Jalen Brunson admitted he will take a day to reflect on his initial All-Star showcase experience on Monday before refocusing his attention on the Knicks’ 27-game stretch run starting Thursday night against the 76ers in Philadelphia.
Brunson soaked up his deserved league-wide accolades by participating in the 3-Point Contest on Saturday night and scoring 12 points in 17 minutes in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis, the first of his career.
And now it’s time to get back to work.
“Obviously, there’s chances,” Brunson said Saturday when asked about the Knicks’ postseason opportunity this spring. “But I think for us we can’t focus on that. We have to concentrate on Philly, our first game out of the break, and go from there.
“The best part about the journey is just taking it step by step. And it’s something we can’t look past, at all.”
Still, basketball has always been a family affair for Brunson, and his time in Indy was no different.
The Knicks’ point guard grew up around the game during his father Rick’s nine-year NBA playing career and his subsequent seasons as an assistant coach in the league, including the past two seasons together in New York.
The younger Brunson envisioned himself being in this position one day, and he’s been glad to share the experience with his parents, with mom Sandra also in attendance.
“It’s kind of coming full circle. I remember being around the league as a kid and always dreaming of having opportunities like this. And here I am,” Brunson said. “It’s something I won’t take for granted, for sure.”
The 27-year-old Brunson was one of four first-time All-Stars this season, all on the East squad, along with Paolo Banchero (Magic), Scottie Barnes (Raptors) and Tyrese Maxey (76ers).
Damian Lillard scored 39 points and had 11 made 3-pointers, including two halfcourt jumpers in the second half, to earn the Kobe Bryant Trophy as All-Star MVP. Hometown hero Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers contributed 32 points in the East’s record-setting 211-186 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Karl-Anthony Towns led all scorers with 50 points for the West, and LeBron James registered eight in his league-record 20th All-Star appearance — although he played only 14 minutes due to an ankle issue.
“I can’t really put it into words,” Brunson said of being a first-time All-Star. “It’s something you dream of and something you think about as a kid. … But to be able to do this and to be able to see the joy it’s brought my family, it’s fun.
“And to see the city, how it’s reacted and how they’ve embraced me, it’s unbelievable.”
Indeed, the former Villanova star is beloved at Madison Square Garden, hearing constant “MVP” chants while leading the Knicks (33-22) back into contender status in the East alongside injured three-time All-Star forward Julius Randle, who did not attend the weekend festivities as he attempts to recuperate from a dislocated right shoulder.
Brunson, originally a second-round pick by the Mavericks in 2018 before signing with the Knicks as a free agent in 2022, ranks eighth in the league in scoring at 27.6 points per game with a career-high 6.5 assists over 52 appearances.
Brunson said in a separate interview with ESPN that he believes the Knicks, who dropped five of six games ahead of the break amid a rash of injuries “can be really good” and “we have the potential to do a lot of really good things” as they start to get healthy.
“I know a lot of Knicks fans want to put us right in the Eastern Conference Finals. We were one step short last year,” Brunson said. “I think for us … we can’t look forward to the playoffs. We have to focus on every single day, just chipping away and getting better and better.”