After seizing the Knicks points record in the playoffs, and equaling Michael Jordan with his three games of 40 points or more in a row in the same series, Jalen Brunson gave it another layer! Author of 43 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the victory against the Pacers, he made playoff history by becoming the fourth player in history to string together four playoff games with 40 points or more. The other three are Jerry West (six in 1965), Bernard King (four in 1984) and Michael Jordan (four in 1993).
“Put together, small things can go a long way…” philosopher Jalen Brunson. “Of course, scoring 40 points is nice, but it's the little things that help us win games like that. So I'm happy to be surrounded by such a group. I know we will fight every day. It’s the only thing I think about.”
The “little things” are once again this ability to do the right thing. We remember his pass for Josh Hart in Game 6 for the winning 3-pointer. Tonight, do it again with Donte DiVincenzo 40 seconds from the end.
A selfless soloist
Accuracy is also his 14 out of 14 on free throws, including 8 out of 8 in the last quarter. It's this ability to raise your level of play in the 4th quarter. Over the last five games, he has averaged more than 12 points per game in the last quarter.
“We could multiply the examples night after evening, and what I like about him is that he only thinks about the team,” underlines Tom Thibodeau. “All he cares about is winning, and he cares about his teammates. Result: at the end of the match, he asks himself what we need? Do we need a large basket? Whatever we need, He will do it.”
| 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.
