For years, the New York Knicks struggled to find a starting point guard.
It seems like their search has finally come to an end, as Jalen Brunson has exceeded all expectations in his first season in the Big Apple.
Brunson signed a big contract in the offseason, with multiple people thinking he only got that big payday because of his ties to the Knicks organization.
However, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich respectfully disagrees, as he already knew his team was in for a tough night with Brunson on the other side of the floor:
“I want them to recognize that Brunson will be on the floor tonight. He wasn’t there last time. He’s a monster,” coach Pop said before the game. “He has such a toughness about him, high basketball IQ. He really tests your discipline. He’s also unselfish, he shoots it. Concentrating on him is pretty important.”
Popovich doubled down on that take shortly after the game, giving Brunson his flowers after he scored a career-high 38 points:
“He’s a heck of a player. He was always a nemesis in Dallas. Now he’s in New York. He’s got it all. He’s got the skill. He’s got the toughness. He’s got the basketball IQ to go with it. Just a hell of a competitor,” Popovich said.
https://twitter.com/NBA_NewYork/status/1610842034503405568
That’s plenty of praise coming from one of the greatest masterminds this game has ever seen.
Brunson is an elite player in isolation already, and he’ll continue to silence his critics every time he’s on the floor.
NEXT: Jalen Brunson Responds To The High Praise That He Has Received