New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson wants to be the “most efficient, complete basketball player” he can be. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
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Jalen Brunson is still looking to get better as he enters his eighth season in the NBA.
The two-time All-Star guard has become the face of the New York Knicks, emerging as an MVP candidate while leading the Knicks deep into the playoffs since arriving in the Big Apple in 2022. Brunson led New York to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the 1999-2000 season last year.
“A mixture of a lot,” says Brunson of the biggest difference between him now and earlier in his career in a one-on-one interview. “I think the opportunity (has been big), I’m still working as hard as I can and becoming the best player I can be. I don’t see myself as plateauing. I never look at myself and say, ‘How can I succeed?’ It’s always, ‘How can I get better?’ I’m always looking for how I can get better. Every single summer, every single year, I would say a little of opportunity and experience. Being in Dallas, being there gave me an opportunity, helped me jump start my career. It’s been a steady progression ever since.”
Brunson was a key player with the Dallas Mavericks prior to his trade to the Knicks in 2022. It was in Dallas that he played a No. 2 offensive role alongside Luka Doncic, helping lead the franchise to a Western Conference Finals appearance.
However, in New York he is the unquestioned No. 1 and driving force behind their success. During Brunson’s last year in Dallas, he averaged 16.3 points per game in the regular season. By comparison, Brunson has averaged 26.4 points per game as a member of the Knicks, including 28.7 points per game during the 2023-24 season.
“Just continue to contribute to winning basketball,” says Brunson of his objective on improving. “Being the most efficient, complete basketball player I can be is key. That’s my goal every summer, to be more efficient, happy, more complete. That’s just the mindset.”
Jalen Brunson On Being A Leader: ‘I’ve Been Comfortable As A Leader My Entire Life’
Bruson has developed into the definition of a more efficient and complete basketball player, averaging a career-high 7.3 assists per game in his first season playing with five-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. By comparison, Brunson never averaged more than 4.8 assists per game in Dallas.
During the 2023-24 season, Brunson finished fifth in MVP voting. The 29-year-old Brunson is a two-time NCAA Champion, having won the national championship as a member of the Villanova Wildcats. He also won National College Player of the Year while at Villanova.
The younger Brunson says he’s been a “leader” his entire career, even if his role on the court didn’t reflect it.
“I feel like I’ve been comfortable as a leader my entire life, regardless of the role I’ve played,” says Brunson. “I’ve always been raised by my parents to be a leader. So there have been times where I’ve not been the lead guy when it comes to role on the basketball court, I still feel like I’m a leader in every other aspect. It’s different, but for me, it’s a big deal when you can help lead. I’ve always been a leader, sometimes it’s verbal. Sometimes it’s by showing what you can do, obviously leading by example.”
Brunson also happens to be the son of Rick Brunson, who is not only an assistant coach with the Knicks, he played for New York and had a lengthy NBA career.
“Absolutely, I remember hearing — it’s still ingrained in my mind — don’t be a follower, always be a leader,” says Brunson of the advice his dad, Rick, gave him. “And that stuck with me ever since.”
When asked who he molded his game after, Brunson doesn’t have just one player in mind — he molded his game after many players, mentioning the likes of Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.
“I molded my game after many different players,” says Brunson. “There’s not one player who I was like, ‘That’s what I want to play like.’ Loved A.I., loved Kobe, Steve Nash was one of my favorite players. Obviously my dad. But I just remember going through high school when I was starting to get better and better, just watching clips of point guards to kind of — I don’t say I play like, but who are super athletic. Like, obviously Derrick Rose was one of my favorite players, but I don’t play like Derrick Rose. But always just picking and choosing different aspects of other games, just kind of making it my own.”
Brunson goes into further detail why those players are on his own “Mount Rushmore” of guards.
“Obviously, Steve can shoot and the way he can be a playmaker is unbelievable,” says Brunson. “Derrick is obviously fast and can get to the rim. The one thing I loved from him is the way he would get in the lane and stop on two feet and just shoot a floater over everybody. So I kind of took that from him. I really liked that I could mimic that to the best of my abilities. Always looked at games, ‘Oh I like that. How can I get that to try to implement into my game?'”
Jalen Brunson Partners With BodyArmor Leading Into 2025-26 NBA Season
As Brunson looks to lead the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973, he’s partnering with BodyArmor. Brunson joins a robust list of star athletes who are partnered with BodyArmor, including the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Joe Burrow and Connor McDavid.
“Being partnered with them, starting last year, was something that I don’t want to say fell into my lap, but it kind of flowed seamlessly into a great partnership,” says Brunson. “Being able to do things together has been great. They’ve supported me through a podcast, through my charity, and obviously with just my hydration and going forward with pregame, postgame, off season workouts and stuff. They’ve been nothing but the best for me.”
Brunson details how BodyArmor has helped with his performance when it comes to hydration. He names “tropical passion fruit” as his favorite flavor.
“BodyArmor has helped my performance significantly,” says Brunson. “Just being able to boost my hydration and keep me hydrated. Being able to recover better — postgame, post workouts, post practice. It’s been special.