Jalen Brunson finally got some recognition.
The Knicks point guard was named a reserve for the Eastern Conference All-Stars on Thursday, an honor determined by NBA coaches after Brunson was snubbed for a starting spot by the fans.
He was joined on the East reserves by Julius Randle, who was named to his third All-Star team in four years and won’t play in the Feb. 18 game while rehabbing from a dislocated shoulder.
For Brunson, the All-Star team was a stated goal that had eluded him until the 27-year-old made himself a candidate who couldn’t be refused, emerging as the star of a surging Knicks squad that has won nine straight and is just ¹/₂-game behind the Bucks for second in the East.
Brunson said he purposefully avoided the news before his 40-point gem in Thursday’s victory over the Pacers but was clued into the All-Star selection by a look from his father, assistant coach Rick Brunson.
“So I kind of knew it from that point,” Jalen Brunson said.
The Garden also announced Brunson as an All-Star after pregame intros, sending the crowd into a loud and appreciative ovation.
“I’m just incredibly happy, incredibly proud of him,” teammate Josh Hart said. “He put the work in for a long time. Hopefully, it’s the first of many, but for him to achieve that goal, that dream, it’s amazing.”
Even though Brunson’s selection Thursday was expected and momentum had been building since last year, it’s still an underdog story for a second-round pick who has been doubted because of his height and lack of athleticism.
Brunson’s coach at Villanova, Jay Wright, told The Post that only an opportunity was required. Brunson got one in New York and entered Thursday with career-high averages in points (26.8), assists (6.5), 3-point percentage (42.2 percent) and minutes (35.7).
Brunson also accepted an invitation to the 3-point competition during All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
“To be the toast of the town and leading New York, I can’t say I saw that happening,” Wright said. “But being this effective as a basketball player and this efficient, I’m not shocked. It’s really impressive. But I’m more impressed that he got the opportunity. I thought it was really brilliant on [Tom Thibodeau’s] part, and brilliant on Leon [Rose’s] part. That’s what I’m more surprised about. That he got the opportunity in that league.”
Brunson was on the cusp last year of an All-Star selection but didn’t make the cut. He was then shut out of the postseason awards despite being a candidate for All-NBA, Most Improved and Most Clutch. This year, he was second in media voting for the starters (behind only Tyrese Haliburton), third in player voting (behind Haliburton and Tyrese Maxey) but fifth in fan voting (behind Haliburton, Trae Young, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell).
That sent Brunson to the pool of reserves, and he was an obvious choice for the coaches’ vote. The East starters are Haliburton, who the Knicks faced beat Thursday at MSG, Lillard, Giannis Antetkounmpo, Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum.
6.5 assists. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
The rest of the reserves are Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Paolo Banchero, Maxey and Bam Adebayo. Young was the most notable player left out.
The Western Conference reserves are Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker. They joined starters LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
This is the first time the Knicks have had two All-Star selections since 2013 when Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler represented the organization.
The legitimacy of Randle’s All-Star candidacy was up for debate. His production is strong with averages of 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and five assists with high efficiency (47.2 percent shooting), but he clearly fell to the second-best player on the team and All-Star selections can be affected by other narratives such as playoff performances (Randle really struggled last year).
So even though he probably won’t play in the All-Star game, Randle will get the approximate $1.3 million All-Star bonus in his contract. Given his injury and the potential to miss extended time, he could lose the other bonus, which, according to Spotrac, is $1.28 million for playing 65 games and getting into the playoffs.
Randle, who is averaging 24 points and nine rebounds, made $2.37 million in bonuses last season for making the All-Star team and appearing in 65 games while making the playoffs.
