Jalen Brunson’s new comments show why Carmelo Anthony was so bad for the NY Knicks

Jalen Brunson has added to his legacy as one of the greatest players in New York Knicks history over the past few weeks. However, some new comments on Wednesday highlight why Carmelo Anthony was so bad for the franchise during his time in Gotham.

The Knicks have felt like a team of destiny this month. After being down two games to one in their quarterfinal series against the Atlanta Hawks, they have pulled off a historic victory by winning seven consecutive games and securing their spot in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.

This is the second consecutive year the team has reached the conference finals and Brunson has played a huge role in their success. This includes reaching the playoffs every year since New York arrived in 2022. In that time, he has shocked the NBA world and emerged as a perennial All-Star and the best closer in the game.

Still, part of what makes Brunson so beloved by Knicks fans is that he is a humble star who is team-first. He proved this once again on Wednesday. During a press conference with the NYC media, Brunson was asked about his teammates recently taking more shots and not demanding the ball like many stars. His answer was simple and excellent.

Brunson said, “One, I’m not a star. Two, I want to win.”

Carmelo Anthony can’t hold a candle to Jalen Brunson in NYC

nix
brad penner-image images

That kind of selfless and humble nature hasn’t been seen from a top Knicks star in a very long time. decade. and was one of Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony’s seven seasons in New York. Still, as good as Anthony was, he was not as impactful a player as Brunson.

During his seven seasons in New York, the 10-time All-Star led the Knicks to the playoffs only three times. In four of those years, they had a losing record, including a 17–65 mark when they played only 40 games in 2014–15. And while they made the playoffs, New York got the furthest trip to the semi-finals. Brunson has done this in at least every season he has been with the team. Plus, he took a discounted rate when he signed his extension through 2024.

Anthony was a great player and a great scorer, but his me-first, ball-hogging style was great for his numbers but bad for his teammates and the Knicks’ championship hopes. While New York fans celebrated the return of the Brooklyn-born kid, his seven years playing inside Madison Square Garden were mostly disappointing. And they led the franchise to seven consecutive losing seasons.

Brunson has excelled since day one and he is still only 29 years old. So even bigger seasons and potentially the Knicks’ first championship since 1973 could be ahead. Fans should appreciate the three-time All-Star as much as possible because superstars like him don’t come around often.

Avatar
After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos


#Jalen #Brunsons #comments #show #Carmelo #Anthony #bad #Knicks

Jalen Brunson’s rating downgraded vs. Pacers’ injury report

The New York Knicks face the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night and Jalen Brunson is at the center of the injury report. The Knicks initially listed Brunson as questionable due to right ankle injury management and a cervical strain, putting New York’s star guard firmly in focus as the team looks to extend a three-game win streak.

However, as of Tuesday morning, the team has downgraded their point guard to questionable for the Pacers game.

The Knicks entered the matchup at 44–25, No. 3 in the Eastern Conference. Indiana, meanwhile, is 15-53, 15th in the East, and trying to break a brutal 13-game losing streak. The Pacers have had a tough season. The losses have been huge. The momentum has disappeared. Every game now feels like an attempt to arrest the decline.

Brunson continues to be the engine of the Knicks’ offense. He is averaging 26.3 points and 6.6 assists in 64 games, while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three. His control of pace and late-game shot creation have fueled New York’s rise.

When he plays, Nix operates with structure and confidence. Without him, the offense may stagnate at key moments.

Knicks injury report: Jalen Brunson status vs. Pacers

Several additional names are included on the Knicks’ injury report. Miles McBride is out with a core muscle injury, while Trey Jameson III is also out on a two-way deal. Several players are listed as questionable, including Obi Toppin, Ethan Thompson, Jalen Slauson and Ben Shepard.

As for Indiana, the Pacers’ injury report is once again long.

Tyrese Haliburton is out with a torn right Achilles tendon. Jonny Furphy is out with a right ACL injury. Ivica Zubac, Quenton Jackson, TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Taillon Peters are all listed as questionable due to various injuries and actions.

Still, Brunson’s situation remains the biggest story. The Knicks will continue to make progress if he plays while Indiana tries to end a brutal stretch.

So when it comes to whether Jalen Brunson is playing tonight against the Pacers, the answer is no.


#Jalen #Brunsons #rating #downgraded #Pacers #injury #report

The Knicks’ silver lining in Jalen Brunson’s off night vs. OKC

It’s hard to maintain the “element of surprise” after enduring a tough 82-game season. At a certain point, opponents know what to expect and how to counter different parts of the team’s plan. While the rest of the NBA should be aware of the many ways the New York Knicks’ offense can thrive, there may be one asset that can confuse teams going forward.

All-Star Jalen Brunson scored just 16 points while shooting 5 of 18 from the field and 2 of 5 from distance in a 103-100 loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Despite these modest numbers, the Villanova product was able to impact the game with his passing. He collected 15 assists on the night, and showed another way he can lead the attack.

Brunson’s status as a leading scorer will be as important as ever, but his ability to facilitate and set up teammates can turn lackluster nights into serviceable nights, and potentially make elite evenings part of a story that ends with a parade.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown told reporters after the game, “Good basketball game. I thought our guys, they could have turned it around at any time.” “We were down by double digits. I liked our competitive spirit.”

Jalen Brunson’s identity focuses on scoring

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks back during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagen Images
© Vincent Carchietta-Imagen Images

Must be stated clearly. The Knicks are at their best when Brunson is one of the team’s leading scorers. In 58 games this season, Brunson is averaging 26.5 points while shooting nearly 47 percent from the field and nearly 38 percent from distance.

Brunson can usually score with ease from all three levels, but he struggled to do so against the Thunder. They scored only two points in the first half and only three points in the last quarter. One of the guard’s key misses occurred late in the fourth quarter when he missed a three-pointer that would have tied the contest.

“I feel like I missed a lot of shots that I would normally take,” Brunson told Jared Schwartz of the New York Post.

If the 29-year-old had put more points on the board when making key passes, it’s possible the Knicks would have defeated Oklahoma City and re-established their identity as an NBA Finals contender.

Jalen Brunson’s demise could help Knicks win ugly games

Any team worth its salt would love to be firing on all cylinders every night, but playoff basketball often demands that teams find different ways to win when things don’t go according to plan.

If Brunson were to experience a poor shooting night during the tournament, his passing could be a skill that could allow the Knicks to steal a game they might otherwise lose. Teammates like OG Anunoby, Landry Shamet, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns can score in a variety of ways. Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the Knicks’ overall firepower after running away from Madison Square Garden with a win.

“Good team. Obviously, a good attack, then they also have really good defenders, so they’re well balanced,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the contest. “They’re obviously on top of the East for a reason. They’re a good team, a playoff team. Really good roster.”

Even if Brunson stumbles, others could pick up the slack and take advantage of the New Jersey native’s demise. While this isn’t the ideal path to victory for New York, it does provide another reason to be optimistic about a team whose results have been shaky for much of the campaign.


#Knicks #silver #lining #Jalen #Brunsons #night #OKC