On paper, this is a quality move. The Knicks filled a huge hole at point guard by agreeing to terms with Jalen Brunson on a four-year, $104 million deal, adding an up-and-coming player just entering his prime.
But Jeff Van Gundy said he sees it as more than that. He said he believes it’s a sign of improving the team’s culture, that the Knicks have brought in a player who will not only provide more scoring, playmaking and defense, but also raise the level of everyone else around him.
“[Brunson] brings a level of competitive spirit, intelligence and seriousness that every team in this league absolutely needs,” Van Gundy, a former Knicks coach and ESPN analyst, told The Post. “There’s not a lot of really good, serious players that are available, and I think the Knicks should be very, very happy and proud to get one of them.
“He’s going to understand what he needs to do to give his team the best chance to win, whatever that is. If that means scoring more, great. If that means handling more, great, creating more shots or playing against guys who create. I love its versatility.”
Jaylen Brunson and Jeff Van Gundy Getty Images
Van Gundy began the interview by admitting a touch of bias. He has known Brunson, 25, since he was 3 years old. Van Gundy coached Brunson’s father, Rick, first when he was in middle school at local camps and later with the Knicks. He has a strong bond with his family.
That, in turn, is part of the reason he feels so strongly about the move. He has watched Brunson develop from a McDonald’s All-American in high school to a two-time national champion at Villanova to a breakout star this past postseason. Van Gundy knows the work ethic that shaped Brunson and the dedication with which he approaches his craft.
With Brunson entering the 2018 NBA Draft as the national college basketball player of the year, most scouts projected the Villanova product to be a career backup. He lacked the athleticism and raw physical tools of other guards in his class. But Brunson has improved every year in the league and is coming off a season in which he posted career highs in points (16.3), assists (4.8), rebounds (3.9) and minutes (31.9). In the playoffs, he carried the Mavericks for most of their first-round win over the Jazz while Luka Doncic was out, and helped them reach the Western Conference Finals, scoring 21.6 points on 46.6 percent shooting in 18 playoff games .
“I think what he is is an important player in the NBA,” said Van Gundy, the last Knicks coach to lead the franchise past the second round of the playoffs. “What he’s always done is improve, and serious players gradually improve throughout their career, especially in their prime, and he’s just starting to hit his prime.
“I have no doubt that he will continue to grow and improve because he is so serious. Fools don’t get better. Serious players keep improving because it’s important to them.”
His NBA career thus far and his time at Villanova before that backs that up. Brunson is a player who keeps getting better. He wins. The Knicks, who last won a playoff series in 2013 and have reached the postseason just once in the last nine seasons, could use more players like him.
“I can’t stress enough that his serious approach to the game and to getting better and winning is absolutely what a team needs coming off a tough year,” Van Gundy said. “You can’t find too many of those guys in free agency that you can get. These were unique circumstances.
“I think he was very, very happy in Dallas, but this is an incredible opportunity for him to also challenge himself to be a starter in this league every night. I think he will respond extremely well.”
Add Comment