New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson Confirms Physical Change Ahead of 2025-26 Season: Mar 4, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) warms up before a game against the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson Confirms Physical Change Ahead of 2025-26 Season: 'It’s All About Adapting'

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 7:51 AM ET

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson recently confirmed that he dropped a few pounds this summer to get himself ready for head coach Mike Brown’s faster style of play this upcoming season.

“It was important for me to be a little lighter just throughout the course of the season,” Brunson told The New York Post’s Zach Brazilier. “It’s all about adapting.”

“Not even being lighter, I’m not that much lighter, definitely more toned, and like that. But it’s just important for me to get my body in the best shape possible I can and go from there,” he added.

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson Confirms Physical Change Ahead of 2025-26 Season: Nov 29, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) complains about a possible foul during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks recently flew to Abu Dhabi for a couple of preseason games against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 2 and 4. This will be the team’s first few games with Mike Brown , who replaced Tom Thibodeau this offseason, at the head coaching helm.

New York Knicks News: Mike Brown dishes on his relationship with OG Anunoby

Mike Brown will have a familiar face on his roster, as he’ll get to coach OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks. Brown recently revealed that he tried to recruit Anunoby when he was the head coach of the Nigerian national team in 2020.

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson Confirms Physical Change Ahead of 2025-26 Season: Mar 25, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dunks in the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

“Many people don’t know this, but OG and I have a previous relationship, and I reached out to OG in 2020. I reached out to most of my Nigerians in the league because there are a ton of them. And we were in conversation,” Brown said on Media Day.

“He was close to playing on that team, but we sparked a relationship back then, and we even had lunch to talk about it during the course of the season when I was in Golden State… He’s a really great guy, a fantastic guy, and he does have some personality. Sometimes he lets it out. Sometimes he doesn’t,” he added.