Jalen Brunson has dominated each cease of his profession. You can begin method again at Stevenson Excessive College in suburban Chicago, when Brunson powered a non-traditional program to 3 state Closing 4 appearances and a 2015 state championship on his strategy to turning into Illinois Mr. Basketball. His impression on Villanova was even higher: two nationwide championships, a nationwide participant of the 12 months award in 2018, and a popularity as one of many nice school guards of his technology.
Nonetheless, Brunson’s recreation wasn’t alleged to work within the NBA. He was barely 6’2, he performed solely under the rim, and he didn’t have the pace to blow-by defenders on the perimeter. He slipped to the second spherical, spent his first three years as a sparkplug off the bench subsequent to Luka Doncic, then exploded into one thing resembling the star in the course of the Dallas Mavericks’ run to the 2022 Western Convention Finals.
The Mavericks let him go in free company anyway, believing he wasn’t well worth the 4-year, $104 million contract supplied by the New York Knicks. He became a star nearly instantly, and shall be named All-NBA on the finish of this 12 months.
At a sure level, we must always cease being stunned by Brunson’s excellence. That is merely who he’s been his whole life, lifting his groups to the most important levels by nothing however guile and difficult shot-making. Brunson did it once more within the 2024 NBA Playoffs, delivering an all-time nice efficiency in an all-time nice sequence.
The New York Knicks superior to the second spherical of the playoffs after eliminating the Philadelphia 76ers instantly basic six-game sequence. This sequence shall be remembered for the Knicks’ unimaginable comeback win in Recreation 2, and Tyrese Maxey main the Sixers to their very own unimaginable comeback in Recreation 5, however greater than something will probably be remembered because the second Brunson formally went from NBA star to famous person.
Brunson took over Recreation 6 down within the stretch, capping a 41-point, 12-assist effort for an additional playoff gem. This adopted Brunson going off for 39 factors and 13 assists in Recreation 3, 47 factors and 10 assists in Recreation 4, and 40 factors and 6 assists in Recreation 5. Just one different participant has ever put up scoring numbers like that in a playoff sequence earlier than … an absolute peak-of-his-powers Michael Jordan.
Jalen Brunson has scored no less than 37 factors in 4 consecutive playoff video games. First participant to try this since Michael Jordan in 1993.
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) Could 3, 2024
Right here’s one other one with MJ:
Add within the assists and one other legend comes up: Oscar Robertson.
Gamers with 35 factors and 10 assists in 3 video games in a single sequence, per @StatsWilliams
Jalen Brunson
Oscar RobertsonFinish record.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) Could 3, 2024
Brunson broke Bernard King’s Knicks franchise playoff scoring file with 47 factors in Recreation 4. He now joins King on an elite record of NBA gamers to pop off for 40 factors or extra in three consecutive playoff video games.
Jalen Brunson is now the seventh participant in NBA historical past, and simply the second Knick (Bernard King – 1984) to file 40+ factors in three consecutive playoff video games.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) Could 3, 2024
The best way Brunson will get his numbers is much more spectacular. For a participant who has been successful with an “outdated man’s recreation” since earlier than he acquired his drivers license, Brunson has now totally mastered each ounce of craftiness a guard can have. He’s impossibly good at sustaining his dribble, slowly inching his method into the paint, and hitting robust inside photographs from any angle.
Now that Brunson can fortunately pull up and drain a three-pointer from 35-feet each time he desires, there’s nearly no safeguarding in opposition to his offensive onslaught. Recreation 6 was a factor of magnificence.
The Knicks now face the Indiana Pacers within the second spherical. The Pacers play at a blistering tempo behind their very own star level guard, Tyrese Haliburton, however will probably be Brunson setting the tempo whereas transferring at his personal pace.
