Jalen Brunson is undoubtedly the most vital player in the New York Knicks‘ rotation. Given the gravity of his role, the star took it upon himself to make the necessary adjustments to adapt to the needs of new head coach Mike Brown and his offensive schemes in the upcoming season.
Brown’s offensive approach is expected to be more up-tempo. To prepare for, Brunson shed some weight, according to The New York Post’s Zach Braziller. The star addressed this by saying:
“It was important for me to be a little lighter just throughout the course of the season. Not even being lighter, I’m not that much lighter. Definitely more toned… But it’s just important for me to get my body in the best shape possible I can and go from there.”
The Knicks star didn’t reveal his new weight, but it was evident that his efforts were directed at improving conditioning, an approach many stars have embraced this summer.
Although not the tallest, Brunson is by no means a “small” guard. Listed at 6’2″ and 190 lbs, the guard possesses a solid frame. While this has been effective in forming the foundation of his playing style, such a build lends itself to a slower offensive approach.
Under Mike Brown, the Knicks are expected to play at a much faster pace. Brown shed light on this after practice on Friday as the Knicks prepare for their preseason games in Abu Dhabi.
“Their attentiveness has been great,” said Brown, addressing how the team was responding to the new system. “Today was the first time where we really had a chance to bump heads and scrimmage.”
“So when you go against a different color jersey instead of just going through it 5-on-0 or against the coaches, it’s a little different. But our guys did a good job. It’ll be even more different when we go against Philly in Abu Dhabi. I like our progress so far, but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
The Knicks enjoyed significant success under Tom Thibodeau last season. After finishing second in the East in the regular season, New York made an inspiring run through the playoffs, featuring wins over the up-and-coming Detroit Pistons and the reigning champion Boston Celtics.
Although they eventually fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the team’s performance indicated that they had the tools to compete for the NBA title.
After investing heavily in their core this summer and making key roster upgrades, the Knicks are poised to remain one of the best teams in the league.
Aside from their roster strength, the Knicks also have a unique opportunity in front of them in the 2025-26 season. With several top teams falling out of contention due to roster issues, New York could look to capitalize on the situation to cement their status as a title contender.
Brunson and the Knicks are aware of the situation at hand. With the star making the necessary adjustments to maximize his performance in Brown’s system, the Knicks could look to mount a title charge.
