The modern NBA increasingly prioritizes big ballhandlers and creators, which makes diminutive scoring guards like Jalen Brunson increasingly rare. Spitting in the eye of the trend, the future mayor of New
York’s 40-point performance in the NBA Cup semifinal against Orlando gave us further proof of his basketball genius.
“He’s got good pace, and he’s really smart,” says Orlando guard Jalen Suggs in a recent Athletic article by James L. Edwards III. “He doesn’t get too bored keeping it simple. He challenges you every possession.”
Per Edwards, Brunson has not averaged fewer than 24 points since joining the Knicks four years ago. Only seven players in the league currently score more, and most of them are significantly bigger or more athletic. Brunson regularly produces against defenders who are tall enough to check him for bald spots.
Brunson’s secret formula is footwork, balance, and deception. “I always played against (people) older than my age when I was younger,” Brunson says in Edwards’ article. “I had to be deceptive. I had to be crafty. That footwork lasts a long time. It’s (been a focus) since fifth or sixth grade, really. That was the start of it.”
Suggs likes the challenge that Brunson presents. Of his fellow Jalen, he adds, “I love the fact that we get to play him four times a year. I’ve gotten better from our battles.”
Scoring a season-high 40 PTS in the Cup semifinal, Brunson passed Richie Guerin (87) for the third-most 30-point games in franchise history, trailing only Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony. His ascent in New York—and the league—continues to reshape how his early career is remembered. Dirk Nowitzki recently acknowledged having doubted Brunson’s ability to become a franchise centerpiece after leaving Dallas in 2022.
After the Knicks beat the Disneys to advance to the Cup finals, the Mavs legend admitted to Brunson that he’d been skeptical. “When you left for New York, I wasn’t sure if this was going to work,” said Dirk. “So I’m super proud of you, super happy for you. I saw how hard you worked and how much it means to you, how much time you put in when nobody is watching.”
That skepticism was common across the league, given Brunson’s size and understated athleticism. Captain Clutch has since responded with All-NBA honors, two All-Star appearances, back-to-back 50-win seasons, and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals.
This season is already shaping up to be Brunson’s best yet. One significant difference from recent years is replacement of Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown. As Edwards explains in another article for The Athletic, the new coach has changed how the Knicks use Jalen Brunson. This time out, the strategy is to emphasize quicker decisions, more movement, and increased off-ball involvement.
“Jalen is getting off the ball a bit more, coming back to get it,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley says in the piece. “Now, you’re playing against closeouts and playing against a shifted defense as opposed to being able to load up on him.”
Edwards notes that Brunson’s off-ball role has expanded, with his catch-and-shoot attempts increasing from 1.9 per game last season to 3.2 this year. The captain is holding the ball for less time and his dribbles per touch are down, too.
Coaches have noticed more half-court motion and earlier ball movement before actions begin. “It just seems like that (Villanova) action that they’re running with the DHOs and then all of a sudden they’re swinging it around,” Hornets coach Charles Lee opines. That adds some complexity to the offense and the early ball movement makes the defenders do more cardio.
And sometimes, Jalen just breaks ankles.
Raptors coach Darko Rajaković notes that after experimenting to start the season, the ‘Bockers have returned to the tried-and-true Brunson–Karl-Anthony Towns pick-and-roll action while still incorporating movement. “The first 10 or 12 games, it felt like they were running more,” Rajaković explains. “[Now] they’re playing a little bit more to the strengths of their main players, but at the same time try to implement ball movement and body movement.”
The Knicks have won five straight and nine of their last 10. They rank second in the NBA in offensive rating and seventh in defensive rating over that 10-game stretch. Tomorrow, they enter the NBA Cup final against the San Antonio Spurs. It’s obvious to make David and Goliath comparisons, with Brunson, standing at six-foot-mumble, taking on the NBA’s tallest player, the 7’4” (at least) Victor Wembanyama.
Are the Knicks concerned to be facing the red-hot Spurs and the mighty Wemby? Nope. They have Jalen Brunson, Captain Clutch, the Brunson Burner—the guy who got 29 write-in votes for Mayor. As his roommate and teammate Josh Hart recently, reluctantly, admitted, “Inch for inch, I think he’s probably the best.”
We do to. Go Knicks.
