After living in Luka Doncic’s shadow for the first few years of his career, All-Star guard Jalen Brunson has broken out and made a name for himself with the New York Knicks. As a result, he has been named one of the best point guards heading into the new season.
The Knicks have undergone a remarkable transformation since Leon Rose took over as team president in 2020. Despite inheriting a team mired in a seven-year sub-.500 drought, Rose has meticulously built a contender in New York that is built to last.
The cornerstone of this rebuild has been the acquisition of Brunson, who joined the Knicks in 2022 after a breakout season with the Dallas Mavericks. Brunson’s arrival has provided the Knicks with the dynamic playmaking and scoring they had long lacked.
Alongside Brunson, Rose has assembled a supporting cast of experienced veterans and promising young talent, including Julius Randle, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart. This blend of proven talent and emerging stars has allowed the Knicks to make a steady climb up the Eastern Conference standings, and they now appear poised to challenge for a top-four seed in the coming season.
The Knicks’ approach, focused on building a sustainable contender rather than chasing quick fixes, has been a refreshing change for a franchise long plagued by short-term thinking and roster turnover. With Brunson leading the way, the future looks bright for the Knicks as they seek to end their championship drought and return to the NBA’s elite.
New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson Named Third Best Point Guard For 2024-25 Season
After a couple of years playing in the Big Apple, Brunson is finally getting the respect he deserves. According to an analysis by Frank Urbina for Hoops Hype, the Knicks star is named the third-best point guard heading into the 2024-25 season.
“New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson had already shown signs of being a great player in 2022-23. In 2023-24, however, the two-time national champion at Villanova proved that he’s unquestionably an elite one, finishing Top 5 in the MVP vote, leading the Knicks to the second round of the playoffs and earning 2nd Team All-NBA honors.
There may still be some discourse on whether or not Brunson can be the best player on a championship team, but considering his selflessness in taking less money now to sign an extension in New York, which will help the Knicks keep contending in the East for years to come, Brunson might be able to shut that talk down and prove it without a doubt in the coming seasons.
Brunson’s strong 2023-24 regular season and his even more impressive playoff run, in which he averaged 32.4 points and 7.5 assists over 13 games, has us thinking big things for soon-to-be-28-year-old in 2024-25,” Urbina wrote.
A couple of weeks ago, Brunson agreed to a $156.5 million contract extension, leaving over $100 million in guaranteed money on the table. Despite the lucrative offer, he chose to prioritize winning over maximizing his earnings, demonstrating his commitment to the team’s success.
This decision showcases Brunson’s leadership and his desire to build a strong roster around him, as the Knicks look to make a deep playoff run in the upcoming season. Add his talent on the court and it only makes sense for him to be included in the best point guards in the league.
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