Jalen Brunson: New York’s star guard is dominating in the big apple

Following the New York Knicks‘ blow out win in game five, Jalen Brunson has been making headlines after dropping 44 points on the Indiana Pacers.

It was the fifth time the point guard dropped 40+ points in this season’s playoffs and where better to do it than in front of the Madison Square Garden faithful.

The win put the Knicks 3-2 up in the series and they would not be there if it wasn’t for their star man Brunson, who has enjoyed an excellent season.

The 27-year-old has produced the best statistics of his career and averaged 28.7 points in the regular season and 33.9 so far in the playoffs.

His stats have gradually improved year on year, and now in his sixth season in the league has received MVP shouts from the MSG crowd.

It all began on draft night in 2018, where a young Brunson was selected 33rd overall by the Dallas Mavericks after a successful college career with Villanova.

After the summer league Brunson signed with the Mavericks on a four year contract and earned his way into an important role in Dallas.

He averaged 9.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds in his rookie year, not a bad return for an early second round selection.

In the 2020-21 season, Brunson averaged career highs in points, rebounds and assists as well as finishing fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

This impressive year in a new role for the guard caught the eye of Knicks and with his father on the NY coaching staff, Brunson was signed on a four year deal in July 2022.

Despite controversy surrounding his arrival after it was discovered that there were discussions conducted before free agency began, he finally became a Knick.

This was Brunson’s breakout season and he played the highest amount of minutes of his career, as well as increasing his average points from 16.3 to 24.0.

Now in his second season in New York, the 6’1 guard is playing the best basketball of his career and led the Knicks to a 2nd seed finish in the East.

In March, he dropped a career high 61 points on the San Antonio Spurs, a month after being named to the All-Star team for the first time.

New York dispatched Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs and in game four, Brunson made franchise history in scoring 47 points to break the Knicks’ single post season game record for points.

Now, the Knicks prepare for a huge game six matchup with Indiana and a victory will see them progress to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000.

With Brunson in top form, it would be difficult to bet against New York as they head into one of their biggest games in franchise history.

They are definitely in contention for the championship however, even if they overcome the Pacers, they will be met by the Celtics in the ECFs.

It will be far from easy, but the Knicks have every chance of making history with Brunson leading them into battle.