It's the kind of story the NBA loves. A star player from the NCAA, where he was a two-time champion but only drafted in the second round, who climbs the ladder one by one, then joins one of the world's most talked-about franchises, becoming its leader and bringing it back to the forefront. This is the story of Jalen Brunson.
Since joining the New York Knicks in the summer of 2022, he has become a leading point guard, two-time All-Star and franchise player for a team that everyone wants to see return to the top for the sake of the NBA. And last season, the Knicks reached the conference finals for the first time in 25 years. That's one more box ticked.
But of course, now is the time to do more. New York have been waiting for an NBA title since 1973, a finals since 1999, and have one of the densest squads in the league. The arrival of a new coach, Mike Brown, should make it possible to climb those last few steps, and the impact of the entire roster will obviously be important, but the one who holds the keys is Brunson.
You might wonder what more he can do after two impressive playoff campaigns. But great players have no limits, and he doesn't seem to have any either. A great MVP-calibre season and championship play-offs are what you'd expect from a player who has come so far and is now one of the cream of the NBA crop.
2024/2025 stats: 26.0 points (29.4 in playoffs), 7.3 assists
Target for 2025/2026: 30 points, 9 assists, MVP candidate