Knicks point man Jalen Brunson has shown thus far that he’s worth the huge free agent contract and the subsequent tampering punishment administered by the league, Ian O’Connor of the New York Post opines.
Brunson has solidified a long-time trouble spot for the Knicks, expertly guiding the team in the offensive zone. That more than makes up for his defensive shortcomings and lack of athleticism, O’Connor writes. It also far outweighs the 2025 second rounder they’ll have to forfeit. The Knicks stole away Brunson from Dallas with a four-year, $104MM deal.
We have more on the Knicks:
- Brunson missed three games last week and RJ Barrett remains sidelined with a lacerated right index finger. The silver lining is that Immanuel Quickley, Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes have received extensive playing time in their absences, Peter Botte of the New York Post writes. That trio started in a 20-point victory over Houston on Saturday, with Quickley and Grimes combining for 46 points and nine assists.
- Last season, Julius Randle had a combative relationship with the home crowd as he struggled to regain his All-Star form from 2020/21. He’s now the toast of Knicks fans once again and challenging for another All-Star spot, averaging 32.4 points and 12.9 rebounds in his last seven games, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News notes. “You work hard to put yourself in a position to do that. So it would be amazing [to get selected to the All-Star team]. I love it,” Randle said.
- Obi Toppin has been upgraded to doubtful for Wednesday’s home game against the Spurs, the team’s PR department tweets. Toppin hasn’t played since suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right fibula on Dec. 7.
The knicks could used someone like kuzma or barton
How many Power Forwards in the east have played as many games as Randle, and put up his kind of #’s? Not many, his selection is almost automatic at this point. Gonna be some guards in the East get snubbed.
it’s a funny one, this year there are too many people playing well. In the east you’ve got Embiid, Giannis, Tatum, Brown and Mitchell who’ll probably be the starters give or take. They’ll probably chose multiple at another position and claim one is a PF. I think Giannis was the only PF selected last year.
You have to decide where he sits with Trae, KD, Siakam, DeMar, Bam, Butler, Murray, Harden, Halliburton, Kyrie, Zach, Jrue, Kuz, Porzingis the list goes on of players performing well enough to be in the convo. Even Paolo deserves a mention!!
There’ll be a few snubs this year east and west. Too many players performing well and not enough spots.
But I agree based on the number of games he’s played and his numbers at the 4 he should be close. But he’ll likely get passed up for a player in a different position, who’s played less but is a bigger name or people like more.
All Star game is a joke, but being named would likely be meaningful to Randle after last season. Right now, he would be competing with DDR for the 5th F spot. KD (certain) and Siakam (probable) would be the first two reserves. The East doesn’t have as many G’s with typical AS resumes, so there is a slight possibility they only take 4 G’s as reserves and a 6th F. If 2 way impact matters, then, as of now, Randle should make it.