Jalen Brunson has officially crossed the 10,000-point mark in his NBA career, and the timing couldn’t feel more fitting. The Knicks are riding a five-game win streak, looking every bit like a team finding its rhythm, and at the center of it all is Brunson-commanding the offense, setting the tone, and delivering night after night.
In their latest outing, a dominant 127-97 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Brunson dropped 26 points with the kind of efficiency and control Knicks fans have come to expect. But beyond the box score, it was another reminder of just how vital he’s become to this team’s identity.
Let’s be clear: the Knicks have built one of the deepest and most balanced rosters in the league. From versatile wings to a physically imposing frontcourt, there’s talent up and down the lineup.
But Brunson is the engine. He’s the guy who makes it all run smoothly-initiating the offense, creating his own shot when things break down, and showing the poise of a seasoned floor general in crunch time.
Reaching 10,000 career points is a major milestone for any player, but what makes Brunson’s journey especially compelling is how he’s elevated his game since arriving in New York. His early years in Dallas showed flashes of promise-crafty footwork, a high basketball IQ, and a knack for scoring in tight spaces. But since signing with the Knicks in 2022, he’s taken that foundation and turned it into full-blown stardom.
In his first season in New York, Brunson averaged 24.0 points per game while shooting a blistering 49.1% from the field and 41.6% from three. Those aren’t just good numbers-they’re elite, especially for a lead guard in today’s NBA.
And he hasn’t slowed down. Each season has brought more responsibility, more production, and more winning.
That growth has translated directly into postseason success. Under Brunson’s leadership, the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2023-24 and took it a step further with an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024-25. For a franchise that’s spent years searching for a true star to build around, Brunson has become that guy-and then some.
Now, with the team surging and Brunson hitting career milestones, the expectations are rising. The Knicks aren’t just hoping to make noise in the playoffs-they’re aiming higher. And if Brunson continues to play at this level as the team’s primary scorer and leader, a deep postseason run is very much on the table.
The 2026 playoffs are still months away, but the signs are there. The chemistry is building, the defense is tightening, and Brunson is playing some of the best basketball of his career. If this trajectory holds, the Knicks could be headed for something special.