Jalen Brunson Proves He’s The NBA’s Most Clutch Player

Since arriving in New York City in the summer of 2022, Jalen Brunson has turned around the New York Knicks franchise. He’s been ten times the player that anyone in the fanbase or organization could’ve hoped for in their wildest dreams, signed two team-friendly contracts, and is the perfect face of the franchise in a city where the lights are eternally bright. The former second-round pick doesn’t shy away from any of the expectations that come with being the point guard for the Knicks. He’s shattered every expectation on his ascent to superstardom, so why should playoff moments be any different? Brunson’s played in five postseason series as a Knick and has delivered in every single one.

Jalen Brunson Proves He’s The NBA’s Most Clutch Player

After Brunson won the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year award over Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards, some people around the league scoffed. How could anyone be more clutch than the best player in the world who has carried his team’s undermanned offense in ways never seen before? Yes, Jokic had a historic offensive season and was incredible late in games. However, Brunson has been the league’s best crunch-time performer for multiple years.

Since joining the Knicks, Brunson has seven 40-point playoff games, good for the most in the league. He’s averaged 30.5 points and 6.9 assists in 30 postseason contests. Through the first round of this year’s playoffs, Brunson is averaging a league-leading 5.4 points in clutch play. The next highest is Edwards at 4.0 points per clutch game. Last year, Brunson put up an astounding 6.1 points in those games, which led the playoffs. In 2023, he ranked third with 3.6. He’s been easily the most relied-upon late-game player in the sport over the past three seasons and has justified New York’s belief in him by delivering time and time again.

On Thursday night, with the weight of the Knicks’ season on his shoulders, Brunson added to his clutch resume with his best Knicks moment yet. Guarded by Ausar Thompson in a tie game, who had given him fits all series long, and may be the top perimeter defender in the league, Brunson dribbled hard to his left before snatching back to his right. He discarded Thompson with perhaps his best move of the series, pulling up for three at the top of the key. He hit all nylon with 4.3 on the clock to give NY a three-point lead. After Malik Beasley fumbled a Cade Cunningham pass out of bounds, New York escaped with a series victory.