What should New York Knicks fans expect from Jalen Brunson’s first season?

It was the opening seconds of his first game in a New York Knicks uniform, in the Garden, against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 4. Jalen Brunson received the pass from Evan Fournier and held the ball on the upper right side of the arch for two seconds and some change. He proceeded to dribble with his dominant left hand, got into the paint, and scored the floater while surrounded by three of Detroit’s players.

Two possessions later, Brunson carried the ball across the court. He lifted his eyes up to survey what was in front of him and made his move. Once again, he connected with Fournier on the give-and-go. This time he attacked from the left side. With pace, he beat his defender and lifted the ball to kiss the glass before finding the bottom of the basket.

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Jalen Brunson’s preseason play proves he’s a perfect fit for the New York Knicks.

A lot of people would discount the value of preseason games, but Jalen Brunson wasted no time introducing himself as a Knick. The first quarter alone was a good way to announce his arrival, as he also tallied a midrange jumper, a steal, and a pass that led to a Julius Randle dunk, plus a block that started a fast break and resulted in an RJ Barrett layup. He finished the game with 16 points and 5 assists.

Brunson started in all four of the Knicks’ preseason games, and they finished with a 3-1 record. With the regular season now upon us, to say he is making an impact is an understatement. Brunson’s preseason stat line looks impressive at 17.8 ppg, 49% from the field, and 46% from three. He has also displayed his passing and defensive ability greatly during the four-game stretch. Some may argue that they played against the Pacers, Pistons, and Wizards in a less competitive setting.

But look back at his postseason explosion with the Dallas Mavericks. In the playoffs, he knocked the rhythm out of the Jazz, toyed with the Suns, and gave the Warriors a lot of headaches defensively. Brunson may not be the superstar that Knicks fans wanted, but acquiring Brunson is a big step forward for New York. Another factor that makes Brunson valuable is his leadership and level-headedness.

Jalen Brunson’s fit is needed despite the wants of New York Knicks fans.

For a team like the Knicks, which houses some of the league’s best young players, it is important to have a player who can give them a sense of accountability on and off the court. RJ Barrett told the media after the game against Detroit that “he’s definitely a leader.” “He comes over to me and we have good interaction. We have good communication between him and I. I think that’s starting to become contagious. just throughout the team. So it’s been really good.”

Having another player take some of the offensive weight off of Julius Randle will be another improvement for the Knicks. And the fact that Brunson is a point guard makes it even better. This means that the ball movement will be much better, and that has already been shown throughout the preseason.

Instead of a superstar to carry the weight of five boroughs on his shoulders, the Knicks may have needed a floor general with incredible ability and a winning mentality. “He’s a really good player, obviously. “But he’s a good person, a good human being at the core of him,” Randle stated. “I said it from day one, he’s going to be great for our team, but he’s going to be even better for our locker room.”

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What to expect from Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks.

As for Knicks fans, do not get “New York Knicks, 2023 NBA Champions” tattooed on you. As promising as things look to be, a playoff appearance, while looking more likely than last year, is still not guaranteed. A play-in opportunity is more probable considering how competitive the east is.

Expect Brunson to be aggressive, score at least 15 points per game, create opportunities for his teammates, and chip in on the defensive end on a nightly basis. The Knicks are not title contenders quite yet, but they are harder to beat with Brunson on board. Should they not make the playoffs, improving their record (37-45) would be a good step for a struggling franchise.

If they can top that off by finishing in the top seven come April, New Yorkers will have plenty to celebrate. While looking incredibly comfortable with his new team, Jalen Brunson acknowledges the challenges that come in the pursuit of winning and embraces the leadership role now cast upon him.

“If I miss a beat, that’s on me and I’m putting my team at a disadvantage,” Jalen Brunson stated. “So I don’t have to be perfect. I’m not going to make every single shot, I’m not going to do all that stuff. I’m going to make mistakes. But it’s how I respond to those mistakes. Am I going to sulk? Or am I going to move on to the next play and have a short-term memory and try to just be the best I can be in the next play?”

With a motivated and upgraded roster and a frustrated and demanding fanbase, the Knicks are definitely a team to watch this season. They are not quite there yet, but they are definitely better.