The New York Knicks weren’t acting like they just wanted Jalen Brunson – they were acting like they needed him.
New York threw a lot of money at Brunson – over $100 million – to steal him away from the Dallas Mavericks last week.
They did more than just offer him tons of money, they also offered him comfort: they gave an assistant coach job to his father, possibly to sweeten the pot even more and attract Brunson.
It worked: the guard is packing his bags and leaving the Lone Star State for the Big Apple.
Jalen Brunson is the first player in NBA history to sign a $100M+ deal with a new team despite never being an All-Star.
(via @ESPNStatsInfo) pic.twitter.com/Ghd1RlbNeb
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 6, 2022
He is now officially the first player in the history of the league to sign a $100 million deal with a new team despite never being an All-Star.
There are a few people wondering if Brunson was worth all this money and it’s raising the stakes and expectations for him.
Will he live up to the hype?
High Hopes
Brunson was a man on fire in the playoffs last season, scoring an average of 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
Compare that to his season average of 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists and you see just how tuned in and fired up he was.
But will he be able to carry that success over to the Knicks?
He knows the pressure is on and that so many people are watching – and judging – him.
He feels he is capable of stepping up full-time and being in playoff mode for the entire season.
But Brunson has never led a team: he was second-in-command behind Luka Doncic on the Mavs and only had a few games where he was taking on Doncic’s responsibility.
That’s a small portion of games if you’re trying to make an accurate prediction of how Brunson will play in New York.
Everyone is wondering if Brunson is ready for such a big role and responsibility, because he’s got them now.
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