Jalen Brunson has finally made his first All-Star selection in his sixth season in the NBA. After being considered a snub last year, Brunson’s continued growth into one of the best guards in the East has earned him a spot this year ahead of guards like Trae Young.
After scoring 40 points in a 109-105 comeback win over the Pacers, Brunson got emotional when asked about his first All-Star selection. He is seen tearing up as the MSG crowd showers him with MVP chants.
“That was fun. I mean, I got nothing to say.”
Brunson was selected for his first ASG game earlier tonight then dropped 40 in big Knicks W 🙌
What a moment https://t.co/NZvTBkRK7j
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 2, 2024
Brunson is averaging 27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists this season. Many have said that Brunson deserved to start ahead of Damian Lillard this season, as Brunson has consistently been the best player on the Knicks. His decision to leave the Dallas Mavericks off a Western Conference Finals run has paid off in droves, as he sees himself becoming one of the biggest second-round success stories in the NBA.
The Knicks are the hottest team in the NBA, going 15-2 since the calendar turned to January. They’re moving into the conversation of being a genuine contender, looking completely transformed after the OG Anunoby acquisition. The Knicks are also expected to be active in the trade market, currently linked to players like Bruce Brown.
The Knicks Should Be Feared
The last 20 years of the Knicks are defined by mismanagement and impatience, as the team whiffed on most of its draft picks while constantly chasing cap space to attract a marquee free agent. They missed on the free agents almost always and were content with being in a cycle of mediocrity.
Their only successful era of the last 20 years came with Carmelo Anthony, a player for whom they gave up a treasure trove of assets even though they could have signed him for nothing in the 2011 offseason. The Melo era never resulted in any run deeper than the second round.
A slow rebuild for the last five years has made the Knicks a bonafide contender in the East this season. They became competitive after signing Julius Randle in 2019, missing on both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. That allowed them to slowly draft strong players and become a playoff team in 2021. They signed Jalen Brunson in 2022 and made it to the second round with him.
They looked to stagnate at the start of the season as a second-round threat, but adding OG Anunoby has changed them. Tom Thibodeau finally has a star-level wing defender on the roster and is using him to lead a stifling defense that multiple teams have struggled to crack 100 points against. With Brunson leading the offense alongside Randle, the Knicks are looking phenomenal.
They’re 32-17 this season, taking control of the No. 3 seed in the East. With Joel Embiid’s injury concerns and the 76ers’ constant struggle to get past the second round, the Knicks could be the team that could emerge out of the East, provided they can hang with the Bucks and Celtics.
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