VIDEO: Knicks' Jalen Brunson Reflects on, Revels in Team USA World Cup Experience
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson has gone above and beyond as a member of Team USA's FIBA World Cup roster this summer.
Brunson, who turns 27 on Aug. 31, pitched a perfect game during Team USA's victorious Sunday exhibition against Spain, as he sunk all nine field goal attempts en route to 21 points.
Brunson has been widely regarded among the leaders of the team as it prepares to partake in the World Cup in Asia later this month. Head coach Steve Kerr and managing director Grant Hill have each been vocal about the point guard's skills, which will likely only strengthen his case for inclusion among the Olympic group for next summer's competition in Paris.
Brunson recently starred in "The Twelve," a group of short stories told by each member of Team USA about their FIBA upbringing. In his segment, the Villanova alum retold the story of his adjusted wedding to Ali Marks, which was originally scheduled for Team USA's World Cup debut in Pasay on Aug. 26. Clutch shifting, as well as understanding from Marks, allowed them to move the celebration up a month.
Brunson revealed that his father Rick, who's also a Knicks assistant coach, was his earliest influence to play basketball, but his confidence and grit came from both of his parents.
"They raised me to always work hard in everything I do and never to quit or stop something short," Brunson said. "I'll do whatever it takes to win, that's the most important thing about basketball."
Brunson had the "USA" initials on the front of his jersey long before this summer, having earned MVP honors en route to gold in the 2015 World U-19 Cup in Greece. He recounted the final against Croatia as a "nail-biting" win in overtime to "capture the gold," one that saw him dish out a USA-best 14 points and seven assists.
The pressure of playing in a gold medal game at 19, the NBA playoffs, or the FIBA World Cup doesn't affect Brunson as he says that "pressure is not really in (his) vocabulary."
"I don't really think of pressure as anything other than trying to help feed your family. For me, this is a game, but this is the most important thing that I put my mind to every single day—this is what I work for. There's no pressure because I'm confident in what I do. My work ethic makes my confidence."
Brunson and the Americans are perfect in three World Cup tune-ups thus far. Two more await this weekend and the first lands on Friday against the aforementioned Greeks in Abu Dhabi (12 p.m. ET, Fox).
You can follow Hunter De Siver on Twitter @HunterDeSiver.
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