New York's Finest: Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson Talks Family, Legacy, and Future (EXCLUSIVE)

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson spoke with All Knicks about his metropolitan legacy to date as he prepares to make his All-Star Game debut.

Considering the way he's paving his path to king of the hill, top of the heap, Jalen Brunson can easily dispose of his vagabond shoes.

Originally viewed as one of the most volatile NBA free agent risks in recent memory upon signing a $104 million contract with the New York Knicks in 2022, Brunson has met, and likely even surpassed, every expectation that four-year deal has placed upon him. By solving the Knicks' long-standing issues at point guard, Brunson has turned the team into a legitimate contender, one that has benefitted from his career-high posting over the past two seasons (averaging 25.6 points on over 48 percent shooting to go with 6.3 assists).

Brunson's metropolitan efforts are about to culminate in his first NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night (8 p.m. ET, TNT), repping the Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. He previously partook in the All-Star Saturday festivities at Lucas Oil Arena, placing sixth in the Starry Three-Point Contest. While Brunson won't be injured by injured fellow All-Star Julius Randle, he was joined by sizable Gotham contingent on Saturday: Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty engaged in a one-on-one three-point shootout with Stephen Curry while Westchester Knicks standout Jacob Toppin partook in the Slam Dunk Contest.

The Villanova alum's rise to power is further on display with a new endorsement deal from Starry, as Brunson repped the clear lemon-lime drink from PepsiCo throughout the weekend.

"Having this crisp, refreshing taste, Starry's my go-to lemon-lime soda," Brunson said about what attracted him to the partnership, one of his first major endorsement deals alongside Dunkin'. "I think it's a big part of what the NBA is trying to do and I'm just glad to be part of it."

All Knicks was able to catch up with Brunson via Zoom for an exclusive interview as he prepared to make his exhibition debut.

(Thanks to Starry for making this interview possible)

Vince Carchietta, USA TODAY SPORTS

Q: Partaking in the Three-Point Contest allows you to indirectly work with acquaintance and fellow New York Sabrina Ionescu. How does it feel to share the metropolitan stage with her?

JB: I think it's really cool. She's done such great things, she's been amazing. She's practically brought New York City basketball back on the map, that was what she's been able to do. To be able to share the limelight with her. I mean, it's an honor because what she's been able to do is nothing short of spectacular.

Q: How has New York endeared itself to you as a long-term home?

JB: The city, the fan base, and the organization obviously believe in me. I think it's been a blessing. I've been honored to go out there and play in the best place to play basketball, the best place to play a sport. Madison Square Garden is iconic and the fact I get to call that place home is a dream come true. This place has been unbelievable, and hopefully, I can stay as long as I can.

Q: How has your time in New York changed you as both an athlete and as a human being?

JB: As an athlete, we're here in New York the media capital of the world. You get to experience a lot, you get to hear all the positives or the negatives, you get to see everything. As an athlete, I've had to grow up and I've been able to be directed in the right place at the right time with the right people. I've loved it, I love it. It's been one of the best learning experiences and it's, it has treated me right.

Q: New York basketball carries a bit of "Knicks Tax" where every move you make, everything you do on and off the floor is subject to magnified scrutiny and analysis. What made you want to accept that challenge?

JB: A lot of people think it's pressure to go through that, to go through everything that goes wrong, to what goes around the Knicks. I just control what I control and work as hard as I can. I go out there and play as hard as I can, hold myself accountable and, when I'm not playing well, I pump my teammates up and worry about everything else when I do play well. I'm just trying to find a happy medium where I'm authentic, holding myself accountable, and making sure I'm saying the right things and doing the right things.

Q: You mention having the right people around you and that really appears to be the case: your father Rick is an assistant coach, your wife moves up your wedding to avoid Team USA camp. How has basketball strengthened the bonds of the Brunson family?

JB: The game of basketball has done wonders for us. I've been able to, obviously, play at a pretty high level for a long period of time and it's enabled me to help both myself and my family now and going forward. I'm so thankful for where they've been and what they've been able to do. Not just my wife, not just my dad, but my mom, my sister have sacrificed so much as well. Everyone has sacrificed for me to be the best player I can be and I'm just so thankful for them. 

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Q: Retirement is, hopefully, a long, long, long way off. But this week should no doubt add to the legacy you've established thus far. When your time does come, how do you want to be remembered?

JB: I want to be a winner. That's the one thing that I truly want to do. I think if you could ask me to take any individual accolade I've had in my entire career, whether it's high school, college, pros, and tell me I can trade it for a championship, I would do it 100 percent. Anything that involves us winning as a team, that means the most to me. That's all I want to be known for: doing whatever it takes to win.