On the March 6 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Knicks fans’ lives flashed before their eyes.
Jalen Brunson badly turned his ankle and crumbled to the ground in pain. After several minutes, he got to his feet, unable to put any weight on his left leg, and was helped straight to the locker room.
Knicks Just Treading Water Without Brunson
It goes without saying— the Knicks have missed Jalen Brunson.
The team is just 8-6 since he got hurt, and the offensive numbers with him off the court have taken a hit. Since March 6 without Brunson, the Knicks are 20th in the NBA in points per game, 15th in field goal percentage, and 17th in offensive rating (116.1).
However, in his absence, other players have stepped up and seemed to have gained confidence before the playoffs. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges look as if they have turned the corner offensively, and Delon Wright finds himself playing well in crucial minutes in spot starts since Cameron Payne’s injury.
Chris Haynes reported on Thursday afternoon that Brunson plans to return to practice for the first time since his injury on Friday, then is expected to be ruled questionable for Saturday’s tilt with the Atlanta Hawks.
Accolades Still in Play
Brunson only needs four more games to qualify for All-NBA honors. If he does not suit up on Saturday against the Hawks, his next chance to do so would be Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.
It’s impossible to overestimate Brunson’s value to the Knicks. The newly named captain leads the team in points and assists per game, with by far the highest usage rate on the team. Not only is he the focal point of the offense, but he is widely regarded as the favorite to win the NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award.
Brunson signed with the Knicks as the hopeful point guard of the future. He was supposed to mark the end of a long list of consecutive failed point guards for the franchise in recent years. He has been everything in that and more. The face of basketball in the biggest city in the country, captain of his team, and potential All-NBA player for the second consecutive season.
Yes, the Knicks have struggled against the league’s top three teams this season. They boast a record of 0-9 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. It seems extremely likely that they will have to go through at least two of those teams en route to an NBA title.
Accomplishing that feat will be challenging regardless, but without Jalen Brunson, it’s merely a pipe dream.
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