Jalen Brunson

Player Snapshot

Jalen Brunson took his game to another level after arriving in New York, quickly developing from a solid young guard in Dallas into the centerpiece of the Knicks' backcourt.

A crafty, physical guard with an ability to create his own shot, Brunson has built his game around getting into the lane, controlling the pace and making difficult shots in pressure situations. His rise with the Knicks has turned him into one of the league's most reliable volume scorers and clutch performers.

Career Notes

Drafted in 2018, Brunson played college basketball at Villanova and began his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks. He joined the New York Knicks as a free agent in 2022. His first major breakout came during the 2021-22 season and playoffs, when he averaged 21.6 PPG and 4.6 RPG during Dallas' 2022 playoff run and helped the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals.

He became an NBA All-Star and was named NBA Clutch Player of the Year in 2024-25. He established himself as the Knicks' primary scoring option, known for his ability to create shots in isolation and attack the paint.

Dallas Mavericks

Brunson's early years in Dallas were about proving he belonged.

As his minutes increased, so did his production. During the 2020-21 season, he averaged 12.6 points per game, a career best at the time, while shooting 52.3% from the field and 79.5% from the free-throw line. His biggest breakthrough came in 2021-22, when Brunson became a major part of Dallas' offense and then elevated his game again in the postseason.

The 2022 Playoff Breakout

Brunson announced himself on the national stage during Dallas' 2022 playoff run.

He averaged 21.6 points and 4.6 rebounds as the Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference Finals. His performance dramatically raised his profile heading into free agency and ultimately led him to New York.

The move to the Knicks became the turning point of his career.

New York Knicks

Brunson immediately showed that the pressure of playing in New York wasn't going to slow him down.

In his first season with the Knicks, he averaged 24.0 points and 6.2 assists, becoming the team's primary offensive engine and leading New York back into the playoffs. His combination of scoring, ball control and late-game shot making quickly made him one of the most important players in the franchise.

Scoring & Creation

Brunson's offensive game is built around his ability to create advantages off the dribble.

In 2023-24, he ranked second in the NBA with 1,500 drives and also ranked second with 974 points scored off drives. During one February win over Indiana, he scored 40 points, including 13 field goals in the paint. The numbers help explain what makes Brunson difficult to defend. He doesn't need a clean perimeter look to create offense. He can get downhill, absorb contact, stop and start, create separation and finish around the basket.

2023-24 Breakout

Brunson continued to expand his game in 2023-24, posting a career-high number of three-point attempts while maintaining a shooting percentage above 40% from beyond the arc. His increased scoring responsibility turned him from an important Knicks player into the team's unquestioned offensive leader.

Clutch Player

Brunson's ability to perform late in games became a defining part of his profile.

In 2024-25, he won the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award after producing 357 fourth-quarter points and 84 assists in clutch situations while shooting 50.2% from the field. The award reflected something Knicks fans had already seen developing: Brunson wasn't simply accumulating points. He was becoming the player New York trusted when the game was on the line.

2025 Playoffs

Brunson continued that reputation during the 2025 postseason.

Against Detroit in the first round, he averaged 31.5 points and 8.2 assists over six games. In Game 6 on May 1, Brunson hit eight three-pointers and finished the series with one of his signature late-game moments. With 4.3 seconds remaining, he created space in the halfcourt and knocked down the decisive shot as New York defeated Detroit 116-113.

Playing Style

Brunson doesn't overwhelm defenders with size or elite athleticism. Instead, he uses footwork, strength, balance, hesitation moves and changes of pace to get where he wants to go. That ability to control the game at his own speed has become one of the defining characteristics of his career.

Player Trajectory

DALLAS DEVELOPMENT → 2022 PLAYOFF BREAKOUT → NEW YORK LEADERSHIP → ALL-STAR → CLUTCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Brunson's career is a good example of a player whose value grew well beyond his original draft profile. A second-round pick who began his career as a complementary guard in Dallas eventually became the lead scorer and face of the Knicks' backcourt. His progression has been less about one dramatic change and more about steadily expanding his role until the game was being placed in his hands.

Collecting Notes

Brunson's cards document that progression particularly well, from his early Dallas years through his emergence as a Knicks star. The strongest themes across the cards are his development, the 2022 playoff breakout, his ability to attack the paint, increased three-point shooting and his growing reputation as one of the league's best clutch performers.