Jalen Brunson is already showing enough in preseason that the Knicks don’t need to turn these games into a test of how much he can handle.
Through two exhibitions, Brunson has put up 25 points in 35 minutes and has hit half of his shots. That’s the kind of early production New York wanted back from its captain. What it does not need is a rush job just because the Knicks are sitting at 0-2.
The ramp-up has been steady so far. Brunson played 15 minutes in Philadelphia on Monday and then 20 more against Washington on Thursday. That’s progress already, and the next step should be about building him up the right way, not trying to make the preseason record look better.
He said at Media Day that he is fully cleared after July surgery on his left wrist. So this isn’t about a medical setback or any lingering restriction. Clearance means he can go; it doesn’t mean the Knicks have to prove anything by piling on minutes in games that don’t count in the standings.
The scoring output has been there from the start. Brunson had 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting in the opener, then added 13 points on 6-for-12 shooting against the Wizards.
He also handed out three assists in each game. For a player whose summer included both a championship run and a procedure on his shooting-side wrist, that’s exactly the kind of return that matters.
The three-point numbers haven’t popped yet, with Brunson making three of 11 attempts from deep across the two games. But that’s just a small preseason sample, and there’s nothing reported here to suggest the wrist is the issue. It’s simply a shooting line from two exhibitions.
There’s also a basketball case for more time, just not reckless time. Mike Brown needs his first unit to sharpen its timing, and the Knicks have dealt with turnovers and some uneven stretches on offense. The starters were out there for about 20 minutes Thursday after shorter runs in the opener, so the next opportunity should give Brunson and his teammates enough possessions to work through things properly.
What Brown doesn’t need is to stretch one of those controlled runs into something bigger just to chase a preseason win. The real goal is getting the offense ready: cleaner spacing, quicker decisions and better rhythm between Brunson and the players setting screens for him.
The pushback is obvious enough. Short stints won’t fully mimic opening night, and a starting group still needs game-speed reps together.
Fair point. But that’s an argument for building Brunson up carefully over the rest of the preseason, not for holding him at 15 minutes forever.
New York’s next preseason game is Monday against Minnesota. That gives Brown another chance to lengthen the first-team run a little, see how it holds up and keep moving forward from there. The actual workload, of course, will be handled by the coaches, the player and the medical staff.
For now, the Knicks have what they should want: 25 points, a 50 percent shooting clip and a captain who looks productive again. The priority should be getting Brunson ready for the games that matter, not asking him to bail out the ones that don’t.
In Other News...
Andre Drummond Brings Knicks More Than A Typical Backup Center
Andre Drummond arrives in New York as more than a familiar big body off the bench. The Knicks signed a veteran center who has continued to refine his game late in his career, showing better efficiency and a more rounded offensive touch than the typical reserve rim protector. For a team that values toughness, rebounding and depth in the frontcourt, that kind of evolution gives Drummond a little extra appeal beyond the usual insurance-policy role.
Drummond also comes in with a place in NBA history still within reach, which adds another layer to his late-career chase. He sits 27th on the leagues all-time rebounding list with 11,513 boards, and the next name above him is Dennis Rodman, a standard-bearer for one of the leagues great rebounders. If Drummond keeps his place in a rotation and stays productive, the Knicks could end up watching a personal milestone race unfold in the background while they sort out their own season. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Just Added An Awkward Karl-Anthony Towns Tension Before Opening Night
With opening night getting closer, the Knicks have chosen to put extension talks on hold for now, a move aimed at keeping the focus on basketball and the clubs payroll situation rather than contract drama. The team has been working with an eye on staying under the second apron while still trying to sort out long-term deals, but no agreement has been reached yet for either Josh Hart or Karl-Anthony Towns.
For Towns, the delay landed as a real letdown. He made it clear he understood the business side of the decision and said the priority has to be the season, but the timing still created an awkward layer around a roster that is supposed to be settling in for a fresh start. The Knicks can revisit the talks later, though for now the unanswered question is how that contract picture will affect the mood around two important pieces of their rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Roster Battle Is Raising One Tough Question Early
The preseason has already started to sort out the Knicks roster picture, and the early minutes have not been distributed evenly. Veterans such as Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley have been on the edge of the rotation look, while the staff has leaned more toward younger options as it evaluates who fits best around the groups core and what the team still needs before opening night.
James Wiseman and Jaden Akins have been among the more noticeable beneficiaries of that approach, with both getting extended chances to show they can help. Wiseman has flashed real efficiency in limited action, and Akins has been one of the quieter surprises so far, but the bigger question still lingers around whether the Knicks may eventually use a trade to create more room and make these preseason performances matter even more. [Read more 🡒]