Jalen Brunson has helped usher in a new era with the Knicks, the point guard that was promised.
Not since Mark Jackson, way back in 1989, had the Knicks sent a point guard to the All-Star Game.
One curse down, but another lives: Brunson is an All-Star but could not snap a franchise-long 3-Point Contest slump.
Brunson put on a solid show but missed his final three 3-pointers when he needed to hit one to stay alive, failing to advance to the finals of Saturday night’s event in Indianapolis.
The Bucks’ Damian Lillard won for a second straight year, beating out the Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns and Hawks’ Trae Young for the crown at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Before Brunson, eight Knicks — including Trent Tucker twice, in 1986 and ’88 — competed in the event. Julius Randle fell far short last season when he was the first member of the team to be named to the contest in a decade. The Knicks, who have watched the likes of Steve Novak, Danilo Gallinari, Quentin Richardson, Allan Houston, Charlie Ward and Hubert Davis try their hand, still are awaiting their first champion.
In this year’s contest, Brunson began cold, hitting just one of his first six, but caught fire from the top of the key. He knocked down seven straight and entered his final rack needing to sink three to have a chance at competing in the finals.
Two straight hits to begin the final rack brought him to 24 points, but that’s where he would end. Brunson’s final three treys clanked off the rim.
Team Pacers — Tyrese Halburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner — won the Skills Challenge. Falling short were Team Top Picks (Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama) and Team All-Stars (Scottie Barnes, Tyrese Maxey and Trae Young).