Paolo Banchero Praises Knicks' 'Basketball Junkie' Jalen Brunson

Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero enjoyed his reunion with New York Knicks point guard and Team USA World Cup teammate Jalen Brunson last week.

As the New York Knicks continue to try and work their way up the NBA standings, their stars are gaining respect from their high-caliber opponents. 

While New York (18-15) made a splash over the weekend by trading for Toronto Raptors defensive standout OG Anunoby, the team still belongs to Jalen Brunson. In his second season on a four-year. $104 million contract, Brunson is averaging a career-best 25.9 points per game. 

He has certainly appeared to have left an impression on reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero: the two did battle last week when the Knicks visited his Orlando Magic, their first showdown since they partook in the United States' men's national basketball team's run at last summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"I played with Jalen this summer so I just got to see up close the work he puts in and just how much of a just a basketball junkie he is," Banchero said after Orlando's 117-108 win (h/t New York Basketball on X). "His dad played and he's a coach, so he was born in it and he's just a tremendous player, tremendous leader and so you want to do whatever you can to slow him down."

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Though Brunson struggled against the Magic (4-of-15 from the field, three turnovers), he's coming off a stellar December to the tune of an average of 26.9 points over 14 appearances. More shooting struggles awaited in Monday's visit from the Minnesota Timberwolves but Brunson negated a 5-of-21 output from the field with a career-best 14 assists in the 112-106 win over the Western Conference leaders. 

There will be an adjustment period as Anunoby carves out a role for the offense, but Brunson will continue to be the leader for the Knicks as they look to move themselves up the Eastern Conference standings. His next opportunity to keep that momentum alive comes on Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls (8:30 p.m. ET, MSG/ABC).