Jalen Brunson entered the NBA with the same doubts his critics voiced about his size, athleticism and ability to carry a franchise. Evaluators questioned whether two national titles at Villanova and a national player of the year award would translate to the next level, and Brunson slipped into the second round of the 2018 draft at No. 33 while three of his Villanova teammates were chosen in the first round, according to ESPN.
Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson called Brunson a rare find and compared him to unconventional greats he had drafted before, saying the young guard possessed qualities that don’t always show up in analytics, according to ESPN.
Imposter syndrome arrived when Brunson reached the Mavericks’ practice facility and encountered fellow 2018 draftee Luka Dončić. Brunson kept up with the same shooting and footwork drills he had always done, and a former Mavericks assistant coach told ESPN Brunson routinely dominated one-on-one work. Seeing Dončić’s effortless play made Brunson question himself, but he chose to respond by working harder, according to ESPN.
Former college teammate Josh Hart suggested Brunson’s lack of pretense and pure emphasis on winning explain his fit in New York. That humility, Hart said, allows other things to follow, and Brunson’s appeal in the city comes from a respect for guts and guile over flash, according to ESPN.
The narrative has shifted since his time in Dallas. ESPN likened Brunson’s evolution to differing interpretations of the song “New York, New York”: the player who was quietly promising in Dallas is now the city’s top figure. As the Knicks sit two wins away from the franchise’s first title since 1973, the NBA Finals continue tonight from Madison Square Garden at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, according to ESPN.
