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New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson Draws Bold Top-5 MVP Take from Ex-NBA Star

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated 4/10/24

Ever since he arrived to the Big Apple, Jalen Brunson has taken his NBA career to a whole new level. But for JJ Redick, the New York Knicks All-Star guard deserves to be in the top five list of players that can win the MVP award this year,

Brunson’s MVP-worthy run this season can be clearly seen in the Knicks’ 128-117 dismantling of the Chicago Bulls recently. In that game , New York’s franchise player dropped 45 points, three rebounds, and eight assists. OG Anunoby posted 24 points on 66 percent shooting from the field, while Josh Hart had another productive night when he contributed 17 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in 46 minutes on the court.

The Bulls, on the other hand, were led by DeMar DeRozan’s 34 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Nikola Vucevic added 26 points by efficiently hitting 75 percent of his field goal attempts. Coby White, meanwhile, added 24 points and six assists.

The win helped New York rise up to the Eastern Conference third seed with 47 wins and 32 losses, surpassing a slumping Cleveland Cavaliers team in the process. Chicago is in the ninth spot with a 37-42 record, which places them squarely in the Play-In Tournament.

New York Knicks Star Jalen Brunson Gets Bold Top-5 MVP Take from JJ Redick

Before the Knicks’ win against Chicago, an episode of JJ Redick’s The Old Man and the Three Podcast talked about Brunson being overlooked in the league. In a video clip posted on X:

Jalen Brunson has been a Top 10-12 player in the NBA this season.

Watch the full episode of The Old Man and the Three Things with @jj_redick, @NekiasNBA, and @stevejones20: https://t.co/NaqhyLUwsr pic.twitter.com/nqI8Nj3pPG

— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) April 9, 2024

Over the course of 74 games this season, Brunson is averaging 28.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. The Knicks’ All-Star guard is also shooting 48 percent from the field, 39 percent from deep, and 82 percent from the free throw line.

Although Brunson’s MVP case isn’t as strong as those of Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or Luka Doncic, what he’s doing in New York still deserves some recognition. It won’t be long now before the Knicks star gets the love he deserves in the league.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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