On June 6, 2021, the Clippers beat the Mavericks and won the series after Game 7. That day, Jalen Brunson, who is coming off the best season of his career, a solid sixth man for Dallas, only plays ten minutes. However, he had a successful start to the series, but Rick Carlisle did not bet on him for the most important match of the season.
The following year, the playmaker will explode under the orders of Jason Kidd before becoming the star of the Knicks since 2022. These long minutes on the bench, watching his team be eliminated, the All-Star remembers -he ? Is he even more motivated to find his coach at the time in this second round against the Pacers?
“In all honesty, I said it last time: we are in the playoffs now and we don’t need any additional motivation,” he assures. ” This is how. The past is the past. Rick Carlisle welcomed me into the league, helped me become the player I am today, from day one. Coaches must make decisions that go with their team. What happened happened, and we’ve been moving forward ever since. »
And does the Indiana coach think that his former Dallas player will particularly want revenge? “Jalen Brunson is the guy you never want to bet against”he reacted. “We are not betting against this player. I don't know if anyone saw him coming, saw what he was going to do even two years ago. If we know him, if we know his character, we are not surprised, not shocked. »
“It’s pretty clear that he played at a very high level during the season. He confirms and does even better in the playoffs”
What memory does Rick Carlisle have of his collaboration with the Knicks star, between 2018 and 2021? ” It is unique. It was great working with him for three years. He is professional, he loves basketball, he has good character, respect. We can only say good things about him, about what he has done. He is very talented, has an indomitable desire to achieve what skeptics say he cannot do. »
Thus, in 2021, the coach judged that his playmaker was not capable of helping the Mavericks against Kawhi Leonard and his gang. The times have changed…
“The last two times we played against him, he scored 40 and 39 points. And he’s the best scorer in the playoffs,” insists Rick Carlisle. “It’s pretty clear that he played at a very high level during the season. He confirms and does even better in the playoffs, which is difficult to do. »
| Jalen Brunson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | DAL | 73 | 22 | 46.7 | 34.8 | 72.5 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 9.3 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 57 | 18 | 46.6 | 35.8 | 81.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 8.2 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 68 | 25 | 52.3 | 40.5 | 79.5 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 12.6 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 79 | 32 | 50.2 | 37.3 | 84.0 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 16.3 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 68 | 35 | 49.1 | 41.6 | 82.9 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2023-24 | NYK | 77 | 35 | 47.9 | 40.1 | 84.7 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 28.7 |
| Total | 422 | 28 | 48.9 | 39.1 | 82.4 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 16.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
