Every game, every night, the mission has become a simple one: Write about someone other than Jalen Brunson.
The task is the same on every trip to the Garden, every sojourn to the laptop. Write about someone other than Jalen Brunson.
And here’s the thing: Right now, the Knicks are as deep and as rich in good stories as they’ve been in years.
Julius Randle’s nightly redemption, Josh Hart capturing the hearts of Knicks fans, Immanuel Quickley electrifying Madison Square Garden, and Mitch Robinson looking like an elite defensive force are just some of the good stories surrounding the Knicks.
They even have a designated mascot, Derrick Rose, who has Hall of Fame credentials and takes on an unlikely walk-on role with rare grace and good humour.
The Knicks are filled with good stories everywhere you look. However, as the game starts, Brunson sneaks into the lane, knocks down a 10-footer, steps back behind the line, swishes a 3, finds open teammates, exhorts frustrated ones, and all the while, he is making it impossible to write about anyone else because, at this point in the Knicks season, it has become impossible to talk about anyone else.
The ball was going in the hoop, and Brunson took 18 shots Wednesday night, making 15 of them, and going 5-for-6 from 3.
Despite the remarkable performances of other Knicks players, Brunson’s impressive scoring, fighting the double team, and getting the ball out quickly stood out. Six Knicks scored in double figures, and the team drilled 20 3s, making 57% of the ones they took. Grimes made 6 out of 9 from 3 and scored 22 points, while Randle had 21. Despite all these impressive performances, it is challenging to talk about anyone else when looking at Brunson’s stat line.
As a player, Brunson hits every right note, from the moment he signed on, including his attire, where he wore a fresh-out-of-the-box No. 88 Patrick Kane jersey and talked about how he admired Kane as a kid growing up outside Chicago. Even Randle couldn’t help but be in awe of Brunson’s remarkable first half and how he made the game easier for all of them.
The Knicks have been doing well, but there are potholes lurking, and things are about to get tricky with a Miami-Boston two-fer and a five-game West Coast swing looming. Despite this, the Knicks’ best lately emanates from the player wearing his own No. 11 when he isn’t borrowing Patrick Kane’s 88. Good luck talking about anyone else.
»Jalen Brunson is truly a star«
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