How did New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson get this good?

Since he’s arrived in New York, Jalen Brunson has been the engine that has driven the Knicks to the postseason in back-to-back seasons. Not many expected him to transform into one of the best guards in the NBA, but Brunson continues to prove that he belongs in that category. We’ll examine how the Knicks guard ascended to this level. All statistics are sourced from Basketball Reference.

The New York Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract in the summer of 2022. Bleacher Report called the deal “an overpriced contract,” while Deadspin commented that the Knicks were paying top dollar for someone who wasn’t a top talent.

In his four previous seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Jalen Brunson averaged just under 12 points and four assists per game. His final season in Dallas was his best, when he put up over 16 points per game in just under 32 minutes. It was hard to predict that a player with this resume would one day become a franchise cornerstone in New York.

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Brunson’s stock started to rise noticeably during the 2022 NBA playoffs, when the Mavericks made a surprising run to the Western Conference Finals. He played particularly well in the first round when Mavericks star Luka Doncic was out of the lineup due to injury. When Doncic was out, Brunson scored 41 points in a round one victory against the Utah Jazz.

Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA, but because the ball is in his hands so often, it may have hidden Brunson’s true emerging ability. Doncic’s usage rate has been towards the top of the league in the last several seasons. There’s no animosity between the two, though. Brunson told The Athletic that Doncic is “his brother” and that he has “nothing but love for him.”

As Brunson was preparing to show out in the 2022 NBA playoffs for the Mavericks, he was locked in getting better each and every day. He was posting career-best statistics, but he knew the ceiling was much higher. “Obviously, what I’m doing is good stuff, but the best thing about it is I know I could be doing better. That’s the part that keeps me hungry,” Brunson told Slam Online in April 2022.

Jalen Brunson’s father Rick played in the NBA for nine seasons, and the Knicks star saw how much work he put in. Rick Brunson also pushed his son to be the best version of himself, which is something Jalen is thankful for today. “I didn’t really understand it (at the time), I thought it was just what he did,” Brunson said according to Slam Online.

It’s become clear to Knicks fans that Brunson calibrates his life in ways that will optimize his performance as a basketball player. He spoke to GQ about nutritional choices he’s made that have given him more energy on the court. Speaking about his mostly plant-based diet, Brunson said, “There’s a difference in how I feel in the morning-my energy versus slouching around in bed.”

Listed at 6’2”, Brunson isn’t the tallest player. He’s also not the fastest or most athletic, but he works on putting himself in position to make plays over more physically gifted defenders. “I do a lot of single-leg balance stuff and core stability,” Brunson told GQ. Basketball fans can see the fruits of this labor, as Brunson isn’t usually knocked off of his spot in the pick and roll.

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Yahoo Sports has commented that the Knicks like to play a plodding, methodical style of offense. This means Brunson isn’t often out in transition getting easy baskets. That hasn’t been a problem for the point guard, as he appears to have a myriad of moves in his dribbling arsenal that creates space for him to get shots off.

Brunson finds ways to get to the basket, and finish once he’s in the paint. In February 2024, Yardbarker highlighted that the Knicks guard led the NBA in points in the paint. This is quite an accomplishment considering that frontcourt players usually set the pace in this category, and are also present protecting the hoop.

Despite the heights he’s reached in New York, fans rarely hear Brunson talk about himself. He’s usually quick to redirect credit and praise to his teammates. For example, when he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week in November 2023, Brunson said, “It (the award) means a lot but I wouldn’t be doing the things I’m doing without my teammates.”

Brunson’s prowess near the basket has been documented, and he’s also blossomed into an over 40% three point shooter. As if that wasn’t enough, Brunson is also a deadly scorer from mid-range, as Medium analyzed. “He can catch any defender off-guard when he stops suddenly into a pull up-notice how the defenders’ momentum carries them to where they were going to go,” Medium wrote.

Brunson’s evolution also includes his ability to direct other players. “They (leaders) have to do it by showing their actions and making sure those words mean something. I love to work hard, and I love to be a person who is able to take criticism, but also give it,” he told Sports Illustrated.

Brunson has averaged 25 points and six assists per game with the Knicks, and is the team’s go-to player when they need a clutch basket. Brunson’s former college coach at Villanova, Jay Wright, told the New York Post that “now you can argue it’s a bargain,” regarding the guard’s contract in New York.

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An uncertain perception of Brunson’s abilities and related contract have given way to adulation and consistent praise. SportsNet New York wrote in December 2023 that Brunson may be an all-time player for the Knicks, while Deadspin called Brunson “the best point guard in the NBA” in February 2024.