Despite underwhelming season, Knicks have found their leader
Going into a season filled with uncertainties, the only question that the Knicks have answered so far is that they finally have their point guard. Even in another frustrating loss, Jalen Brunson continues to show New York that he was well worth the $104 million contract.
Friday night's 132-129 OT loss to Portland was the third time that the Knicks have blown a double-digit lead in the first half at the Garden this year.
New York, who trailed by 3 with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, saw the savvy Brunson step up as the closer. The Knicks rallied and Brunson hit a go-ahead shot with 13 seconds left in regulation, but a Quentin Grimes foul on Anfernee Simons allowed Portland to tie the game.
On the next possession, Brunson took it upon himself again to get the win but missed a tough floater at the buzzer. He finished with 32 points, the first time in his career that he scored at least 30 points in back-to-back regular-season games. In spite of another strong stat line, Brunson’s focus remained on the outcome.
The accountability and leadership have been exactly what the Knicks had hoped for when they inked the guard to a four-year deal on the opening day of free agency. According to ESPN, Brunson is the first player in NBA history to sign a $100 million contract with a new team despite never being named an All-Star.
A two-time NCAA champion and College Player of the Year at Villanova, Brunson aims to build on his strong start in hopes of adding “NBA All-Star” to his bio. His 21.4 points and 6.5 assists per game lead the Knicks. With a 21.74 PER, Brunson ranks eighth among the league’s point guards (third in the East).
Shaping up as the leader in the locker room, Brunson’s performance has reportedly made the Knicks front office comfortable parting with Immanuel Quickley, per Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Quickley, a third-year guard from Kentucky, has been one of the Knicks' better perimeter defenders and, surprisingly, rebounders this season. However, being penciled in behind Brunson for the foreseeable future, moving Quickley for future assets could make sense for a Knicks team that has been hovering around .500 all season.
With the way the Knicks season has gone, it may not be just Quickley who finds himself out of New York. If RJ Barrett’s struggles persist, it will be interesting to see if he is moved for a better-fitting running mate to Brunson.
It remains to be seen how far this young Knicks core can go. But on a team mired in mediocrity, Brunson is the only player on the team who can unquestionably be a cornerstone.
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