Knicks' Jalen Brunson Isn't Going Backward

The New York Knicks need Jalen Brunson to stay at a high level.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 1, 2024

Oct 28, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) attempts to steal the ball from New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports / Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

New York Knicks

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson established himself as one of the best players of the league with his play last season.

In 77 appearances for the Knicks, Brunson averaged 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game, earning him a spot on his first All-Star team.

In order to contend for a championship, each team needs a player like Brunson to be the star of the squad. However, Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley imagines a world where Brunson isn't on the same level that he was last year.

"Barring a major injury, Brunson isn't at risk of major backtracking, but sustaining his production from last season isn't a given. For that matter, neither is New York's standing as the East's second-best team. The Knicks have major question marks at center, the East has other star-studded rosters and there are scenarios in which both Brunson and New York are more good than great," Buckley writes. "A healthy Brunson is probably an All-Star for the foreseeable future, but he could get squeezed off of the All-NBA rosters and excluded from any MVP conversations."

Brunson, who just turned 28, is in the middle of his prime, but his impact was so high last season that it isn't a guarantee for him to return to that level. The Knicks added Mikal Bridges, who should be used to complement Brunson, but he will also take away some of the usage for his point guard.

That could be a good thing for Brunson overall as he doesn't have to exert as much energy, but it may hurt his overall stats. However, Brunson has made it clear that he is seeking a championship over personal accolades, so he'll sacrifice an award or two if it means getting the Knicks their first title since 1973.

Make sure you bookmark New York Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published Sep 1, 2024

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.