Jalen Brunson's honest take on stardom amid Knicks NBA Playoffs clash vs. Hawks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NBA Playoffs are cutthroat. A lot of stars start to fade after 82 games and turn into non-factors when the postseason kicks off. Jalen Brunson was quite the opposite. He rose to the occasion when the Dallas Mavericks needed him and he continues to do the same for the New York Knicks. Amid their first-round matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, he got to reflect on his rise to stardom.
Jalen Brunson entered the league as a two-time national champion with the Villanova Wildcats. During his first years with the Mavericks, he practically lived behind the shadow of Luka Doncic. But, a single NBA Playoffs game against the Utah Jazz changed all of that. The run where he went from scoring eight points per game to notching over 21 points per night in the postseason happened a little over four years ago now.
Despite the calendar turning a lot of pages since then, Brunson has not quite changed. He still continues to deliver in the NBA Playoffs and it was evident in Game 1 against the Hawks. He sank 40% of his shots from the field and 75% of his three-pointers to get a team-high 28 points. Unsurprisingly, Brunson also led the Knicks to their first win in the NBA Playoffs with a 113-102 demolition of the Hawks.
So, how is he feeling with all the changes in the past four years? Brunson kept his answer simple, via James L. Edwards of The Athletic.
"The first couple of years before that, I was just chipping away and chipping away. I was working every day. You work on your game to be the best, most complete player you can be. When you’re out there on the court, you have to perfect the role that’s asked of you. Every day, I was working on my game. In the summers, I was getting better," the Knicks star said.
Brunson and the Knicks have a tough NBA Playoffs road ahead of them. A lot of heavy-hitters like the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons will stand in their way enroute to the NBA Finals. But, he knows that and likes his chances because he is always ready for a challenge.
"When an opportunity like that comes around, there’s no reason to get ready when you stay ready," Brunson added.
Readiness and not being scared of the moment seem to be his mantra. Will this be able to lead the Knicks to a Larry O'Brien trophy for the first time in 53 years?