Jalen Brunson : from overlooked prospect to King of New York

Published on July 28, 2026 15 min. reading

Some superstars dominate the NBA because of extraordinary athleticism. Others rely on size or speed to separate themselves. Jalen Brunson belongs to neither category. Standing at just 6 feet 2 inches tall, he has never been the fastest player on the court nor the tallest. Yet season after season, he proves that none of that matters. Through relentless work, elite footwork, and clutch play, Brunson transformed himself from a second-round draft pick into the face of the NBA.

Today, Brunson is known across the league as “Captain Clutch” and “The King of New York.” As a two-time NCAA champion, NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, NBA Cup champion, NBA Cup MVP, Clutch Player of the Year, and a 3 time NBA All-Star, he has established himself as a winner. Yet, every step of his ongoing journey is built on proving doubters wrong. Here is the journey of one of the greatest Knicks of all time.

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A childhood built around basketball

Jalen Marquis Brunson was born on Aug. 31, 1996, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, into a family where basketball was simply part of everyday life. His father, Rick Brunson, had a long basketball career in the NBA before becoming an assistant coach in the league, while his mother, Sandra, was a volleyball player who played at Temple University, where the two met.

Because of his father’s NBA career, Brunson spent countless hours around stadiums, NBA locker rooms, and practices. These early experiences showed Brunson what it meant to be a professional in the sport.

At a young age, Rick Brunson consistently reminded his son that success only comes through discipline. Every morning, Brunson would wake up to see the same slogan on his bedroom mirror: “The magic is in the work.” This sentence became the philosophy of his entire career.

As early as 7th grade, Rick would ask his son if basketball was what he wanted to do for a living, and the answer he received was always the same: “Yes…” Rick began developing very demanding training sessions designed not only to improve Jalen physically, but mentally. Some practices took place under the summer sun while Brunson wore a weighted vest. The logic was straightforward: if he learned to shoot under the most difficult conditions, he’d be able to shoot anywhere.

His relationship with his father is unlike most father-son relationships. During games, the two can appear to argue constantly, with Rick coaching and demanding perfection. Yet once the game ends, those disagreements disappear so that Rick can act as a father.

Although Rick was Jalen’s coach, Sandra also played a big role in building Jalen’s mental toughness. From a young age, she has refused to let her son quit whenever something becomes difficult, whether inside or outside basketball. Brunson later credits his mother with giving him the “no-quit mentality” that defines his career.

Stevenson High School : one of America’s best young point guards

Entering Stevenson High School in Illinois, Jalen had already practiced with college teams like the women’s team at the University of Virginia because of his father’s coaching career. Therefore, he entered high school with very mature fundamentals, footwork, and basketball IQ. As a freshman, he earned an All-Lake County Honorable Mention, offering the first glimpse of the player he was becoming. By his sophomore season, he began to dominate. Averaging 21.5 points per game, Brunson led Stevenson to an outstanding 29-5 record and reached the Illinois Class 4A state championship game. In the final were future NBA players Jabari Parker and Kendrick Nunn. Although Stevenson fell short of the title, Brunson distinguished himself enough to earn Second Team Class 4A All-State honours, becoming the only sophomore selected to either the first or second team. His improvement continued the following season.

On 21 February 2014, Brunson delivered one of the greatest performances in Illinois high school basketball history. Facing Lake Forest High School, he scored 57 points in a double-overtime win, setting both Stevenson single-game and personal scoring records. Throughout his junior season, Brunson averaged 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.9 steals per game while leading Stevenson to a dominant 32-2 record. He was named Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and became the only non-senior selected to the Associated Press Class 4A First Team alongside future NBA players Jahlil Okafor, Cliff Alexander, and Tyler Ulis. He also finished fourth in the Illinois Mr. Basketball voting.

In his senior year, Brunson was awarded Illinois Mr. Basketball, made the First Parade All-American Team, and was selected to the USA Today All-USA Third Team. Also, ESPN ranked him as the No. 16 overall prospect in the ESPN 100 rankings and the second-best point guard in the country behind Isaiah Briscoe.

Receiving multiple college offers, Brunson chose to play at Villanova University.

Villanova : : building a winning legacy

Brunson built his college legacy by winning two NCAA Division I titles in his three years at Villanova. As a freshman during the 2015-16 season, he immediately became an important part of Jay Wright’s ultra-talented Villanova program. Averaging 9.6 points per game, he proved to be mature for a freshman while showing up in several important moments. Most notably, in a game against Kansas in the Elite Eight during March Madness, Brunson calmly knocked down two free throws with only 3.5 seconds remaining to help send Villanova to the Final Four. The seemingly small moment foreshadowed his future “Captain Clutch” persona in the NBA years later. Villanova went on to win the 2016 NCAA Championship, with Brunson starting in the national title game as a freshman.

His sophomore year showed even more growth. Brunson raised his scoring average to 14.7 points per game while setting multiple personal records, including a then career-high 27 points against 10th-ranked Creighton and his first collegiate double-double after recording 22 points and 10 assists against Seton Hall. His leadership and consistency earned him a unanimous selection for the First Team All-Big East.

Before the start of his junior season, Brunson was named the Preseason Big East Player of the Year and fully embraced his role as Villanova’s leader. He combined effective playmaking with efficient scoring while also excelling academically, becoming a finalist for the Academic All-America team and earning a nomination for Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The season ended exactly how Brunson had hoped. Villanova won its second NCAA Championship in three years, giving Brunson two national titles before leaving college. Having already received enough credit to graduate early, he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft as one of the most accomplished players in recent NCAA history.

His time at Villanova also created relationships that continue shaping his career. Alongside teammates Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart at Villanova, Brunson developed chemistry built on years of winning together. That bond later carried over to the NBA, where the former Villanova stars reunited in New York and helped lead the Knicks back into championship contention.

The Dallas Mavericks : from second-round pick to rising star

By the time Brunson left college, he had already built an impressive resume that suggested he could develop into a superstar. Yet many NBA teams still questioned whether his size and athleticism would allow him to thrive at the next level. Despite leaving Villanova as one of the most accomplished players in college basketball, Brunson didn’t hear his name called until the Dallas Mavericks picked him with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. Dallas planned to use Brunson as a backup guard behind Luka Dončić, the third overall pick whom the Mavericks acquired in a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Like many second-round picks, Brunson entered the NBA without the expectations to play extremely well. Brunson responded the only way he knows how: nonstop grind.

He made his NBA debut on October 17, 2018 against the Phoenix Suns, recording 3 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist off the bench. His role was initially limited, but due to injuries, the Mavericks were forced to reshuffle their lineup early in the season, giving Brunson his first NBA start in just his fifth career game. By the end of his rookie year, he started 38 of the 73 games he played, establishing himself as a reliable contributor.

Over the next three seasons, Brunson improved every part of his game while sharing the court with Luka Dončić. His second season had several personal milestones. He recorded multiple career highs throughout the year before finishing with a then career-high 34-point performance. He also had multiple double-digit assist and rebound games. But more importantly, Brunson demonstrated his ability to lead an offense whenever Dončić was unavailable. On 16 December 2019, with Luka out due to an injury, Brunson started at point guard and helped Dallas end Milwaukee’s 18-game winning streak. This further proved that he was worthy of a leadership role on a contending team.

The next season continued his improvement. During the 2020-21 season, Brunson averaged career highs in points, rebounds, and assists while becoming one of the league’s most productive bench players. So much so that he finished fourth in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting. Yet one challenge remained impossible to overcome. As long as Dončić was healthy, Brunson was the secondary guard. The Mavericks built their offense almost entirely around Luka, confining Brunson to a support role, even if he proved he could handle a much bigger role.

The 2021-22 season changed Brunson’s career forever. When Dončić suffered an injury in December and missed a few weeks, the Mavericks needed Brunson to run the offense. Throughout the regular season, Brunson averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting around 50 percent from the field, both career highs at the time in their respective categories. More importantly, he proved he could efficiently lead an offense for an extended period of time.

His biggest breakthrough that elevated his stock, however, came in the playoffs. Facing the Utah Jazz in the opening round, Dallas once again began the series without Dončić. Many believed the Mavericks would struggle to survive until their franchise player returned. Contrary to popular belief, in Game 1, Brunson finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists despite the close loss. Two nights later, he exploded for a then career-high 41 points to even the series.

Eventually Dončić returned, and Dallas reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2011, with Brunson playing a crucial role throughout the playoff run. Against the Golden State Warriors, he continued playing well under pressure, including a 31-point, 7-rebound and 5-assist performance in Game 2. Although the Mavericks fell to the eventual NBA champions, Brunson’s postseason changed how some teams in the league saw him. On one of the biggest possible stages during the playoffs, he showed the world he wasn’t simply Luka Dončić’s replacement. He indicated to everyone that he was ready and capable of leading his own team. Still, only a few teams understood his true value.

Free agency : back in the Tri-State

The New York Knicks identified Brunson as their top priority months before free agency even began. They believed he held everything the franchise lacked: leadership, efficient scoring, impressive decision-making, and the ability to control an offense. The Knicks showed their commitment by hiring Rick Brunson as an assistant coach. In addition, the Knicks already had family friend Leon Rose as team president and were led by coach Tom Thibodeau, who has known Jalen since childhood after previously coaching Rick. The Knicks also created the necessary salary cap space by moving several veteran contracts.

Dallas, meanwhile, found itself in a difficult position. Earlier in the season, the Mavericks had the opportunity to offer Brunson a four-year, $55 million contract extension but chose not to. According to a later testimony by Rick, Jalen would have accepted that extension at the time had it been offered. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, by the time free agency arrived, his value had skyrocketed. Confident that he enjoyed playing next to Dončić, Dallas assumed he would stay. Instead, Brunson chose a different path with more responsibility and a chance to lead his own team in his prime. The Knicks offered exactly that opportunity. On 12 July 2022, Brunson signed with New York, beginning the chapter that ultimately elevated both his career and one of the NBA’s most historic franchises to another level.

However, rather than being accepted with open arms in New York. Many notable analysts like Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst initially questioned whether the Knicks overpaid for a player who had never made an All-Star team and spent his whole career playing behind a superstar.

Closer to the game…

Closer to the light !

Undisputed “King of New York”

When Brunson arrived in New York in 2022, he got right to work. During his first season in New York, he averaged 24.0 points per game, a significant jump from the 16.3 points he averaged the previous year in Dallas. More importantly, he transformed the Knicks into a winning team. After finishing with only 37 wins the season before, New York won 47 games and returned to the playoffs.

Brunson showed off his clutch side even further in the postseason. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he averaged 27.8 points per game while consistently outperforming All-Star player Donovan Mitchell. New York advanced to the second round, and Brunson showed that he was the franchise’s number-one scoring option.

If his first season proved he belonged in All-Star conversations, the 2023-24 campaign turned him into a real MVP contender. Brunson averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game and earned his first NBA All-Star selection. Throughout the season, he delivered one insane performance after another. On 15 December 2023, he scored a then career-high 50 points on an incredibly accurate 17-for-23 shooting performance while making all nine of his three-point attempts, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 50 points without missing a three-pointer on at least eight attempts. Later that season, he raised the bar again by scoring a career-high 61 points against the San Antonio Spurs.

Brunson carried his regular season brilliance into the playoffs. Against the Philadelphia 76ers, he scored a franchise playoff record 47 points in Game 4 before opening the second round with four consecutive 40-point playoff games. During that stretch, he joined Michael Jordan and Jerry West as one of the few players in NBA history to accomplish this, while becoming the first player ever to record at least five assists in each of those games. Although the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers after Brunson fractured his hand in Game 7, he finished fifth in MVP voting.

After such a successful year, the summer of 2024 elevated his reputation in the Big Apple even further. Eligible to wait one more year and sign a contract worth around $256 million, Brunson instead accepted a four-year extension worth $156.5 million. By giving up around $100 million, he gave the Knicks more financial flexibility to improve the roster and attempt to build a championship team (spoiler… they did!), a decision that helped the franchise sign Karl-Anthony Towns. A few weeks later, New York named Brunson the 36th captain in franchise history, recognising his leadership.

In the 2024-2025 season, Brunson earned his second consecutive All-Star selection, but this time as a starter. He was also named the NBA Clutch Player of the Year after leading the league in made field goals during clutch situations. He led New York to 51 wins and its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000, passing Patrick Ewing for the most 30-point playoff games in Knicks history. Although Indiana once again ended New York’s season, Brunson proved he could lead a championship contender deep into the playoffs.

That breakthrough finally arrived in 2025-26, when Brunson led the Knicks to win both the NBA Cup and the franchise’s first NBA championship in 53 years. He was named NBA Cup MVP and later also earned his second consecutive All-Star start. In the playoffs, he spearheaded a 13-game playoff winning streak, which was highlighted by a 38-point performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals as the Knicks erased a 22-point deficit. He was subsequently named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, helping the Knicks reach their first NBA Finals since 1999.

Against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, Brunson delivered the biggest performances of his career to this point. He led the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in Game 4 (29-point deficit) before scoring 45 points in the championship-clinching Game 5, almost half of the team’s points that game. Averaging 32.6 points throughout the Finals, he was named NBA Finals MVP as New York finally got its first title since 1973.

On the Roof of America

The championship marked the culmination of a journey defined by a relentless work ethic and perseverance. Once viewed as undersized and unathletic, Brunson developed into the face of the NBA. Alongside former Villanova teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, he also became part of the first trio of teammates to win both an NCAA championship and an NBA championship together.

Ultimately, Jalen Brunson’s career is not only defined by his exceptional scoring and leadership skills, but by how consistently he exceeds expectations and proves doubters wrong. Every stage of his journey from college champion to second-round draft pick, from role player to Finals MVP, Jalen Brunson lives by the lesson his father taught him: the magic is in the work.

Article by Sacha Adler