched him play in college at Villanova, you already know he’s a winner at heart. That’s what the Knicks needed in a franchise player. They needed someone who wasn’t going to back down away from the pressure of leading a big market team. Luckily, Jalen Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, was one of the leading factors in his signing to New York. Shortly after, he became the Knicks’ newest franchise player.
While turmoil took place in Brooklyn for the Nets, Jalen Brunson became the new man of the city. He emerged as one of the best point guards in the Eastern Conference while scoring and playmaking at a high level. Brunson averaged 24 points per game alongside 6.2 assists, leading the Knicks to the postseason for the second time in three years. He also granted the Knicks’ first playoff series win in a decade but ultimately lost to the Miami Heat in the second round.
Sure, the Knicks fell short of a deep playoff run. However, their season ended with Jalen Brunson dropping 41 points in an elimination game. Leaving everything on the floor and giving 100 percent is what being a Knick is all about. Brunson carried that same energy into the 2023–24 season, where he became one of the top players in the NBA.
The Knicks were winning! The Madison Square Garden crowd was rocking on a nightly basis. The fans believed their team was the best and there was nothing you could tell them. As the season continued, Jalen Brunson demanded attention from the rest of the NBA. He delivered one spectacular performance after another and it led to him being in MVP conversations.
After the Knicks’ win over the Chicago Bulls, they clinched their first 50-win season in 11 years and clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The conclusion of the season made me realize that Brunson is a superstar in the NBA. He has the talent and the demeanor to one day emerge as the best in the league. He showed that in big moments where he scored 50 points against the Phoenix Suns as well as a career-high 61 points against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Jalen Brunson era in New York is just beginning. At 27 years of age, many can say that he’s just now entering the prime of his career. As Brunson continues to improve as a superstar, it means he has a chance to take the Knicks to even further heights.
