While the Knicks are currently dealing with some injuries and recent struggles, their captain added another personal accolade to his mantle on Monday before the MLK Day clash with the Mavericks.
Jalen Brunson
was named to his third all-star team and was named a starter for the second consecutive season.
Unlike last season, where Brunson was being outvoted by LaMelo Ball and eked into the second guard spot next to Donovan Mitchell by virtue of the player and media votes, Brunson received the second most votes of any Eastern Conference player (behind Giannis Antetokounmpo) and easily made it in a newly positionless field.
Joining Brunson from the Eastern Conference are Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Cade Cunningham. Yes, that’s an extremely small lineup, but like last year, it won’t matter due to the new all-star format.
Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama got the nod out of the West despite several of them missing time with injury.
Back to Brunson, who’s now a three-time all-star. He’s the first Knick to be named a “starter” for the second consecutive season since Carmelo Anthony was a fixture next to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade from 2012-16. Who would’ve thought when the world called him overpaid in 2022?
The team’s performance will absolutely influence his All-NBA and MVP finishes, but Brunson figures to challenge for another top-five MVP finish and his first All-NBA 1st team nod. In 37 games, he’s averaging 28.2 points and 6.1 assists on 48.1% from the field and 38.8% from three for the current No. 3 seed in the East that can’t seem to put the ball in the basket without him.
He’s missed the last (almost) three games with an ankle tweak, but is questionable for tonight’s game against the shorthanded Mavericks. He’s in no danger of missing All-NBA honors, only missing five out of the allowed 17 games.
There’s still a chance that Brunson is joined by Karl-Anthony Towns for the second straight year, but that will have to wait for the reserve announcements. Will the NBA’s coaches look past the Big Bodega’s recent struggles in a weak East (especially for big men) and give the Knicks two all-stars for a third straight season? Time will tell.
