For Jalen Brunson everything seems simple. He receives the ball in his court, moves it calmly, uses a couple of changes of direction or a hesitation as a deception and goes towards the hoop. Serves double on a plate and defends again. On the next play, he changes his formula and when they close his path to the basket, he stops and takes a mid-range shot. He converts and goes back to take care of what he just got. If the defense of Philadelphia 76ers prevents him from passing, the base New York Knicks They find a free teammate and write an assist on their scoresheet. And everything starts again.
For Jalen Brunson everything seems simple. But is not. Those led by Nick Nurse know perfectly well the movements of the rival star. However, the owner of the New York team’s number 11 shirt, that dark blue one with orange details, is in charge of executing his plan. Thus, over and over again until reaching the 47 points, the highest mark in history for a Knicks player in the NBA playoffs.
With that enormous scoring capacity based on talent, power and courage to get into the painted area with his barely 1.85 meter height, Brunson He led the Knicks to a crucial 97-92 victory. as visitors to place the series 3-1 in their favor.
With that left hand that symbiosis with the ball to control the game, Brunson not only surpassed the Knicks’ historical record for points in a postseason game that was held by Bernard King, who had scored 46 points twice against Detroit Pistons in 1984. He also delivered 10 assists, making generated 72% of his team’s points, 70 of the 97.
For Jalen Brunson everything seems simple. But is not. His physical and mental strength makes him participate in 43:32 minutes of the game. And at every moment as the protagonist of the game, both in defense and attack. He practically does not rest. When he is not there, his team suffers from that absence. While the driver was on the court, the Knicks took a 10-point lead and in his brief periods on the bench they recovered 5 points.
Such is the control he has of the ball that he barely lost a ball in the entire game. Only two other players in NBA history had performances of 45 points, 10 assists and one or no turnovers: Kevin Johnson for the Phoenix Suns in 1995 against the Houston Rockets and Damian Lillard for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021 against the Denver Nuggets.
Everything seems so simple for Jalen Brunson that it is not surprising how cold-blooded he executes in the hottest moments of the game. He converts the last 5 points for his team that seals the story of a consecrating night.
The dispute for the regular season MVP award came down to three players: Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. A practically indisputable shortlist, but if anyone could argue with this power trio, it is Brunson, who led the Knicks’ car in a campaign with significant injuries to his teammates and without great figures around him.
When no NBA star wanted to sign a contract with the Knicks, Brunson, after four seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, took a step forward. He was confident that he could assume the role of leader of the historic New York franchise. And he did well. The presence of his father Rick as an assistant to Tom Thibodeau, whom he had known since he was a child when the coach was part of the Knicks coaching staff and his father was a player, was decisive for that decision.
In his second season with the team, Brunson is one win away from leading the Knicks back to the Eastern Conference semifinals as he did last season. With his conviction and talent, it seems like he can take it even further.
For Jalen Brunson everything seems simple. It’s not, but he tries hard to make us believe it is..
