In the ever-evolving landscape of the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks’ $104 million man Jalen Brunson finds himself at the center of mounting criticism, with former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins leading the charge.
Through the first eight games of the 2023-24 campaign, the Knicks have stumbled to a mediocre 4-4 record, raising eyebrows about their cornerstone point guard’s performance.
The spotlight intensified following a recent matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, where Brunson’s stat line told a tale of two stories. While his playmaking shone through with 9 assists and zero turnovers, his scoring touch appeared to abandon him, managing just 15 points on an inefficient shooting night that included an 0-for-5 showing from beyond the arc.
Numbers don’t lie in the NBA, and Brunson’s recent shooting woes paint a concerning picture. Over his last three outings, the former Villanova standout has connected on just 41 percent of his field goal attempts (23-of-56), while his three-point shooting has particularly suffered, with only six makes in his previous 20 attempts from downtown.
Perhaps most damning was the assessment from Kendrick Perkins, who brings both championship pedigree and intimate knowledge of the Knicks organization to his analysis. Speaking to New York Basketball, Perkins didn’t mince words, suggesting Brunson’s fall from grace has been precipitous. “Last year, Jalen Brunson was in my eyes the best player in the Eastern Conference… This year he’s not even a top 15 player in the Eastern Conference,” Perkins declared, his words carrying the weight of someone who’s been in the trenches.
The criticism cuts deeper when examining Brunson’s fourth-quarter impact, an area where he built his reputation as “Big Body Brunson.” Currently ranking 29th in the league in fourth-quarter points, questions are surfacing about whether the guard can maintain the clutch performance that earned him his massive contract.
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To Brunson’s credit, he’s facing the music head-on. Following the Bucks game, he demonstrated the self-awareness that has endeared him to the Madison Square Garden faithful. “My mentality has to be better,” Brunson admitted, though he was quick to emphasize team success over individual accolades.
The Knicks’ brain trust, led by head coach Tom Thibodeau, remains steadfast in their support of their floor general. Thibodeau, known for his demanding style, praised Brunson’s ability to impact the game beyond the scoring column, highlighting his zero-turnover performance and court generalship against Milwaukee.
The reality is that elite players in the NBA face elite expectations, and Brunson’s early-season struggles might be more about adjusting to his elevated status than any fundamental regression. The player who electrified Madison Square Garden last season hasn’t vanished; he’s simply navigating the complex terrain of being a franchise cornerstone.
For the Knicks faithful, patience might be the prescription. History shows that top-tier players often face adjustment periods when the target on their back grows larger. Brunson’s track record suggests he has the mental fortitude to weather this storm.
As the season progresses, all eyes will remain fixed on Brunson’s response to this early adversity. In the pressure cooker that is New York City basketball, how he rebounds from this stretch could define not just his season, but potentially his legacy in orange and blue. The question isn’t if Brunson will find his rhythm, but when – and in the unforgiving Eastern Conference, the Knicks are hoping it’s sooner rather than later.
With 74 games remaining in the regular season, there’s ample time for Brunson to silence his critics and remind the basketball world why he commanded such a hefty price tag in the first place. After all, in the NBA, it’s not about how you start – it’s about how you finish.
