Recruited at a high price this summer by the Knicks, Jalen Brunson has golden hands! After two matches, he still hasn’t lost a single ball. This is obviously very rare for a playmaker, and especially since he has spent 64 minutes on the pitch. That night, against the Pistons, he compiled 17 points and 6 assists. After two matches, he has already distributed 15 assists, and the New Yorkers finally have a boss.
“He has a great understanding of the game, and I think that’s probably the most important thing.” emphasizes Tom Thibodeau after the Knicks’ big win over the Pistons. “I also think the way you manage and control the game is another strong point. But generally, when you analyze lost balls, they fall into one of two categories: either they are risky passes; or you are doing too much one on one. He understands very well when to enter and when to pass. »
We call it accuracy, and Brunson is showing it at the very start of the season. He is still capable of sacrificing his body on a force pass, or throwing himself on a dragging ball, but when he directs the play, he shows calm and precision.
“He is still analyzing and reading the game” continues Thibodeau. “A lot of times he knows when there’s a good mismatch or something that can give you the upper hand. His intelligence is arguably his greatest asset, and he’s always been that way. He was like that in high school, college and the pros. The game is not too important to him. »
What does the person who transforms the Knicks’ game think about it through his vision of the game and his desire to play quickly? For now, he doesn’t want to think about it too much…
“I think when I approach the end of my career, I will be able to look back on moments like this and tell myself how special they were” he replies about this first at home with the Knicks. “But I think for now the best thing is to stay determined and focused. It was a great impression, but it all goes away if we don’t try to win games.
But the Knicks won, and after a great performance in Memphis, they started their season well.
| Jalen Brunson | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 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 | 1 | 36 | 38.9 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15.0 |
| Total | 277 | 25 | 49.4 | 37.3 | 80.0 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 11.9 | |
