New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson is currently in the midst of a sensational campaign for his team, averaging career-highs of 26.5 points, 6.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game on 47.5 percent shooting from the field and 42.7 percent from the three-point distance.
In his recent five-game stretch, the 27-year-old elevated his performance further by showcasing an outstanding average of 30.2 points, 7.8 assists, and 4.2 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are solidly positioned in the Eastern Conference, holding the fifth seed with a 26-17 record. Notably, they have been on a hot streak, winning eight of their last ten games.
Initially chosen by the Dallas Mavericks as the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Brunson primarily operated as a role player during his initial three seasons in the league.
However, the former Villanova Wildcat experienced a breakthrough in the 2021-22 season with the Mavericks, showcasing his skills by averaging then-career-highs of 16.8 points and 4.8 assists. This performance positioned him as the clear second option on the team, playing a supporting role to Mavs star Luka Doncic.
Approaching free agency after the impressive campaign, the Mavericks were reluctant to invest significantly in Brunson. In contrast, the Knicks seized the opportunity, offering him a substantial contract that led to his relocation to the Big Apple.
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Why Jalen Brunson deserves to be an NBA All-Star this season
Brunson is having a career year across the board, proving that he can hang among the best players in the league.
In a December 2023 game against the Phoenix Suns, Brunson achieved a career-high by scoring 50 points, with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal on the opposing side.
During this outstanding performance, he not only set the NBA record for the most three-point shots made in half without a miss, hitting eight consecutive shots, but also tied the NBA record for the most three-point shots made in a single game without a miss, making an extraordinary nine shots from beyond the arc.
He became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1988 to record at least 50 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and five steals in a single game.
The two-time NCAA champion is unquestionably one of the best players in the league at the moment, and he has been tearing apart opposing defenses all season long with his crafty ways of scoring while keeping his teammates involved.
Few backcourt players surpass him, particularly in the Eastern Conference. After Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers and Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks, there's an argument that he is already the next best point guard in the conference.
Securing an All-Star berth and an All-NBA selection seems likely if he sustains this level of performance into the second half of the season.
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