Tonight was a memorable night for Jalen Brunson. After an incredible season with the New York Knicks, Brunson got his first All-Star nod as an Eastern Conference Reserve for this year. He has had an inspirational journey from being the second option on the Mavs to becoming the leader of the historic Knicks franchise in only two years. To add icing on the cake, Brunson led the Knicks to their 9th straight win tonight.

Jalen Brunson and Co. beat the Indiana Pacers 109-105, with the first-time All-Star going off for 40 points and 5 rebounds. Brunson was overwhelmed with emotions after the game and was left speechless in his post-game interview. When a reporter asked Brunson how it felt to become an All-Star and get MVP chants from the fans, the Knicks superstar could not hold back his tears. “I got nothing to say.” Brunson responded.

While Brunson had a decent run with the Dallas Mavericks to start his career, no one expected him to be this good as the primary option for the Knicks. Brunson signed with the Knicks as a free agent in the 2022 off-season. He immediately took the reins of the franchise and became a superstar. Brunson averaged 24 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds last season and got the Knicks their first playoff series win since 2013.

Despite having elite numbers, Brunson got snubbed from the 2023 All-Star team. Brunson did not give the voters a chance to second-guess his selection this year. He has elevated his game to another level, averaging 26.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. Brunson has led the Knicks to the 3rd seed in the East with a 32-17 record. The 27-year-old will finally reap the benefits of his hard work and play in his first All-Star game this year.

Read More: Knicks Injury Update: Latest on Julius Randle Gives New York a Sigh of Relief

Is Jalen Brunson a sleeper MVP candidate?

The New York Knicks fans have accepted Jalen Brunson as their superstar and honor him with MVP chants during every home game. But Brunson has never once been mentioned in the MVP race. Joel Embiid has dominated this year’s MVP race. However, Embiid’s injury in the last game could ruin his back-to-back MVP chances. Embiid is out with a meniscus injury on his left knee, and he missed his 13th game of the season tonight. That means he can only miss a maximum of 4 more games to stay eligible for MVP candidature.

His ineligibility could open the door for Jalen Brunson to make his claim for the MVP trophy. Brunson has played great all season and turned the Knicks franchise around. If he continues his dominant form and leads the Knicks to the Top 3 seed in the East, he will have a legitimate shot at winning the MVP trophy in Embiid’s absence. Do you believe Brunson can bag the MVP honors in the same season as his first All-Star selection?

Watch This Story: “It’s Scary but…”: Self-Confident Joel Embiid Gives Honest Take On Crunch Time Brilliance vs OKC