The Unconventional Brilliance of Jalen Brunson
Kosport Magazine – Apr 30, 2024
LARRY DAVID said it best.
The beloved actor and writer, best known for “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” made an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” last month, during which he talked about his beloved New York Knicks and their best player, point guard Jalen Brunson. “He’s tremendous. He doesn’t seem athletic in a way, but then he …”
David, 76, then stood up from this seat, preparing to replicate the move. ” … He slithers in! And then he kind of does that [fadeaway] thing! Where his back is going backwards!”
As David sat back down, Eisen couldn’t contain his laughter after the septuagenarian did a full-on kick to imitate Brunson’s form.
But here’s the thing: David isn’t wrong. There is something about Brunson’s game, and what makes it so unusual, yet so accessible. If the undersized, slight-of-frame Stephen Curry has given the younger generation something to aspire to with his otherworldly shooting range, Brunson, 27, may be inspiring people of all ages to perfect their old-man game — one that depends far less on athleticism and more on impeccable footwork, strength and trickery.
“Man, it’s so great to be on the other side of [his footwork] now,” Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo said to Kosport Magazine of Brunson, who played his first four NBA seasons in Dallas and was a teammate of DiVincenzo’s at Villanova. “We played one-on-one so many times over the years to where I feel like I know exactly what he’s gonna do. Honestly, a lot of defenders feel that way. But he’s so crafty that they can’t tell when he’s gonna shoot, when he’s gonna pass, or when he’s gonna use a step-through.
“He knows he’s not the most athletic, so he outsmarts and out-footworks people to get where he wants to go.”
The Engine of the Knicks’ Offense
That precision is not just highly unpredictable and effective, though — it’s also the engine that drives a Knicks offense that ranked fifth over the final six weeks of the regular season without two-time All-NBA forward Julius Randle — and fourth through the first two weeks of the playoffs.
KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE did almost everything right.
The two-time NBA champion, a proud stopper who entered the 2023-24 season saying that making the All-Defensive first team was among his individual goals this season, wasn’t duped by the perimeter screen set by Knicks center Jericho Sims.
The high-IQ wing guessed correctly that Brunson would reject the screen, as he often does. Caldwell-Pope then stayed with Brunson step-for-step as the guard backed him into the paint. And he even managed to stay relatively grounded on the All-Star’s first fake to the left.
But Caldwell-Pope flailed on the fourth action: Brunson up-faked before taking a beautiful step-through — a nasty one-two combo — before drawing contact across the arm as his floater lofted above the outstretched arm of Nikola Jokic and found the bottom of the net as the referee’s whistle blew.
The Madison Square Garden crowd erupted.
And the defending champion Nuggets, down by 25 points after that failed defensive sequence, looked utterly confused. Between guard Jamal Murray raising his hands in frustration and forward Aaron Gordon putting his hands on his hips in exasperation, Denver seemed to be asking a question countless other teams have this season: How do we stop this freaking guy?
Brunson managed to shoot a blistering 7-for-8 from 2-point range that night against the Nuggets. The showing was far from an anomaly.
“When you have to guard a player on the catch, and then you have to guard him again when they dribble, and you have to guard him again when he picks up his dribble? That’s a lot of opportunities for a defender to make a mistake. Unfortunately, I’ve seen it before,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder told Kosport Magazine, a reference to the 2022 playoff series in which Brunson — playing without injured Dallas Mavericks teammate Luka Doncic for the first three games — torched Snyder and the Jazz for 24 points in Game 1, 41 in Game 2 and 31 in Game 3. Dallas won the series in six.
Consider, too, Game 4 of the Knicks’ first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Wing defender KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE did almost everything right.
The two-time NBA champion, a proud stopper who entered the 2023-24 season saying that making the All-Defensive first team was among his individual goals this season, wasn’t duped by the perimeter screen set by Knicks center Jericho Sims.
The high-IQ wing guessed correctly that Brunson would reject the screen, as he often does. Caldwell-Pope then stayed with Brunson step-for-step as the guard backed him into the paint. And he even managed to stay relatively grounded on the All-Star’s first fake to the left.
But Caldwell-Pope flailed on the fourth action: Brunson up-faked before taking a beautiful step-through — a nasty one-two combo — before drawing contact across the arm as his floater lofted above the outstretched arm of Nikola Jokic and found the bottom of the net as the referee’s whistle blew.
The Madison Square Garden crowd erupted.
And the defending champion Nuggets, down by 25 points after that failed defensive sequence, looked utterly confused. Between guard Jamal Murray raising his hands in frustration and forward Aaron Gordon putting his hands on his hips in exasperation, Denver seemed to be asking a question countless other teams have this season: How do we stop this freaking guy?
Brunson managed to shoot a blistering 7-for-8 from 2-point range that night against the Nuggets. The showing was far from an anomaly.
“When you have to guard a player on the catch, and then you have to guard him again when they dribble, and you have to guard him again when he picks up his dribble? That’s a lot of opportunities for a defender to make a mistake. Unfortunately, I’ve seen it before,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder told Kosport Magazine, a reference to the 2022 playoff series in which Brunson — playing without injured Dallas Mavericks teammate Luka Doncic for the first three games — torched Snyder and the Jazz for 24 points in Game 1, 41 in Game 2 and 31 in Game 3. Dallas won the series in six.
Summary:
Jalen Brunson may not have the flashy athleticism of other NBA players, but his impeccable footwork, strength, and trickery make him a force to be reckoned with on the court. Even veteran players like Larry David are in awe of his unconventional brilliance. Brunson’s precision and craftiness have made him the engine of the New York Knicks’ offense, and his ability to outsmart and out-footwork defenders has earned him the respect of his peers. Despite his unassuming appearance, Brunson’s game is anything but ordinary, and he continues to surprise and impress fans and opponents alike.
The Rise of Jalen Brunson: From New York to NBA Stardom
When it comes to the NBA, there are few players who can truly do it all. But Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is proving to be one of them. In a recent game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Brunson showcased his versatility and skill, leading his team to a 3-1 series lead with a record-breaking performance.
But this star turn is not a fluke. It’s been years in the making, with Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, being a member of the Knicks back in 1999. As a 5-year-old, Jalen would often accompany his father to the team’s locker room, studying the players’ moves and footwork. And now, he’s using those skills to dominate on the court.
But it’s not just his technical abilities that make Brunson stand out. He also brings a unique blend of old-school and modern play to the game. While he may use intricate footwork and deceptive moves, he also incorporates elements of a children’s game, constantly keeping defenders on their toes.
And despite being one of the most heavily guarded players in the league, Brunson manages to avoid turnovers and make smart decisions on the court. His low turnover rate and high usage rate are a testament to his skill and composure under pressure.
But perhaps the most impressive aspect of Brunson’s game is his ability to finish at the rim. Despite being a guard, he rarely gets his shots blocked, thanks to his strength and crafty moves. In fact, he’s been blocked less frequently than some of the biggest names in the league, including Kawhi Leonard and Nikola Jokic.
So what’s next for this rising star? With his impressive performance and growing fan base, it’s safe to say that Brunson’s star will only continue to rise. And as he leads the Knicks towards the NBA Finals, one thing is for sure: Jalen Brunson is a force to be reckoned with in the world of basketball.
Summary:
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is making a name for himself in the NBA with his versatile and skillful play. His record-breaking performance against the Philadelphia 76ers is just the latest in a long line of impressive displays on the court. But it’s not just his technical abilities that make him stand out; Brunson also brings a unique blend of old-school and modern play to the game. And with his low turnover rate and high usage rate, it’s clear that he’s a rising star in the league. As he continues to lead the Knicks towards the NBA Finals, one thing is for sure: Jalen Brunson is a force to be reckoned with in the world of basketball.
The Unstoppable Jalen Brunson: A Force to be Reckoned With
When you think of dominant players in the NBA, names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo may come to mind. But there’s one player who may not be as well-known, but is just as unstoppable on the court: Jalen Brunson.
The 6’2″ point guard for the Dallas Mavericks may not have the height or flashy moves of some of his peers, but what he lacks in physical attributes, he more than makes up for with his skill, determination, and sheer force of will.
His teammates and opponents alike have taken notice of his unique abilities. “That’s the kind of strength he has and the way he plays,” Warriors star Draymond Green, a former Defensive Player of the Year, told Kosport Magazine. “You may look at him like, ‘Ah, he’s only 6-2 or however tall he is.’ But he plays so much bigger than that. He’s special, but it’s not surprising.”
And it’s not just his strength that sets him apart. Villanova teammate Donte DiVincenzo, who now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, recalls playing against Brunson in college and being impressed by his ability to dominate despite his smaller stature. “Playing against size doesn’t bother him,” DiVincenzo said. “In college, there was no defensive three seconds rule, so bigger guys could just stand there and clog the paint. … To be able to do it now, he’s got more space to go to work against defenses.”
But it’s not just his physical abilities that make Brunson a force to be reckoned with. It’s his mental game as well. He has a knack for finding ways to be comfortable while being uncomfortable on the court, a skill that has helped him create a handful of nearly unstoppable old-school advantages for himself.
“I’ve found ways to be comfortable while being uncomfortable,” Brunson said. “My game is a little unorthodox and a little different than most people’s. But I work on finding ways to keep the defense off balance while remaining on balance myself.”
A True Underdog Story
Brunson’s journey to the NBA has not been an easy one. Despite being a highly touted high school recruit, he was not heavily recruited by top college programs. He ended up at Villanova, where he was a key player in their national championship runs in 2016 and 2018.
But even after winning two national titles and being named the Naismith College Player of the Year in 2018, Brunson was still overlooked by many NBA teams. He was drafted in the second round by the Mavericks, but has since proven all the doubters wrong.
Now in his third season in the NBA, Brunson has become a vital part of the Mavericks’ success. He has shown time and time again that he is a force to be reckoned with on the court, and his teammates and opponents have taken notice.
So the next time you’re watching an NBA game and see a smaller player dominating on the court, don’t be surprised if it’s Jalen Brunson. He may not have the height or the flashy moves, but he has the heart, determination, and skill to be one of the most unstoppable players in the league.
