Jalen Brunson has had an excellent 2023-24 season for the New York Knicks and his teammate Josh Hart has a hilarious idea of how he can be even better. When Hart was asked what the next step to improvement for Brunson is, he stated the All-Star needs to start telling head coach Tom Thibodeau to shut up at times.
“I think the next step is telling Thibs to shut up, and he calls a little bit more of the plays,” Hart said. “That’ll be the next step, but he’s too nice of a guy to do that, so maybe I’ll have to tell Thibs.”
Hart certainly is one of the funnier players in the league. Brunson calling his own plays at times certainly isn’t a bad idea, but running the ones that Thibodeau wants him to has worked out just fine so far. The 27-year-old is averaging 27.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game this season.
Brunson had 35 points, 2 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings to lead the Knicks to a 120-109 win. He was one of five Knicks players to score in double digits, with Hart recording 31 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals on the night as New York improved to 45-31 on the season.
Josh Hart Reacts To Julius Randle Needing Season-Ending Surgery
Prior to the game between the Knicks and the Kings, it emerged that Julius Randle would be undergoing season-ending right shoulder surgery. Randle, who had dislocated his shoulder back in January, had attempted to avoid surgery and make his return before the playoffs, but the Knicks will now head into the postseason without their star big man. Hart was asked about Randle needing surgery and had a typical answer.
“I feel for us because he just kept us in the wind for two months. Terrible teammate, terrible human being,” Hart jokingly said. “But nah for sure, as competitors, as hoopers, you never want your season to end on injury. So, we know that’s a tough and frustrating for him. Obviously, he wasn’t able to end last year fully healthy, and he was playing great and had a great rhythm. So, it definitely was just unfortunate. But now, for him, it’s just about hitting his rehab strong and getting better this offseason, and he’ll come back next year better than he was this year.”
Josh Hart was asked about Julius Randle's season coming to an end:
"I feel for us because we just kept us in the wind for two months. Terrible teammate, terrible human being" 😭 pic.twitter.com/x6JlnzJyNq
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 4, 2024
You certainly hope Randle can come back stronger next season. It is a real shame for the Knicks that we’ll never quite know for sure just how good they could have been in the playoffs this season.
Randle had averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game this season and was named an All-Star for the second time in his career. The Knicks were 12-2 with him and OG Anunoby in the lineup in 2023-24, and fortunately for New York, at least Anunoby, who has also been out since January, is expected to be back at some point.
The Knicks have done an admirable job of staying afloat in their absence, but I think that following this update regarding Randle, it is safe to say their ceiling is in the second round of the playoffs.
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