NBA GM Survey Applauds New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson

NBA general managers had unique accolades for New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 11, 2023

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New York Knicks

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is entering his second season in Manhattan and he's expected to be the one to lead his team to new heights.

After missing the playoffs in 2022, the Knicks signed Brunson and became one of the league's most improved teams. The team won 47 games and a playoff series, reaching those respective landmarks for the first time since 2013.

Amateur and professional observers credited the Knicks' success and improvement to Brunson and the Association's general manager apparently took notice: in the league's annual survey posted on NBA.com, several decisionmakers voted for the point guard when asked who the best modern leaders are.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson / © Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James and Stephen Curry received half of the votes in the survey while reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic placed third. Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, and Chris Paul each received multiple votes, while Brunson received a vote along with Jrue Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Draymond Green. Brunson also received a vote when the respondents were asked which current player would make the best coach (a list led by Paul for the second consecutive season).

"A leader isn't someone who just goes out and tells people what to do," Brunson said in an interview with NBA TV. "They've got to do it by showing their actions and making sure those words mean something. I love to work hard, and I love to be a person who is able to take criticism, but also give it."

Brunson's leadership will be key for the Knicks as they navigate through a season burdened with new expectations.

Fans might have to be patient to see Brunson return to full form: the starting point guard played only six minutes in Monday's preseason opener against Boston but earned 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. New York returns to action on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).

Published Oct 11, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.