The New York Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million agreement last year. It turned out to be the best free agency acquisition for them, as Brunson soon solidified his position as the best point guard on the team. Although they faced a disappointing exit from the playoffs last season, Brunson’s heroics were on full display. The Knicks finished the season with a 47-35 record, their second-most victories over the past 22 seasons. And the Villanova standout was the driving force behind this transformation.

Considered a 2023 NBA All-Star Game snub, Brunson is finally getting recognition for his dedication to his craft. A veteran sportscaster lauded the Knicks guard for his exceptional showing against Jimmy Butler and Co. in the playoffs last season.

Frank Isola heaps praise on Jalen Brunson

After thrashing the fourth-seeded Cavaliers in five games, the Knicks locked horns with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semis. The Knicks fell to the Heat in a season-ending 96-92 loss in Game 6, which saw Brunson notch 41 points. Although the face-off ended in dismay for the Knicks, the two-time NCAA champion’s performance on the court gained him some MVP and All-NBA votes. He averaged career-high numbers in 24.0 points and 6.2 assists per game, along with 41.6 percent from 3-point range during the regular season.

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While Brunson’s 41-point game was not enough for the Knicks to win the series, his dedication to winning garnered him a lot of praise. He scored the game-high numbers while dealing with ankle soreness. This unwavering commitment to winning did not go unnoticed by ESPN and Sirius XM NBA Radio’s Frank Isola.

Referring to his heroics against the Miami Heat, Isola said, “He was not close to a 100%. But he is out there every day or every game I should say playing at a high level. Is that easy? To play at a high level when you are injured?… That’s a form of leadership?go out there when you’re not 100%, give it everything you’ve got?and deliver. That’s what separates Jalen Brunson from a lot of players in the league.”

This is not the first time someone is praising Brunson for his outstanding leadership qualities. He was relied upon to coordinate the half-court offense and serve as a vocal leader during his FIBA run with Team USA. Safe to say, coach Steve Kerr was impressed.

Steve Kerr praises Brunson’s leadership qualities

Speaking about Jalen Bruson‘s role in the team, Steve Kerr said, “I think Jalen is such a natural leader. Because he’s a point guard, he immediately comes to mind. He’s the one who’s leading the ‘1, 2, 3 USA’ chant. Some guys just, it just comes naturally to them.”

This acclaim came on the heels of Team USA winning their practice battle against a select team after losing the first two. Although Team USA’s FIBA run went awry, Brunson’s innate leadership qualities stood out.

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