Knicks' Jalen Brunson Reacts to MVP Chants, First All-Star Nod
Jalen Brunson is probably at the best point in his career so far.
The New York Knicks' point guard has his team playing at an extremely high level amid a nine-game win streak, tied for the longest in the NBA this season. Thursday saw the Knicks post one of their most impressive additions to that tally yet, as they erased a 15-point deficit to post a 109-105 comeback win against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden.
Brunson's latest masterpiece, his fifth 40-point game of the season, came hours after he was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, as he was named an Eastern Conference reserve alongside injured teammate Julius Randle.
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As he earned his 40 on an efficient 15-of-30 shooting night from the floor, Brunson was frequently serenaded with chants of "MVP" from a riled-up MSG crowd. The point guard became visibly emotional in gratitude during his postgame interview with MSG Network's Alan Hahn and he carried those feelings into the Knicks' locker room shortly after.
“It was really cool. The night, the experience, how we won,” Brunson said via The New York Post's Stefan Bondy. “Obviously what happened before the game. … You always work for certain moments but you don’t know how you’ll react when it happens. It was special.”
Whether or not Brunson ends up the MVP is out of his hands, but he's certainly doing a lot to warrant those cheers from the home fans. He is averaging a career-high 27.1 points per game, scoring at least 20 in every game during the team's win streak.
If Brunson continues to play the way he has, those chants are only going to get louder, the Knicks will continue to move up in the standings, and he'll garner true consideration for the Association's top individual honor.
Before the All-Star break, Brunson and the Knicks are back in action on Saturday against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
