“ He's at the top of our list and is clearly someone we would consider “, said Steve Kerrin mid-March, regarding Jalen Brunson. The coach of Team USA was still uncertain about his selection of players sent to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Knicks leader was indeed on the expanded list of 41 players, but he will ultimately not be selected. The Warriors coach preferring to go in search of gold in France with Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday and Tyrese Haliburton as leader.
The name of Kawhi Leonard, the 12th man expected at the time, was announced in mid-April. A month later, Jalen Brunson suffered a broken hand during the final match of the playoff series against Tyrese Haliburton's Pacers.
Substitute for Team USA in the event of one of the twelve selected players withdrawing, he was then absent for two months after his operation. Being restored for training camp in Las Vegas therefore seemed tricky. In any case, “ the team was chosen before I broke my hand. But it's clear that I wanted to be on the field and play for the United States “, shows the leader at GQ.com.
Ready to play another role
Does he think he deserved to be there? “ Yes of course. The way I played last year, I think I deserved it. I could have fit in. I have played many roles during my career; I could play another one. But obviously that wasn't possible at that time. », Says the 28-year-old player who had an exceptional season averaging nearly 29 points.
In his position, the presence of Stephen Curry, who had announced months earlier his desire to participate, seemed inevitable. Jalen Brunson therefore found himself on waivers with another All-Star (Tyrese Haliburton) and a player who was preparing to win the NBA title again with the Celtics (Jrue Holiday).
And the latter, unlike the other two, was not a member of the squad sent to the World Cup a year earlier. Without consequence for him. The choice of American leaders did not prevent Jalen Brunson, who averaged 11 points at the 2023 World Cup, from supporting the American selection, which was ultimately victorious.
The leader of the Knicks now says he wants to go “ forward » and find “ ways to improve. You continue to have goals, and this is my goal: I want to play next time. » It will be in Los Angeles, in four years.
| 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.
