This was a few weeks ago, after the Knicks had dropped two straight games to the Hawks and were looking at what would’ve been a disastrous early playoff exit.
Mike Brown went to the players with an idea. He wanted to switch things up on the offensive end, to put the ball in Karl-Anthony Towns’ hands more. It meant Jalen Brunson playing off the ball at times and getting his shots in different ways.
Some stars may have pushed back, feeling they were being blamed for the team’s struggles. Brunson didn’t think twice.
“Was there any concern? No. What was the dialogue? The dialogue was, ‘OK, let’s do it,’” he recalled Wednesday after the Knicks’ first practice since sweeping the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. “It was that simple. There’s not really much you can talk about at that point when you’re down 2-1.”
When it was suggested to Brunson that other stars may not have taken the change in stride, he responded: “1) I’m not a star. 2) I want to win.”
As he walked out of the press conference room, he added: “I’m not self-centered, that’s why.”
This, of course, isn’t the first time Brunson has shown his selfless side. Two years ago, he agreed to a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension in which he left money on the table. The deal went into effect this season. It helped the Knicks stay out of the second apron and build out their bench.
And this change, while taking the ball out of Brunson’s hands somewhat, has worked out better than anyone could’ve anticipated.
The Knicks haven’t lost since, reeling off seven consecutive victories by an average of 26.4 points. Towns has thrived in a playmaking role, totaling 66 assists this postseason, 44 more than a year ago.
The Knicks have produced a through-the-roof 130.5 offensive rating per 100 possessions over these seven games.
Brunson has taken off, too, averaging 27.3 points while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from 3-point range in this current run. And he’s been more efficient.
According to NBA.com, Brunson averaged .285 points per touch during the regular season and is at .324 points per touch in this winning streak. His touches are also down, from 91.3 per game to 84.1.
“It’s my job as a head coach, as well as [our] assistants, to try to put guys in position to help them out,” Brown said. “Being able to do stuff off-ball is another way to attack a defense. When you have guys that pass the ball like Draymond Green, like Sabonis, like KAT, you try to utilize their strengths to help others out and make others better. Putting KAT in that position knowing we have great screeners and great cutters, and like I said a great facilitator, it was easier to say, ‘Let’s try it and do it more.’”
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It obviously wouldn’t have worked without Brunson being on board.
When the Knicks moved on from Tom Thibodeau and replaced him with Brown, there was some uncertainty about how the new coach and Brunson would mesh.
Brunson was close with Thibodeau going back to his childhood. In the biggest moment so far of Brown’s tenure with the Knicks, Brunson was in lockstep with him.
“He’s always one to have open dialogue since Day 1,” Brunson said. “Obviously, he’s the coach and makes decisions and everything. Whether they’re good or bad opinions, they’re talked about and they’re decided on later. I’m pretty comfortable with it. I think a lot of us are comfortable with it.”
