Why won’t Jalen Brunson get the respect he deserves?

From being picked 33rd in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft, to becoming one of the best point guards in the league, it's safe to say Jalen Brunson has made a name for himself. However, even becoming an NBA All-Star still hasn’t given the respect Jalen Brunson needs.

Jalen Brunson was born in New Jersey and grew up in Chicago. His father, Rick Brunson, was a basketball player from 1995 till 2006. He played with teams like the New York Knicks, the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Seattle Supersonics, and the Houston Rockets.. After Rick Brunson’s  retirement, he became an assistant coach for multiple teams. Growing up with a father who plays basketball, Brunson was constantly surrounded by basketball. Today, there are viral videos of a young Brunson training with his father. This led him to the greater influence of who he is today. He attended Stevenson High School in Illinois, and in 2015 won the Illinois state championship and the title “Mr. Basketball” in 2016. 

 After high school, he selected Villanova University, In Pennsylvania, to attend college. During his three years at the university, he won two NCAA championships. The first one being won in 2016, Villanova's first championship in 31 years. The second one won in 2018. He also got to be teammates with most of the people he plays with today. Such as Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, Ryan Arcidiacono, Mikal Bridges, and many more. When he graduated, everyone predicted he would be a high pick, but to everyone's surprise, he was drafted drastically low.

Along with some of his teammates from Villanova, he entered the 2018 NBA draft with high hopes, and rightfully so with the success he had with the Wildcats. Surprisingly, he was drafted in the second round as the 33rd pick. Even with this surprise, Brunson had to set the record straight on who he was. 

He would be coming off of the bench for the Dallas Mavericks. In the 2018-2019 season, he averaged 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists. Although it wasn’t his best season, he was just getting used to his new team and teammates. But over the next three seasons with the Mavericks, Brunson clearly improved. The Mavericks made it to the playoffs all three seasons, and Brunson's stats nearly doubled by his last season with the Mavericks. At the end of the 2021-2022 season, Brunson was at the end of his contract with the Mavericks. He had wanted to sign an extension contract with them for $55 million, but Dallas ended up declining his offer, twice. He then realized his career with Dallas was ending. His teammate on the Mavs, who was also drafted to the Mavs in the 2018 draft, Luka Doncic, would later say “It was amazing to play with that guy,” and “Miss him alot, he's an amazing player,” on podcasts, and interviews. 

With Brunson being a free agent for the offseason, many teams had their eyes on acquiring him due to his impact on the Mavericks. But one team in particular caught his eye. The New York Knicks had two main factors for Jalen Brunson's Arrival; a four-year $104 million dollar contract, and Rick Brunson being an assistant coach. In July 2022, The Knicks front office announced that Jalen Brunson had signed a four-year contract. The organization knew they needed a superstar, and had high hopes for Brunson. The public agreed that the Knicks needed a superstar as well, but they doubted Brunson was the player for that role. Almost all of the media were saying that Brunson was being “overpaid”. They doubted that a 6’2” point guard would bring them success. But as he started in his first few games with the New York Knicks, they started to cheer him on. Soon enough they realized Jalen Brunson would definitely bring the organization success. 

As the All-Star weekend approached and votes started to go in, the media was certain Jalen Brunson would have a spot at the All-Star game. Just with half of the season gone, he averaged 20+ points per game and was a superstar in New York. But when the NBA announced the starting and bench players for the 2022-2023 All-Star game, society was shocked. When Brunson hadn’t been picked to be a starter or a bench player, Social media went wild, saying Jalen Brunson was “snubbed” and “robbed” of the opportunity. But he had to still prove himself. 

The Knicks went all the way to eventually lose to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, losing in game six. Jalen Brunson finished the season averaging 24 points per game, 6 assists per game, and 4 rebounds per game. As the NBA season ended the FIBA World Cup would start. Jalen Brunson, along with Knicks and Wildcat teammate Josh Hart, Wildcat teammate Mikal Bridges, and many other well-known players would all be playing for Team USA. Unfortunately, team Canada would beat them for third place. Brunson then returned for his second season in New York, got to be in the NBA All-Star game, established his new career high with 61 points against the Spurs in a late March game, won player of the month in March, is second in the league for charges drawn, and averaged 29 points per game, 7 assist per game, and 4 rebounds last season. 

After the New York Knicks won the final game of the regular 2023-2024 season, Brunson

wrote and shared an article for New York named “To My New York Family”. In the article, Brunson shares how his father has been a role model for him growing up. He also shares the mindset he has for the playoffs and his gratitude for the organization, and especially the fans. 

“ You[Knicks fans] make a difference for us. … Without you, the Knicks aren’t the Knicks. … It’s an honor to play for New York in front of this organization, the city and the fanbase. I do not take that for granted one bit.”

During the 2023-2024 playoffs, the Knicks faced multiple injuries. Bojan Bogdanovic, Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby, and even Brunson himself, during game two of the semifinals, had tweaked his right foot during the first quarter. Everyone had thought he’d be out for the remainder of the game, but surprisingly, he came out during halftime and started warming up again. At the end of that game he had 29 points, three steals, and five assists. He also had 40 or more points in five games.

Even though Jalen Brunson has had an astonishing career so far, the media still seems to doubt him. In New York, everyone admires his heart for the game and gives him their respect. Statistically, Brunson is one of the best point guards in the league, but somehow, we have college coaches like Becky Hammon saying “If your best player is small, you're not winning.” Purely because Brunson is 6 '2 " and not at the average point guard stature, he isn’t getting the respect he deserves. Many point guards of his size are greatly respected, even with no championship; Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, John Stockton, Chris Paul. Yet, Jalen Brunson still won’t get the credit that's due. What more will he have to do to get the respect he deserves?

 Bar & Facts:

Bibliography: JJ Redick’s podcast, Jalen Brunson Knicks picture, Jalen Brunson career stats, “He is too small to be a point guard”, Jalen Brunson Mavs picture, Jalen Brunson Villanova Picture, Jalen Brunson USA picture, Jalen Brunson All Star picture , Players Tribune letter