Jalen Brunson just keeps proving people wrong.
On Monday, ahead of the Knicks’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup with the Mavericks, Brunson was named an NBA All-Star starter for the second straight year-and this time, there was no debate.
No last-minute bump from media or player votes. No slipping in by a hair.
Brunson earned it outright, finishing second in total votes among Eastern Conference players, trailing only Giannis Antetokounmpo.
It’s the third All-Star selection of his career and another milestone in what’s becoming a remarkable rise for the Knicks’ captain. And if you think back to 2022, when his contract was being labeled as an overpay, the turnaround is nothing short of poetic.
Brunson joins a small-ball Eastern Conference starting lineup that includes Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Cade Cunningham. It’s a guard-heavy, perimeter-oriented group-but thanks to the NBA’s new positionless All-Star format, that doesn’t really matter anymore. The best players are going to play, regardless of traditional roles.
Out West, the starters are Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama. Several of those names have dealt with injuries this season, but their talent and impact kept them on top of the fan and media ballots.
Back to Brunson-because his story deserves the spotlight. He’s the first Knick to earn back-to-back All-Star starts since Carmelo Anthony was a staple in the East lineup from 2012 to 2016. That’s elite company, and it speaks volumes about how far Brunson has come-not just as a player, but as a leader of a franchise that’s been searching for stability at the point guard spot for years.
Through 37 games this season, Brunson is averaging 28.2 points and 6.1 assists per game, shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.8% from deep. Those aren’t just All-Star numbers-they’re All-NBA, even MVP-caliber.
And with the Knicks sitting at the No. 3 seed in the East, it’s clear just how vital he is to their success. When Brunson’s not on the floor, the offense grinds to a halt.
He’s the engine, the closer, the heartbeat.
He’s been sidelined for nearly three games with a minor ankle tweak, but he’s listed as questionable for Monday night’s tilt against Dallas. That’s a big one, not just because it’s a return to the team that let him walk, but because the Knicks are desperate for some offensive rhythm without their floor general.
The good news? He’s only missed five games this season-well within the 17-game limit required for All-NBA eligibility.
So barring anything unexpected, he’s firmly in the mix for that elusive First Team nod.
And there’s still a chance he won’t be the Knicks’ lone representative in Indianapolis. Karl-Anthony Towns, who made the All-Star team last year alongside Brunson, remains in the conversation for a reserve spot. The East is thin when it comes to big men this season, and if coaches are willing to look past some recent inconsistency, the Knicks could be sending two players to the All-Star Game for the third straight year.
That decision will come down to the coaches, but one thing’s already clear: Jalen Brunson has arrived. Not just as a star in New York, but as one of the league’s premier guards. And if he keeps playing at this level, the accolades won’t stop at All-Star starts.