Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

New York Knicks Jalen Brunson is finally getting the flowers he deserves following his impressive season for the Knicks. On Inside the NBA, Kenny Smith led the recent round of praise during halftime of the Knicks’ 118-109 away win at the TD Garden against the Boston Celtics

Jalen Brunson turned up for the Knicks after a statement first-half performance where he scored 15/23 from the field, which included 6/11 from beyond the arc. This led Kenny Smith to pronounce him the best player in the Eastern Conference. 

The New York Knicks are the most surprised team in basketball right now. They should be at number six seed… Brunson has been the best basketball player in the Eastern Conference by far. Kenny Smith said

This is a bold statement from Kenny Smith, considering that the Eastern Conference boasts a lot of talents, and among them are past MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. But going by Smith’s take, Brunson has a strong argument based on his recent performances, as he has had 35 points in each of his last five games for the Knicks.

His performance has helped the Knicks gain much relevance and solidify their third-place standing on the Eastern Conference standings with a 48-32 record. He is currently averaging 28.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 6.7 APG. 

Jalen Brunson has been on a tear of late

Jalen Brunson was on fire for the Knicks in the win against The Boston Celtics, finishing the game with 39 points, all coming in the first three-quarters of the game. His fifth consecutive game where he scored 30+ points as the Knicks pulled away in the second quarter on a 25-5 run as they took a 69-48 lead at halftime. 

Rival Jayson Tatum finished the game with 18 points, four rebounds, and seven assists In what was a poor outing for the home team. The loss wasn’t an expensive one for the C’s, as they had already secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference. 

Their outing against the Knicks is an indication that they still have a lot to do if they’re to translate their regular season performance into an NBA tile, as they’re the clear favorites for the title. Brunson now shows why he is an All-Star material with his impressive outings. 

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